National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-02
DANCING PARIS INTO LIFE.

The Paris correspondent Of the London
Ners, under date of March %, writes that the
trades people have surely good reason to be
pleased with the Septennial Court. In the way
of setting people dancing, it has achieved results
which enable it TO stand comparison with the
Empire. II pedal animation is criterion Of
galley, this season has been really gay. We
have had two State balls, Q municipal ball, and
the transcendently brilliant fete ofthe Tribunal
Of Commerce. Arrangements are being made
10 give . grand ball at the Elysee, where
Marshal MacMshon Is to pass the Easter re-
cess. During his sojourn in Paris several pub
lie and private fetes win be given in his honor.
N. Applaud, accompanied by the city archi-
tect, has been paying visits to the Bourse, to
report to the stockbrokers' Corporation on the
expense of Transforming that building into q
temporary ballroom. Then the wealthy
Associations negotiating the hire Of .
theatre in which to give fancy ball of high
ly original character.
Dancing has become State affair. Terpsi-
chore is tutelsry divinity whom political lead
ers invoke. It does not suffice to set Parisisns
dancing. The weather strangers who deserted
Paris when trfbulation overlook her, must be
enticed back by resumption Of her old ex-
ternal nveliness.
If Marshal MacMahon could lay hands on
few crowned heads and heirs apparent, the
balls might serve to inaugurate week of out
door junkets and brilliant spectacles. There
might be grand costume picnic In the forests
Of Compiegne or Fontainblsan; q regatta, at
which Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard might
be represented by their crack oarsmen; an in
ternational pigeon match at Longehamps; re-
views, and horse races. Dissipation by day
light is infinitely more probably to trade than
even dancing BY gaslight. Toilettes must be
what they profess to be. Under the searching
glare of the sun those falsities IN which ladies
can, with immunity, indulge in artificial light,
are Ike Mrs. Camps front In respect Of their
failure to take people In. The flowers, the
feathers, the silks, the sstins, the laces, and
whatever lingerie d visible, must be of the
finest quality.
A carefully considered article in the Ministe-
rial organ-the .FfdHedis--on the terrible de-
preston Of trade, gives the nomadic poprla-
ton Of Paris towards the close Of the Empire
at SOC, 900, The Average soiourn Of each visi-
tor was twenty days In the year, and the
average hotel expenditure los. per diem, to
say nothing of what was squandered In pleas
ure and spent in the shops. The 10s., multi
piled by 800, 900, came to s,ooo, COOS. day;
this at the end Of the month reached GO, 600,
COOS, and at the close of the year exceeded
the gigantic sum Of milliard. Thus, what
was spent In hotels, eating, and lodging houses
by strangers, would alone in Eve years have
cleared the colossal va; debt to Prussia. The
visitors, With the exception Of . few swindlers,
paid their way In gold and silver. Hence the
plethora Of specie in the Bank Of France,
which almost grew 10 chronic maiady in the
period that interyened between 1857 and 1870.
A vast number Of visitors came to buy, and
not to dance. They came in search Of articles
de Paris, Of models for wigs, chignons, eloaks,
dresses, bonuets, ARTIFICIAL flowers, inlaid fur
niture, and nicknacks for drawing room tables.
Paris was the great fair Of those vanities In
which the. daughters of Eve delight. The
Paris workmen and workwomen, when once q
highly artificial standard Of taste was admit
ted, knew how to conform to 10 with sbetter
grace than any other.
The article in question shows that the party
In power has done Tor the articles de Paris
what that other arch-defender Of moral order,
Louis Quatorze, did for the six and porcelain
trade. It has transferred the seat Of what was
the staple trade Of the French capital to other
cities, which are now undsrselling Paris. No
amount ofdancing WIN bring back the soo,o
yisitors, 90 long a. the articles de Paris can be
% London, brussels, and the
German cities, where Communard workmen
have elected domicile.
The gigantic taxation under which Paris now
groans 70 another reason why visitors keep
sway. II rents have gone down everything
else has gone up with vengeance, for Paris,
which contains less than twentieth part Of
the entire French population, pays fourth
part Of the national Imports How long viii
she Be able 70 on paying ~
The action Of the bar ofthe Oxford (Engiand)
circuit will It is said, have the effect Of entirely
depriyins DR.. Kenealey, the claimants counsel,
Of practice. The most eminent barrister could
not stand against this tyranny, and II 10 likely
that the doctor, who is not wealthy, and who
has a large family, win have either TO emigrste
or seek new calling.