Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-09-24
The DemI.Monde at Ghe fuller.
=" les.

The New York Sun paints q very
dark picture Of the RIGHTEOUSNESS
and profigacy prevalent at the
Tuileries. under Napoleon aud Eu.
genie. 1t is certainly not q picture
In harmony with outside impress
siOns but we give II, nevertheless,
for what It may be worth:
We have repeatedly called atten-
ton to the circumstance that high
toned and virtuous gentlewomen
have stunned social relations with
the fashionable rabble at the Tuile-
ries. Mrs. Dayton, wife Of the late
American Envoy at Paris, used to
remark that she did not wish her
daughter to associate with the
court people, because they were so
low and depraved. Never, since
the days Of Maria and Catherine de
Medici, had the French court be-
come such a receptacle for adven'
turers and adventuresses as during
tbs happily defunCt rule Of Bona
parte aud bis Spanish spouse.
Besides the Erazus and AlDas
who represent high Spanish society.
there were hundreds Of low
bred Spanish and South AmericaDl
and creOles, all more or less fasci.
mating, but destitute Of moral and
mental culture, who contribu'
ted not q little to DENT mORdize the
Tuilaries. The influence Of the
Princess Metternich was equally
demoralizing. A grand dame by
birth aud manners, but rowdy IL
spirit, she was together with the
Pourlales (who is now continued 81
Vincennes) among the most init
mate friends of Eugene. Together
they constituted q Bacchanaliar
set, and carried their private fOllie'
to the Utmost verge of license.
Eugenie's own honor was as mucl
|, above suspicion as that of Marie
Antoinette but she winked at pro.
fligacy, If she did not share II
French society, under her reign
was not only lowered in mora
tone, but degraded, encGntdiue, II
manners and conversation. 1t haC
t little ofthose redeeming traces o
, wit and elegance which threw
t, fascinating halo even over the vice
/ and crimes Of the regency.
/, All this was fast and rotten Il
: American society was attracted b,
the glitter of the Tuileries, as
I moth by fame and it need hardl
be stated that the American me
I and women who basked in the su
@ of imperialism belonged chiefly I
our fashionable Five Points, an
were most of them rOwdies at hear
decked up with jewelry and finer!
but reeking with depravity an
\ every kind Of fashy vice. N
doubt some of the best among OF
countrymen were also introduce
at the French court, and shared J
e its gayeties ; but they were not hal
It ilual visitors, and soon shrank fro
d an atmosphere so deadly to Writ
Ie and honor.
n Another class of women wi
. frequented the Tuileries were &C
, tain opulent German and Frent
y financial ladies, and Armenian al
q Levantine beauties, who in Par
D. found. themselves easily admitt'
to social circles, access to which
ar difficult for them in England Of
n Germany. But all their attraction
failed to raise the tone OF the II
perial Court; indeed they positiv
y " lowered it.. Some Of these WON
NJ were especially renowned for th'
beauty. Society composed Of
-, many homogeneous elements
he menians, Spaniards, Mexicans, Z
ruvians, Chilians, Creoles, q
shOddy Americans from the Nor
IT. ern States, all vieing with ca
or other in dress and jewelry-COU
not help being bright and picture
ny que ; but It was not high Fren
n nor high EngIish, nor high Anne
to can society. It was q h0tch-p0i
made up Of the snowy, low, fl
en- gaudy, ostentatiOus men and won
Ar. Of all countries, and full Ofa sort
morbid interest for the student
>" human nature, but very bad y
&c withstAnding.
:, AEoaessy IN 4 woman is like @