The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-12

Special Correspondence Of the Crescent
PARIS, June Is, lS6S.
Nothing short of arevolution, and a well gotten
up one, could stir the people of Paris out before
six O'Clock during tAis sutry weather. OF course
there can be no news, and dullness reigns SUI
preme. The truth is. the effect of parching
sun is the same in every country, and has been
since the old days when our ancestors lolled un-
der their fig trees. To-day Americans sit in the
coor and drink sherry cobblers; the French, on
the contrary, religiously avoid drafts, and would
consider they had signed their death warrant if
they drank an ice drink in summer. The African
sleeps away bis very life in the broiling sun, and
the Asiatic almost forgets his evil passions while
enjoying the shade of his feathery trees. Thought
becomes more dreary, ard action less prompt
every where. This is wise ordinance of Proyi-
dence, as regards Partisan life, particularly--for
were there no relaxation from its quick, feyerish
onward tide, 1t would become as ephemeral as is
the moth, which Is created, lives, loves. creates
and dies in single day. All the stir and hustle
OF winter have subsidized into perfect calm-and one
may luxuriate in the library among pleasant
books land IN sippers) ali the long day without
fear OF interruption. Reception DAYS are folded
up and put aside with winter shawis and furs-
friends are all absent at their country seats or
seeking pleasure In trayel-wbhe We dream all
the morning in the daTkened iDrary-and are only
brought back to real life by the striking of six
O'Clock. Dinner follows of course aud as our
lady friends might like 10 know the usual menu
OF the day, we give it-with cost:
Potsge printanier.
Filet of broiled salmon-one franc.
HaTlcCtS Verts-slx sous.
Roast chicken-three francs.
Saad-fOur sous.
Strawberries and cream-ten sous.
Cherrles-four sous.
nHo 10
We do not mention a bottle of Bordeaux uia
I'm, which costs only fifteen sous-such a quality
as would cost 81 in New Orleans. So You see we
can dine at home, and dine well, on six francs
plain family dinner, II is true but when we
compare 1t with the expense of other countries,
we award the palm for a cheap dinner to France
And yet, after living here sometime, a franc
swells itself into the importance OF dollar at
home, in spite Of all reasoning. We Americans
do not know what economy is. We have the
will, for our housekeepers are not disOrderly:
but if you with TO be convinced of our ignorance
in household economy come to France, where
the cook gives strict account of every grain OF
salt No French woman was ever heard TO ex-
claim: " Pshaw! il is only one sou; what is a
sou" Thus il is they reduce their household
expenses to just the level they desire, and there
they keep them.
The rich and dashing Americans and Russians
are nightly throngng the Musard gardens. Last
night was one of the most brilliant evenings.
Since Mr.. Provost laid down the aIchet as chef
d'Orchestre there the music is abominable bat
the people go to see and be seen. Three or more
thousand were present last night. The ladies'
dresses resembled orchards of peach and apple
blossoms. White tulle dresses trimmed with white
satin ribbons were also worn, with tiny shepherd
ess' hats. Pink gauzes aud white, lover col0rs,)
Topped in Vatican bundles and lunches about the |
waist Sashes in knots and bows. and laces IN /
artistic confusion. Ii is impossible TO imagine |
a more beautiful or attractive sight. The garden |
all bordered with marguerites and geraniums; /
the bright green OF the trees all ablaZe with the
light OF the pyramdal lusiers here and there: /
the perfumed crush of gauze and muslin; the |
elegant mass moving easily about to the sound of |
the music, while the hum Of the thousand voices |
deadened the sharp defects of the orchestra.
We sat near TO Alex. Dumas (p6re) last week |
during the performance of his drama in five acts |
entitled " Madame de Chamblay." He sat in all |
the beatitude success would throw upon a young |
debutant. his wild mass of gray hair forming a |
remarkable frame 10 his enormous face. His face
is colossal, we might say, and induces one TO wish
II were placed further away or high up on pc. |
destal, TO give il that proportion one il accus.
toned to see in a mans face. He was as pleased |
as boy Of sixteen whenever the piece was ap- |
plauded, and invariably leaned forward from his |
position in bis arm chair TO whether il was the
public who applauded, OF only the cldguers. The |
drama IS masterpiece of poetry, passion and |
style II is finely cast, and deserves its success.
Whole acts turn upon one sentence or phrase, |
with vigOr and power which characterize the |
pen Of Dumas at once, and yet there is an absence
of morality which endangers or rather sacrifices |
the " prestige" of the piece as soon as il quits /
the boundary Of France.
The reprise Of "Herculanum,n by Fecien |
David, we are TO have this week. cast by La |
Gueymsrd, La Battu, 0bin, etc. We will speak Of
IL in our next.
By the way, the opera offers erection of bust
OF Nilsson as Opheia, much to the Just indigna-
ton Of the artistic world, and Nieconi the Italian
tenor, has received from Mr.. Baxter. director of /
the Iiaiens," a silver crown for invaluable ser.
vices. People ask why Mr.. B. did not give him
q gold one, and suggest that he keeps the more
precious metal to crown La Patti with when she
leaves his theater finally. We dare assert that
were Druids Ia mode now they would be crowned
By gold and silver in this metallic age instead of
those which were formerly gathered from the 81.
lent virgin forests.
One word about fashions. Cambria or percale
dresses are the rage-slripes only worn. Some
Toung ladies look like a jar Of peppermint candy,
While others look like purple and white tulips; all
he colors, IN stripes, are wOrn-partcularly the
lew green and the new mauve. The entire cos
ume is of percale, including the SASH and the
lspect of Paris now is as striped as a zebra. Curs
md paint and "mouches are worn with these
alico dresses, which is a vulgar caprice of fashion
uTely, but then everybody must wear what is
worm bon gre m0lgre here, or submit to be the OBJ.
ect of remark from the butcher boy with his
asket on his head, to the lady dashiDg by in her
arrlage. VISTA.