The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-18
A FRENCH CeurtRecertlen.

French Csart Rece eptlsn. av
A correspondent Of the New York Herald
writos from Paris an account Of q Court re-
ception, a. follows
We were ranged around the sides OF the room,
and tbeN we had the pleasure of remaining |
until quarter past ten, when from q door NJ l
the end Of the room towards the private apart |
ment Of the Imperial family, we heard the
announcement IL Empereur," and from q side
door en- tered n long string Of ladies OF the
court, preceded by chamberlains. After these
came the Grand Cham oerlain and the En-
peror and the Empress, and following them
the Prince Napoleon and the Princess Cio-
tide, and her sister-in-law, the Empefors
cousin, the Princess Mathilde. The 'presen.
The citizens of each nation were placed togeth-
er and the ambassador OF that nation, ap-
prosching the Emperor and Empress and bow
ing, called over rapidly and indistinctiy the
name OF each person before whom their Ma
les ties passed on their way around the room
or course the parties introduced bowed, and
the Emperor and Empress kept up "A confin-
ual bowine, and both wearing very gracious
SMILE which seemed to indic4te I'VE are very |
| glad to see you" Iu this manner they passed |
completely around the room. not arm ID arm:
but the Empress little distance to the lett OF
| the Emperor.
| The Prince Imperial was not of the party, |
| the little fellow having probably received MS
supper and been duly sent to bed Inc otner
| members of the Imperial family stood In |
| group, near the end of the room, where they
en- tered while the presen tation was IN progress
| 1t is sometimes the case that their MaJestles
| address few words to some among the pre-
| sented party; but on this occasion neither OF
| them spoke, and in five minutes they had gone
| entirely round, and then, preceded by the
cham berlains, they again passed by us, ana go
| ing through an an room went into the mag
| nifcent "Salle des Marechacx," where the
| bali was to be opened. We Immediately FOL
lowed the cortege, and although the rooms
| were crowded to such an extent that there
seemed scarcely a standing place, by dint OF
following closely upon the heels Of the lmpe-
rial party, and little pushing and conslde-
| rable perseverance, l managed TO effect what
| desired-get place where l could see the bali
opened by the Emperor and Empress.
In the centre of the "Salle des Marechaux'
| was little vacant space about twenty feet
square, surrounded by seats, which on three
sides were filled by ladies in magnificent cos
tunes and sparkling with jewels, and redo
lent of perfume, and red with excitement, or
| perhaps with rouge. On the side of this space.
| opposite the entrance, was a raised platform
| with seats upon it for the Imperial family, and
| the space ia front was appropriated to the dan
GERS Seating themselves for moment, the
| party rose aud took their places tor the lmpe-
| rial uuadriiie, the Emperor dancing with the
| Princess Cio,ilde, with the Prince Napoleon
| and the Empress for their ris-a-r,s. The Prin-
| cess Mathide danced with Russian noble
man, and after the quadrilie, during when, OF
course, ali eyes We're fixed upon the Impe-
rial party they seated themselves on the
| p,a form before mentioned The quadriiEe
, was not ''drawded" through with, as seems to
be the fashion in these days, but danced with
parently into the spirit OF il very heartily and
. dancing very gracefully, while the Emperor
t | was neither SO gay nor So graceful. HOW a
! man with such weight rs he has on bis
| shoulders can dance at ALL must confess
e | cannot unders tand.
I Ia seating themselves the Imperial family
: | We're ranged in the following order; On the
1 extreme right was the Prince Napoleon Il n the
| absence of the Prince Imperial and Prince Je-
I rome the ''most immediate TO the throne;') on
: his left the Emperor; next to him the Empress;
| then the Princess CloElGe, with the Princess
. | Ma,hiIde the cousin Of the Emperor and sis
: ter of Prince Napoleon, on the extreme leff-
II | Behind them sat the ladies of the Court and
q | the danes d'honnsHr of the Empress and the
n | two Processes The Empress was dressed
- very neatly and simply, with pink robe OF q
e light thin tissue, trimmed with red roses,
% | which she also wore in the wreath upon her
l. brow. She had on magnificent necklace of
l. diamonds aid The usual quantity OF crlnoiiEe
n | Although had often seen her before never
.r had so good an opportunity OF examining hei
"a fair face and brilliant eyes as now. She Is
10 | really very beautiful-beautiful now, even
~ though she looks ewhat careworn and more
.. | thoughtful than she should TO show her fint
y | feat ures to the best advantage. She appearec
,e | yery ainiab,e during the entire evening, some
I'd times chatting with the Emperor. apparent ~
id | upon some trivial matters suggested by I'M
re occasion, and turning occasionally 10 SOM
h. one of her ladies OF honor, or to the Princes
of Ciotilde and dropping u word or two ant
he laughing. She did not leave her place a1te
,r. the first Quadrllie until Inc 1lnpeAEt par
ne went to supper.
