Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-07
THE GAZETTE.
-EpSEspAY MORNING, MARCH :, 1860.
PARIS LIFE-A LADY COMMITS SUICIDE
THE DwARFs--AR ECEPTI0N--P PRINCE
METTERNICH

METTERNICH.
IPas1s Correspondence Of the n. q. P'ooyr"c.l
A strange event has occurred here, whlch
excites great deal Of conversation. "A
Young lady, belonging to one OF our pest
families, who recently married a most es'i-
mable gentleman, whom she loved, apparent
" happv. certainly wealthy, free from oil
care. and fond of life. committed SUICIDE
7 had almost said involuntary suicIde-a few
davs apo. 1t seems she had quarrel with
her husband about some trifie or another; In
a moment of passion she sDat ched up the
dagger on her chimneypiece &c is common
ornament Of mantles here) and plunged 1t
into her heart, falling dead instantly Her
husband is greatly distressed. II is beleV-
ed she intended merely to give feigned
blow. This tragical event recalls to mind
the death of the Duke de Grammont-the
eldest brother of the Duke Grammont. The
got his title BY his eldest brothers death,
who persisted on the Pacific. while on his
way to join the French legation at Washing
ton; deny fatality in families!) who, one day
playing with pistol, stood before looking
glass, opened his mouth, and saying to his
friends who were with him. Just think
isn't il strange-that all fellow has to do
to end his life is to hold pistol here, move
his finger slightly and crack" Involuntar-
ily he touched the trigger, the pistol explod-
ed, and be fell corpse in the midst OF has
friends
We have for the pleasure of our oilers
novel exhibition confess TO you find no
pleasure in it--formed by three dwarts.-
Their names are Piccolo Vounderlich, and
Kissiozsi. Their history is strange one
Piccolo is twenty-five years old and two feet
ten inches high He was born on the Aus
tro.Italian frontier, where he pursued the
ancient profession of shepherd until one day
he was attacked by bear, and, but for his
two she pherd dogs, would have been deyour-
ed; as it was, he barely escaped with his
life. "A traveller heard, by accident, OF his
adventure, saw him and was pleased with
his sprightliness, and purchased him from
his mother, who was glad to get rid of him
one mouth less in family is great bless
ing were is is hard to feed many mouths
The traveller who saw him was a latent
Barnum, by the name of Schwartz, he took
the child to Vienna. had him well educated,
unsteady, and brought him out on the Wen
ma boards, where he soon became the favor
lite of the public. Vounderlch is of the
same age as Piccolo; but he is only two feet
seven inches He was born in Bohemia,
and was originally an attorneys clerk-an
excellent attorneys clerk; but, being badly
fed, badly paid, aud badly ridiculed by his
fellow clerks, who called him Goliab, he
was very tired Of quill-driving, and, when
he saw in the papers how successful Piccolo
was, he Quit the attorneys Office and ran off
to Mr. Schwartz. who instantly engaged him.
The Youngest, Kissjozsi, is nineteen years
old, two feet six inches Ia stature. lie was
born at Pesth, In Hungary; the son OF 8
small farmer, who. hearing of Piccolo's sue
cess, wrote to Mr.. Schwartz what q jewel he
had The German Barnum engaged the lad,
and he travels about Europe with all three
Of them. They are here at the Hotel Claren-
don, In the Rue Castiglione, where they pay
no less than thirty-two dollars day. They
are to appear at Ofenback's theatre, in one
of his broad, low farces, and they sing at
private houses. They are driving good
business.
The ladies of the highest social circles
here are just recovering their equanimity,
which wasltried most severely the other night
at the Tuileries. You may
form some idea of the trial ladies underwent,
when I describe the imperial reception. In
the first place, should describe their cos
tune, for it formed no inconsiderable en-
barrassment to them, as it is unwieldy and
so seldom worn, the wearer feels i'll at her
ease in it, Just as a workman, who has worn
his blouse all the eek, feels as if he was in
a strait-jaeket when he puts on his Sunday
coat The ladies wear neckerchief OF lace,
and appended to their waist long flowing
tail, which trails on the ground behind them.
These tails are Of every color-some are made
Of gold-embroidered velvet: others are made
of silk, trimmed with costly lace, and adorn-
ed with torsades OF pearls. The reception"
Of ladies takes place In the throne-room.
The Emperor and Empress stand before the
throne, which is at the extremity OF long
room, surrounded by the princes, prncesses,
the diplomatic corps, the ministers, the mar
shals, the grand officers of the Crown, the
maids Of honor, the members of the imperial
household, &C., &C., large and formidable
body of critics. The victim--l mean the
lady reoeived--walks up from the other ex-
tremity of the room alone, every eye fixed
upon her, until she reaches the foot of the
throne, then a chamberlain takes her name
and gives il to the grand chamberlain, who
repeats it to. the Emperor and Empress
Thereupon the lady makes three profound
courtesies. very slowly, moves aside, and
witnesses the reception of the other ladies
who succeed her. It is necessary to move
gravely, with measured step, harmonious
ly, but without affectstion. neither too thea
trical nor too pastoral. neither free and easy
nor stiff, but very dign6ed and very SIM
pie, very graceful and perfectly simple
The lady presented must know how to stop
before the throne--no easily acquired knowl-
edge, for the impetus Of the tail is to be
checked-know how to trail the tail grace
fully, know how to avoid being tripped mp
BY the train, know how TO courtesy slowly,
gracefully, easily, and respectfully, know
how to disembarrass her retreat of her trail,
(which is done by SOME mysterious legerde-
pied which ] cannot penetrate, and retire
10 the right of the throne. Don't your blood
run cold at the thought of this fete! Are
mt you blushing, Pic, in your sanctum at
the bare idea of executing such labor?-
Hush! don't deny it; | see you are blushing
up to the very roots Of your hair. heard,
fother day, a lady give a most amusing ac-
count of Louis Napoleon's ludcrously imi-
tating two of the most awkward ladies at this
reception. He is fond of initiating people;
trick, / s'pose. he got into by always trying
to initiate my uncle" and by his long and
II A IL