The New York herald., 1870-02-20
FASHION And high LIFE.
The Mode in EUrope-Its Leaders, Worship
pers, Appearances and Results.
What is Worn and Coming Gut in Paris
and London.
PARIS FASHIONS.

Brilliant But Dark Social Drawbacks-Im.
periaiisln In Costume, Design and Toilet
Royal Ball Dresscs-Diamonds and Fur
Tsimmings-Bcnmty mt the supper Table
Americans mt tho HStei do vilIe-velvets,
Pearls und Lases.
PARIS, Feb. 2 1870.
Like unto Janus the events OF tins week have sevc-
raj faces-or rather like unto that country SWAN
who was one minute Johnny a-iaugnlng'' and the
next "Jonnny a-crying'-lor we have gone through
astrn2 OF balls and succession or quick murders.
Tne latter have become common that may say
they have attained q period OF influenza; every
street must have its decd and its coroDers inquest
Since 1ranpmann's execution we have seen an un-
gentle wooer IN the Rue st. Honor stab MS lady
love the staircase and IN the Faubourg ST. Honore
we have had a man servant cut on his mlstrcss'
mead with one stroke OF the carving KNIFE because
she objected TO his being drunk. we have a4so had
four nocturnal attacks IN different parts OF Paris on
the persons OF young men returning home after the
theatre, and strange to say, each OF waylad
armed at the tlme-a proof that citizens now go
to enjoy themselves with the perspective Of meeting
Uther o Journalist or cutthroat alter midniahe
SO much for the tragic face OF the week. The
other has been Lohengrinning at the Theatre
Lyrlquc, and counting IL at the Tuileries, and
dancing at the Hotel de vilc, ana skating, too az
long as the pond would stand it, at the Bois-a
thing IL did for only half day, as Old Winter turned
the hard set smiles he brought with him from the
north into melting tears as soon as he saw the
slashed furs OF our fair. From that moment his
lachrymose pity sofened the CLASSY surface, which
rs now only firm enough for the sport OF sparrows.
1t IL far more pleasant to contemplate sunny
than sombre face; but have one OF the latter at
my pens end which many husband has often
wished TO "dweh" upon, 30 l Will bring 1t up with
out delay II Is the face OF the Empress tailor Of
one OF her taors, 1t does not signify which to hus
bands who IN their blind rage include oil
their faces In the same savage desire. TIE
digntary referred TO semi In very magnificent bill
for some object OF toilet furnished by him to her
Majesty, who thought the charge cxorbitant but
paid II, saying 'she was not wealthy enough TO
afford such prices and viii forward him no iurther
ORDERS" The sombre expression has not worn or
YETI for the tailor has met with rebuke which VIII
prove more cutting far tEah scissors.
II 10 probable the following toilet, worn by the
Empress will be In odel for some handy Dress
MAKER to follow, now that econ0 my suggests that
man tailors cannot be kept any longer. am of
opinion that suca graceful sovereign as Eugenie
could wear simpler toilet sull even or poor mate
rial. were II seemly Tor her high POSITION and bache
lors can answer for IT, w0uid find ncr yeller than
over on reccl!ectlDg she nad done away with men
presiding over matters Of womens clothes.
! will proceed TO record what the Empress wore
At the FIRST court bail given tins season at the
Tullerles Nile water satin roDe, cut low with
sable lur epauetcS over the sklrt el Two others OF
whte tuie Irlnged with silver, lOOped here and
Lere with small pieces OF Inc FUR; the waistband
was closed IN front with q round diamond snap
Round sDowbas shook their light clusters IN the
Empress fair hair, which was plated behind and
consolidated with afew diamonds, the same gems m
ner ears and round her threat. Is was q most
poetic and becoming combination.