n. The Emperor was dressed in the costume 0
~ q General of Division of the French army
n. with the exception of the boots, wearing sil
ar | stockings and pumps stead. One gets an Ell
o. tireIy di iterent idea of his appearance by zee
Ii ing him on foot, from the one obtained OF hiI
r. while driving or mounted. He has long body
so but short and ''stumpy'' legs SO that III walk
n ing he has an awkward air, while in riding h
,as is very graceful. He walks. too, with his ood
re- bent slightly forward, and his head inclined
he little over his right shoulder. which combina
| Of datar ms4k
a. ungraceful. His face wears the same sphyn>
ad like unreadable expression. tor which he ha
NJ always been noted his eyes, apparently ma
he closed are nevertheless actively employed
looking about him. and his forehead exhibl
led | an immense development of what the phrt
OF nologists cali "the perceptive faculties l
2 il | conversing however, with those about hin
the | he wore {. smile which was really amiaDlt
re- | and take him altogether, must confess II
i'm near view of him put me more than ever IA
her | the CONDITION which an Irlshrnan would d.
ms | scribe as "bothered entirely l stood an
len watched him tor more than an hour as he mo-
saw ed slowly and awkwardly between the dane
Mr. | about the sou uare III which the Imperial p3r'
the were fenced Oft from the crowd. trying 20 col
10 vince self that that little dnmpy, haf-asle'
nth looking man was the one ." ho, after years
He wandering and care placed hiniseltat the net
ant of this great nation-tne mar VINO mao q 9uieu
,re- discomfort and made himself th most popu!
the sovereign France ever had the man who n
and hut RECENTLY returned from the bloody bait
the field OF Soiferino-the man W no had just CIV
| TO the people er whom he rules Il new ana II
red | er.I commercial policy W no had, in defence
op- Italian freedom. hung his guantie, down /
,ow | fore the visible head OF fChristendom--the m
ned | who to-day rules Earope AID whom G
hill | pressed natiouaiities, with upilfied hands
e. fearful ewes, but with hope-i!ghied faces. j
yen- pIore ard look to for heIp-that Was he II
end ilt,lt dumpy man, moving awkwardly abe
Ii there but no one could have Guessed from
ave face how much he had TO think OF and ate
on II TO- During the evening he passed once II
ere the large dancing room. the "Salle de la Pal
going complet ly around il, stopping occasi'
ssed ally 10 say few words to some one whoIil
ION recognized.
! by The Princess Clotilde. who sat next to
med Ernpress was dressed in blue aUd wore a pc
hen necklace She has fair and 2riish tace W
lend n nose which we would cali a slight "pug,'
He TO which the French apply the more deiic
had | ,pr1a of retruuSes. She cha ted and iaugne
d at coed deal with the Empress, danced tour
ly.- five times, and amused herself princpa
here oprinr the dances, when she WIS not Oh
1ais, | floor bv keeping time 10 the music with
lie head.
the, CONSUMPTION orCoFFEE TEA. AND SvG
,tion The consumption of coffee in the United St,
lock. has incre sed from hfly -four millions
nounds in 1884 to two hundred aud fifty
,ion millions in 1859. In 1884 the consumption
three pounds per head 1T the present tir
is eight pounds Its price was lowest Ia
MOO, | when il was sold at about the same price
Kan | the duty levied upon it ~ the custom-hs
,st prior to 1888. The average price for the
III . | tnirty wears has been below nine cents
ough pouno. nc oo"s"i"i '' in VI " -, ~ . us NV w = :,
MON | OF mounds to thirty-sIx millions. It's ave
,ear, | nrce for the last twenty-five Years has
rican forty EIGHT cents per pound. The average G
ugh levied upon it at the custom house piie