New-York tribune., 1874-12-24

women are there. in toilets which contrast strongly
with those of the night before. without
counting the diamonds which the "traVei'
ing companions" of criticism have NOT
Notwithstanding at the first evening OF La hs,he
the fashionable people had made'an invasioh' unoe'
the pretext that the piece would only run ono nis"'
II will run 800 Beside the Princess Math,lde was
tho Princess of Saxe-CoburR-Gotha, topeh your III
mapac). In the prcscenium box opposite releneu III
his omhipotence King Ofenbach. surrounded py MS
family and friends The Imperial box could not be
ho,ter filed. Madame Ofenbsch has the head OF on
empress. The middle box was occupied by another
celebrity. partly American, partly French, partly
italian, the granddaughter of Lu.ieu Bonapare by
turns Princess Of Solms and citizen RattaZzi. now
the lovcest widow Of the two worlds, dazzling with
wit and diamonds. She had with her young br1de'
Madame do Molinari. who has just married the edl-
tor-in-chief of the Dfbdts.
Comedy of comedies, all is comedy. more or lesS
serious. NJ. Jules Simon was telling TINS evening
at ~ Tners' how Lord Ripon had passed. with
arms and baggage, over to the enemy. lhe enemy
is the Church. according 10 ~ jules slmon' out ne
was delighted to the heirapparcnt OF inc crown
of Great Britain. the Prince OF Wales to call MN
ny his namo. accepting tho position of Grand Mas
ter of Freemasons in Great Britain. When We make
step in advance il is we'll also to make a step in
I remember, at the funeral of the gallant Henri
ReCnault, that ray of sunshine which has survived
DEATH when they were taking up collection in the
Church of st. Augustine, N. Jules Simon, who was
then minister believing that it was for the poor
took out five franc piece, but when he heard the
sexton, man with moustache like drum-major
CRYING i'll deep bass voice. "for the expenses OF the
Church. if yo1 please" ho careidlly put his i'Ve
franc piece IN his pocket although 1t bore the emgy
of Napoleon the Third.
There has been, these last few days, battle OF
courtesy between Madame Jules Simon aud Madame
Rattazzi. These two ladies' both more or less
worldly and more less blue-stocking, received on
Thursdays. Now as they receive very nearly the
same people, and as they live three miles apart the
one at her dear fifth story in the Place dc La Made
lcine, the other in the magnificent Hotel OF the
Duke of Aquila, Avenue del Imperatrce they placed
their guests on the rack, because they could not
dine twice, even if dinner was served in the FIRST
house at seven and in the second at nine. Madame
Rattazzi has therefore surrendered 1t is on Sun
days hereafter that all parties will dine with her
NJ. Ordinaire beside NJ Carolus Duran, Nj. de Lacre-
tclle beside N. de Bonaparte. Madame Rattazzl IS
like that Senator of the Empire who SAID, Il NOT
only understand all opinions. but share them
Itis the most hospltable house in Paris. Scotch
hospitality is surpassed forever. For Instance Ma
dame Ratazzi invites twelve persons to dinner and
fifty come. This is no fable. Even to-day she swore
TO me that we would be twelve. We were forty
nne in such circumstances you dine as you can.
The mistress of the house is greatly the superior OF
the widow of Scarron. who substituted story for
the roast The pretty Princess performs every Sunday
the miracle of the multiplication of theloaves There
are many people in Paris who give excellent dinners
where nothing is lacking except guests. The true
triumph TO give bad dinner where there are always
four times as many guests as are expected. Ought
to saw BY the way that there are many gouTmands
in Paris who dine nowhere so we'll as at the Hotel
Rattazzi.
Paris this Winter becomes again the city OF social
dissipation. They have reconstructed an official
circle which throws open its salons generously
enough. There are pleasant receptions at Marshal
MacMahOn's. and at the Duke Decazes, while the
other ministers are taking their time to become
worldly: more intimate receptions at the house OF
the Princess Mathde and the Princess Troubetzkoi.
These people of esprit take the lead. 1t must be
confessed that there at present some politicians
who are men of esprit, like the Duke Decazes just
named. M Emile de Girardin receives also but it is
inst his bad luck that while he would prefer poll
tclans, he has none but clever people, proving the
wisdom Of the nations expressed in the prOverb that
no one here below is content with his lot
ARsENE HoUssAYE.