The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-20
PARIS GOSSIP.

PARIS GOSSIP.
The ingenuity applied to the invention of new
amusements in fashionable life continues to
grow week by week. The quadrille of The
Gazelles and the Leopards," for instance which
was got mp at the ball OF the Minister of Marine,
was a curiosity in its way. The "Gazelles' were
the handsomest women the "Leopards" the
finest men, Of the season; the spots on the skin
of one of the latter were composed entirely of
diamonds. The favorite feature of a ball nova
days IS the cetillion which is always the con-
cludlng dance, and is sometimes kept up under
the inspiration of spirited active, and ingenious
leaders, for three or our hours The latestAnd
most popular novelty introduced into the cotll-
lion is called the Davenport Wardrobe;n an
imitation of which famous piece of furniture,
made very light, so as to be easily moved, being
placed in the middle OF the ballroom, and one
ot the gentlemen being shut up in it, the ladies
put their hands, one alter another, through the
holes in the door, and the captive is kept prl-
sOner until he has OWNED the owner of at least
one of the hands. When he has performed this
feat, another gentleman takes his place, and so
on, until the diyining power of the cavaliers
present has been sufficiently tested, and sufti-
cient amount of laughter has been got out of
the affair.
An old game, lie tOuYnOi bOrleSque has lately
been revived, and is an intallibe mIrth-pro voker
The jousteIs in this novel style of tournament
(always gentlemen), seat themselves on the
ground, with their knees drawn up, their shins
crossed and their hands clasped round the
latter. stick, rather over yard long, is then
placed under the knees OF each player, and
tied firmly in place with handkerchief,
in such a way as that knees, stick, and
hands are securely fastened together. at
q given signal the players, divided into two
squads, dodge themselves about upon the floor
each endeavoring to upset the others by poking
a tbpm with stick and thnsn ubO aT III
or only touched, are at once put out of the game;
the ranks OF the combaants are soon thinned
and the hight is presently narrowed to duel
between the two most skilful of the rival knights
1t is difficult to imagine anything more ldtlicrous
than the spectacle presented by twenty or thirty
OF these combatants, all equally busted in laying
about them with their sticks, or in avoiding or
parrylng the thrusts OF their adverSaries; espe-
eially when, perhaps, balfa-doZen of tn heaviest
have had the illlucK to lose their balance, and
founder into the most ridiculous attitudes, in
their vain attempts to get themselves again into
a sitting posture.
Paris has been making diligent use of the
last Gays OF its short carnival, and laying up q
stock OF satisfied mundane souvenirs for the en-
liyenment of Lent, which penitential period
begins next Wednesday, and will be varied by
small, cosy dinner parties of the most luXu-
rious description and dancing teas,n at which
the traditional humiliation and breast beating
OF the time Will be duly recognized by the rigid
tabooing of the word "ball" and the substitution
of the piano for the violin. Some very recherche
little dinners, worthy OF Lent, have already
been given, the fortunate purchasers OF an i'm
mense and very fine tortoise, caught last week
on the coast near Toulon, and forthwith sent
up to Paris and divided among three or four OF
the leading gastronomlc celebrities, having each
given prandial entertainment, worthy OF Lu
CullHs, TO a few intimate trends, in honor OF
a windfall most unusual IN this part of the
world.
Sorees, with or without music, have also been
numerous. At the one given by Princess de Ia
thn nf inv
significant word Theresa" and not a soul of all
those who received them missed the chance oi
hearing, in the princess splendid saloons, the
renowned diud OF the smoky interior Of the
Alcazar. 1t Is all very well for the devotees oi
high art and right propriety to declaim against
the novel style OF the popular songsIess, and the
occasional breadth of suggestive implication
contained in her ditties; but il is impossible ia
deny that the woman is wonderful artist
in line of her own creating, and that il
would be difficult TO imagine anything more
perfect than her songs and her singing OF
them in her own peculiar way. At all events,
she has taken 50 firm hold on the liking Of
Paris that not even the most straitlaced duchesseS
would now think Of sailing out Of q drawing
room to testify against her presence; while
Patti, in ali the radiance OF her starry glory, is
one of Theresas most enth NsiasUic admirers and
| claps her little white-gioved hands in ecstacy
whenever she hears her, which she does as often
as she can. Patti, by'the-way, had engaged to
| sing few evenings since for the moderate sum
| OF 5000f at the sorse given by the fabulously
rich Jewish grandee, Mfae de Gunzbere, but sub
sequently declined TO fulfil 80 tTiaing an engage
/ ment; wheTeupon Nine de Gunzberg engaged
/ that other wonderful warbler, Mime NOLAN
| Carvalho, lessee Of the Theatre Lyrique who
accepted 240Of,, and sent the guests intorRptUres
with her exquisite singing.
A couple of brilliant theatrical successes have
marked the last week, one being the conversion
| into an opera of Lamartines beautiful story
| "Fior d'Aliza,n by those skilful playwrights
| Michel Carree and Hippolyte Lucas, the music
| being furnished by Victor Masses; the other
| new play, HeloiSe Pdrdnquet, the manuscript o
| which was deposited in the letterboX OF tht
| manager Of the Gymnase Theatre, accompanied
| by an anonymous letter requesting that the
| piece if approved, might be put at once upor
| the stage, and adding that the writer renoVnees
| beforehand all share in the profits OF the play
| being determined 10 remain 5ncog. The new
| candidate for the hOnors of representation
| having been promo unced chef dG1tDre, was a.
once put in hand, and has now been brough
out in admirable style and with strong cast
and most successfully, the enthusiasm OF th
| public being wrought up to an unusual pitch
and the house, at the fall OF the curtain, makinl
frantic demands for the author. But these &c
monstrations only succeeded in bringing th'
manager to the footliRhts, aud in drawing iron
| that dignItarV solemn assurance that II wa