The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-28

THE "CHRISTY MINSTRELS" IN PARIS.
letter from Paris gives the following account
of the reception of the Christy Mnstrels in that
city by the critics and public:
Christy's Minstrels have been very successful
much more so, certainly, than was to have been
anticipated, in a country where so few understand
the language OF the songs and witticsms. In fact,
suspect that three Ourths of their French auditors
only go out of motives of CURIOSITY and because
they have heard that these "Bouffes Americans
have performed at the Tuieries before the Maies-
ties and the Court. The Emperor and Empress,
both of whom speak English remarkably we'll are
said to have been quite delighted with, this, to
them, novel species of amusements, and frequently
applauded Several of the oldest of the negro mel
odies, known they all over Europe were sunor
on this occasion-among them ''Lucy Long" and
"Old Dan Tucker" The latter air particularly is
familiar to everybody this continent, and can
myself testify to having heard it woven into CON
cert melody, performed last summer on the Islands
of the Neva.
Despite the crowded audience on the first ap-
pearance of Christys Minstrels in Paris | confess
TO have telt some misgivings to what our fasti-
dlous critics might say of the matter new to them
as IL was. Judge, then, of my surprise to find the
redoubted euilletonistes of the daily press not on
ly favorable to these strange innovaters in the
world OF Partisan entertainment but actually quite
enthusiastic in their praises. In the DeJas, Jann,
the terrible maker and unmaker of theatrical repu-
tations-he who claims to have first discovered the
talent of Rachel, and to have brought her before
concentrations. Hear him: ''We had the new buff
foons announced last Sunday. They had hardly ar
rived before they became veritable event. They
are ten In number, and all Americans with one ex-
ception, who has the honor to be a genuine black
Here they are, with hands and faces stepped in the
true Ethiopian color. At the rising of the curtain
these wandering singers, who, like Ulysses, have
seen great number of different cities, peoples and
civilizations, chant mournfully all sorts of paintve
melodies. Little Lilly, who is dead, and
sleeps under the old chesnut treeP--
Listen how they weep over her! More than one
tear appeared to roll down these ebon cheeks, and
the death bell keeps time with the name of Lilly.-
It's complete elegy. Then we have another-the
elegy of Jenny Gray, with blue eyes and golden
halr. Jenny Gray is dead too and it is worth
while to hear the groans of the banjo the tambou-
rne and the castanets, over this melancholy event.
Then we have Beautiful STAR and Come Gentle
Dream We listen in astonishment. We came to
laugh, and feel strongly inclined to resist these
unexpected lamentations. We have scarcely ar
rived at this conclusion when all at once the per-
formers strike up lively air. They have Just been
sniveing; now they laughing to split their
sides. lhey have Just been casting flowers the
tomb of Jenny Gray, now they are carolling kiss
Me Quick! The weeping willow has suddenly be-
come fried potato, which you almost hear crack
ling in the pan. Then there's the Hoop de dooden
doo'-a genuine comedy; and a touch of Tartufe
still nearer life. This new Tartuffe, Toured with
soot is drama of four. 1t is called the 'Hutchin-
son Family who are sort of Quakers, whose mis-
sion is to go about the world. singing, Were 4
band of brothersp"
Janin goes to show, learnedly, that this is a
hit at William Penn, who had no business to be a
Quaker-and similar nonsense, not worth repeat
ing, all evincing the inevitable French igno-
rance respecting pretty much everything Ameri-
can.
Florentino, the almost equally celebrated critic of
the COnStituionneL expatiates upon the subject of
these performers to even greater length than his
contrere. The serious songs seem to have made
the same impression upon both that is to say Meth
er understood what they meant. Florentino de-
scribes admiringly the jig (which indeed, was the
best ever saw and then takes up the burlesdue
Julien concert.
''But the most transcendent cOmicav was the
very faithful imitation of Jullien's concerts. Who
doesn't know Julien? He is the same man who,
during his travels in America, caused the man of
the New World to be embroidered upon his shirt
bosom, and had the names OF the principal cities of
the Union engraved upon his vest buttons He is
the Barnum of orchestra leaders, and the orchestral
leader of Barnums!
81 don't know how they managed it, but it is
certain that these funny dogs possess in their troupe
an individual who resembles Julien like two peas.
The same height, same breadth, broad and
jolly face, II amed in black whiskers; same white
cravat, with its long ends sticking out like the
croSs-piece of telegraph post. The concert be-
gins, and you see the leader, real black Julien,
agitate his baton, guide overlook scold, coax and
push onward his musicians with gestlcuatons and
grimaces enough to make the beholder explode with
laughter. Whilst the mock julien cuts these ca
pers before his DESK the artists under his orders,
perform RrOJesque SOLOS upon Impossible lnStru-
ments penny whistles, pewter trumpets, tin fun
nels and gutta percha cymbaIs
"You are not yet at the end of your surprises
A musician leaves the orchestra and goes behind
the scenes in search of a sort of black Mabran,
whom he conducts gallantly upon the stage, hold
ing her hand by one finger. The prima donna
wears an immense crinone and a superb glass dia-
dem. She places her hand on her heart, makes
her bow to the public, and leers amorously from
the corner of her eye, at the centre bassosnow
at the fife, which latter she appears to honor with
particular favor. At the commencement every
thing goes off smoothly enough; trills fit to unhang
the stars, accompanied by provoking roulades, flow
from the cantatrces lips. Little by little, how
ever, the instruments get out of time, the fiddles
wander, the horns make frightful bunders. Ina
gine the terrible glances which the sable Mabran
casts upon the wretches who thus abandon her at
the decisive moment! Julien, though, does not
lose his presence of mind; he does not despair of
rallying his disordery troops; he makes desperate
signs to the lady to continue which she obstinate
ly refuses to do; and then the whole affair becomes
a scene of confusion irresistbly comic. Everybody
in the hall was convused with laughter. They
laughed in the street. and still laughing upon
reaching the Bouevards."
friend expresses the opinion that the BeUy
Canal will not be constructed present on account
of the intestinal difficulties in Nicaragua-Nei9
York Post.
The uniformed militia of all arms in the State
0f NnrN NorLy ,borl =