Princess Clothiida was In blue, over which white
laca tanlc. In her bodice sue wore bouquet OF
pink hyacnhs. and the same In her nalr. with dia-
moads.
nlcn and the wife of Marshal Canropert all Wore
Iur trimmings. And thus 1t Is admire fur most on
glossy light textures and white, delicate shoulders
IL illustrates so plainly that the spois OF powerful
wild beasts are ntting tribute to the weak and
poWeriess Tor OF course the lary-like wearers are
NOT supposed TO go aud fetch the skins ot savage
animals themselves 1t implies Inat men can
face them for the sake OF tnelr and sstcrs bat
perhaps this Dacnelor enthusiasm OF mine may be
more Quix0tlc than conugal, aud this Kind OF
bravery out OF date only know l wish had
offered 10 prncess de Metternich the lovely swans
down she had on round her white satin tunic thar
waved ABOVE TWO underskrts made OF wnite tue.
u looked Ike new-fallen snow and her long spear
Ike diamonds round her throat reminded me OF the
lcicles OF the cline the down had come from. The
white, glistening effect was rendered poetic by
noating sash Of purple thrown on behind; and lust
as last rays OF day shine on marble But these
ideas Of mine, fear, sound ike Tie taors, SO
refrain.
/ think the Duchess de Mouchy was one OF the very
gorgeous. Her underskrt was . cloud OF tulle;
tule on tulle and tulie over Lnat again; which
q velvet tunic, rich Orleans plum shade with the
down on them; on this dark glow a blue, sky blue
SASH turQuoses and diamonds In her hair. ears ana
round her neck. The plum colored tunic was worked
with gold.
Another startling toilet was Madame Carette's, the
Empress old proeoee, but Juvenile one. Her robe
was OF Chestnut cOOreu tue, dotted over with
cer1se and white carnations.
1t Is q long time since have mentione1 Madame
Rimski Korsakow, who Is two years older since
las, saw her, and appears ten younger--oh, water
cures on. ch'ghon, paint and jewels She wore
velvet robe. sapphire shade, trimmed the bodice
and panler wish white lace. In her hair splendid,
hde0uS serpent was cooled lts ruby eyes flashed at
me, white tho par underneatn, the wearers,
besmed-I may say without tvanity-encouragngly;
but then, to come out with all the truth, a hug.
bouquet oil white lilac was held up between the en-
cOurager and The encouraged
saus were as usual ln White, with wreaLns 0f roses
round tneir foreheads-round ones, | n.an the
me most. One young lady, Mile. Ducos struck me
more than her toilet, as being very beautiful IL was
Beetles all blue ana silver. Il Puck had had to
choose BRIDE ut this ball, Mile. Ducos would nave
been the one.
viewed the usual siege around the supper table in
the Galer!c &c Diane with ine1able dsriaY. All the
pretty, imaginative, gentle DeauleS had admired
were terribly pugnacous for food, ana l do not
think any siege recorded In history could vie with
THIS grand fight pyramid OF tru1ies was centre
OF attraction. Some or the strugglers might have
shown the spirit OF content demonstrated Dy the fol-
lowing from q soldier tie was once asked II he had
ever eaten any truties and replied he had not "but
brush down every morning for i've years, who ate
truiiies every day" did not attempt to enjoy any
supper HySelI, DuL navnS come across reporter OF
city paper we persuaded the head 0Mcier de
00nche to tell US what are the quantities refresh
ments supplied by tradesmen for these court balls.
He acceded most kindly 10 our request and we bosn
took Dotes, Whilo doing so / distinctly heard the
scratching OF pencil on paper behind me. turned
and shook hands with your political correspondent;
he said he was reporting the cut OF my
har so | rave MIN another view Of 1t
by resuming my former position Presently, when
I and the Gaulois had done, distinctly heard
friends voice behind; he AS speaking 70 Ger
man. NO" said he, Il have copied our fashion
writer's list over his shoulder, you see, and
e you have IL; but you are sure 10 ger IL from the
NEW YORK HERALD. through the English papers, In
npout month or So"
THIS was lmpudence for the political mail, was
aware, would leave Paris tue next day, nearly q
week before my fashion mail. and my Items had
been kidnapped. VIII Keep an eye Oh your political
writer and report on the cut oi his back hair
convenient period.
But now to the Hotel dc Vile. 1t was no finer
than the others under Baron Haussmann. NJ and
Nine. Henri Chevreau dId the honors with indeia-
tgaD Die courtesy, and the United States Minister Mr.
Washourne was quite a lion, having presented
several American beauties both al court and TO tho
city this season. He is generally liked by Ameri-
cans III PARIS, ana Is much thought OF Al the palace
Nine. Chevrcau was IN straw.colored satin
toilet, trimmed with bOuillOnne Of tue ana Venice