, 1865-12-26
TIE ERA OF LORETTEs IN PARIS,
Translated from the Maennne Of Foreign Li.era.
tute. for the Commercial AoYeytisef,l

lTtausistcd from the Maennne Of Foreign Li.era-
ture, for the Commercial Advertiser
81 am not the gravc-dlgger who buries,
nm tic sentinel who warns.'' With these
words, Amedee de Cessna closes hts last
book, lies Bellies Pccheresses." Although
Mr.. dc Cessna is Bonapartfst, he nevertheless
perceiyes the signs Of decay, and beholls
society driving toward an abJss. Ne calls
the present cara, such Us 1t is exhibited in
Paris, the 'fEra Of Lotettes," and c1claims,
with indignation "What Is to be expected
from m epoch and eocicty where the names
OF Kigolboche nnd Theresa 70 from mouth to
mouth! Rigo1boche and Theresa have be-
come types. Arc not these E1gns Of decay ~
During the periods Of the first empire and
the restoration, Paris Was considered as I'M
moral as . modern Babel. But then there
were elevated points and low grounds, and
everywhere there could be found pure spots
which the mud passed By Without touching.
The most fearful symptom OF the moral
decay which the actual Paris presents, is The
disappearance Of MI boundaries be-
tween that ,, which is base an and thu. tna.
and md fs>tivais Il 'ps Of tie tnshionabie 6 world, @
reputation, who bY dint Of money
found husbands, leaning on whose arms they
walk With proud guilt. In the most arisio-
cratic and haughty salons In the most honor.
able families you meet with women who, un-
ing necessities Of luxury, which every year be-
comes more extravagant, have formed dis
honorable 1asons With rich men Of their So
Ciety. How many bills Of jewellers. taanlaandes
ae sHade and dresssnakens are paid without the
knowledge Of the husband, and at the cost Of
his honor! Under the monarchy Of Tnly the
causes Of decay-an exclusively material de-
miralion Of success, no matter BY what mems
obtained-began already to SOW the seed Of
corruption, which, under the present Govern
mcnt, has Town up with snch furious rapid
ity. Women hare lost In charms what they
have gained In influence. What Is still
healthy is timidly drawing back fashion, the
Powero Of the day, has fallen TO the share Of
II you attend one Of the Parisian theatres
Of tic first OF second class on the occasion Of
first representation Of a piece which, on ac~
count of the name OF tho author, or Of It's
character, enjoys come reputation. during the
first scenes YOU arc continually disturbed by
the noisy opening md closing Of the doors Of
some oft boxes. The whole house, from
The orchestra seats up to the amphitheatre,
directs attention to those boxes, and this
GOES on until I'LL the boxes Of the first tier arc
occupied. II you ate strangcr you will find
1t singular that each Of these boxes which are
curiel BY only two ladies, either uuaccompa-
MED by gentlemen, or only by young men
who, By their appearance, hetray their TN.
easiness.
Soon yon will make o second observation.
These women arc dressed in an elegant but
rather snowy style; they wcsr rich 1ewelry
and costly 1aces, but it seems as though the
women are handsome, but their beauty Is ofa
peculiar kind. Their faces, although young,
are treated Us II they were old the eyebrows,
even the eye-laahce, arc painted and give their
1angufd eyee singular expression; the
cheeks are glatlng With white and red paint.
Some Of them are hrunettes, Others fair; the
one have blue, the others black eyes; some
are email, others large, but all Of them have
family likeness. Their department. their
dress. everything bears stamp which tells
you That they are al Of QUE class Of women.
and belong to the Same society.
WHO arc these women who strire to attract
attenftop. aud WHO succeed 80 well IN these
naneuvres, that they are spectacle within
the spectacle, not only to gentlemen, but
also 70 the most cultivated, richest aud
poblest ladless Arc. they the queens Of
art nnd poetry, brilliant with beauty and
renowns During the intervals a1l the opera.
glasses are directed toward them, people
point them ont to each other, mud make them
The subject Of their conversation. Ladics
aud gentleman who did not know these wo-
men, inquire their names and are not satisfied
orc The OBJECT Of all thoughts, the aim of all
looks, nnd that attention Ia Withdrawn from
the new piece to be directed to them? Is this
an homage TO their yirtue, their spirit or their
fntluences Certainly not; for when they eu-
tered their boxes malicious nnilc received
them, accompanied BY an impertinent curl
osity.
These women are met every where; On the
pro1ufnndes and at the Boulevard des Ita1iens
and in the Rois de Boulogpe; at the hippo
drome at Longchamps at Vincennes and
Chantflly. Some Of them ride in splendid
carriages n Ia Daumonte, or In post-chaises
others in elegant Victossas with two horses,
which they dive themselves and everywhere
you observe that they are the centre Of Ill eyes
and the theme Of ali conversations. The Ia
dies seem 10 envy aud the gentlemen to ad-
mire them but they are never accompanied
by any one; as il it were loo great an honor,
or too great shame, to be seen with them IN
their carriages. Who are these women, go
elegant and 60 luxurious, 80 young and 90
painted, who are always alone. They arc
Loreltts.
The Lorette Is novelty Of peculiar kind,
which Las no model In the past, aud We hope
for the good Of cur postctity, viii find no
copy in The future. She would approach the
Astaisa of Athens, Il she combined with the
beauty Of Phytne, the Intelligent mind Of