, 1874-05-23
FAMILIAR TALK.



The London season Ina opened With brilllan-
oy unprecedented Hince tho death OF princp Al
bort. Tho tSuoon has Mt lust resumed d portion
of her old-t!me oleerfulnoss; sprinkling OF
light colorn pleasantly roliovos tho gonberncon
Of hcr mourning; smilnB frequently illuminate
ler faoo with sunslino; and she londH hor
natronago. with gracious facility, to tho eoc'nl
pasttnos becoming to tho Court Of England.
With the ontrsnco Of now n1tnistry Into tho
Qnoon's Cnbinat, there is III introduction Of now
attondantn oil tho Queen In ler drawing-roon,
aud g galaxy Of frosh beauties arc grouped
about hor on all gala and stnto occasions.
The Duchess Of Wellington succeeds tho
DuesioHs Of Argyll as Mistross Of the Queon's
ests from 5 n' a9 2G9aS nfS r Ge "eaSf9s osf b liz
noso % and patr Of small gray-blue oyes, on his
lady chiefly dovolyes tho tank of sustaining tho
prestige Ct tho house Of Wellesley. Admirably
uoos tie Duchosa meet tho responsibility. Sl1o
tios Of Viotoriaa Court. She is now bcyond
mtdda age, got Is still stately aul full Of clo-
ga'ioo and graco. She is childloss, and tho title
will pass, on her husbands deoonso. into
younger branch Of tho Iron Duhe's family.
Tho Queen Inns takon up her aboha at Windsor
for the SEASON, bnt holds drawing at
Buckingham pataco at froquont intervals, AT
Wi!idhor O gouorouB hospitality Ia maintained,
aud thoy WHO hayo tho privilege OF admission
sao1G Aekt1Ik LllNk HOLluuE CRu GACbEu CQ6 cosy.
simple styo TINT prevails at tho breakfasts, opon-
air concerts. cto tllat occur in continual auccea
sion. Az tho Quoon has nlne children aud twen-
ty~four or twenty-five grandchildren. anil their
birthdayn arc celebrated with lavish gayety, tho
recurrence Of these festivals alono gfvos rise
to no small number Of happy reunions.
Iho Lrince antl Princess Of Wales, at A1arlbor-
ough Houao aud Sandrnghan1; tho Duke and
Duchess Of Edinburgh, ut Clarence Honne tho
Prince and Princess Christian (Iolona), at Cum-
narj md Tn7v
(Nlary Of Canlbridge). at kow; and tho Duke Of
Cambridge n bachelor, ut least in the sight OF
tho law), In PArk LAuo nro nsl active In porforn-
Ing their Royal duty Of hopping tbs Court lively
ylld animated: The Marquis md hfarchioneHs Of
Lorno have hitlloto lived qniot. retired llfo III
the country but this season they hays taken mp
their residence IN Argyll Lodge, at Conptoir,
Hill, and it is Baid that thoy contemplate lna1g1-
rating t1loro II scono Of much gayetY. Tho Dfnr-
clinness of Lorno las aa yet been llnblessod
With children.
ExTnAyAuAHT STAGE COSTUMES,
Tho habit Of extravagant DRESSING in vogue
among actrcRscs on tho stage ia referred for its
origin to tho period when the Imperial Court
WAS at Comptogne. Actresses who wero sum-
monod thore to play for tho amusement Of Roy
atty wore. by IN arbitrary decree, compelled to
oboy tho aumptuRry laws which regulatcd CO.'S
tune. Hstriouic Queens md Countcsses were
+A4uo NkAtEoA w Ia H0 4lE1A al1A tlGHE1lE
rohos as the laiiea wore whose state and dignity
thoy for tho time being initiated. by n ridicu-
loua inconsistency though the drama they en-
acted waB fictitious, their dresB and accessories
mt at bo genuine. The Lord Chamberlain even
went 90 far as onco to banish an actress who
presumed to wear mock pearls when plnying the
part Of n Duchess.
Two yenra ago, NIllea, Fargnoil, Bernhardt,
ind Descloes nado public protest against the
pieces ait1 robes. in which they were required
ftrn
liBhod by Paris managors--so dress like EN-
presses, at their own expense. When tho En-
pire fell which inaugurated the custom, these
ladies' reasonably agreed that II certain Republic
can simplicity might properly take tho plnco OF
an Imperial magnit1cence. Or, thoy maintained,
it stuge-ladien must woar drosses coBting twonty
times their salary, tho expense should fall on tho
atage-proprietors. But all to no purpose. It
Is tho most difficult Of oil things to exchange
Bplendor for simplicity. Tito hablues Of thea
will bo satisfied with no dininution Of tho spec-
taclo.
It is saitt that tho bills which Nile. Targ,,eil
had to puy for hor costu1nea-" In Tamilo Be-
notion and !" patric "-reepresontod sum total
which, carefully invested, would have brought
her lifo-ann.ity. Tho Client laco which sllo
wore on one famous blue dress was worth very
nearly 81, 500.
AN ECCENTRIC ACTOR.
Glatigny was one Of tho most eccentric
actors that ever enlivened Tue Trench stngo.
He was clever, but hoed1ons. lie had
bad memory; he mado up for Its def
cionoy by q happy talent for Improvisation.
Which ho used with astonishing impudenco.
It ia related Of him that, one evening, ho
saw tho name Of his friend Chavllly in tho
play-bill as le was passing tho h1ont-parnasac
Theatre. Flo entered by tho stago-door, aud
askcd to 900 his fripnd. IIo was told that
Chevily was OH tho stage. and could not be
spoken to. Thoreupon llo coolly Walked to tho
side OF Chovilly, us tho latter wa3 repeating cor
tain famous lines in porsard's "ChArlotte Cor
day."
AS Chevilly turned at their close, lie stared In
amazoment at Glatigny; but, recovering him
self, exclaimed; ''What, you here !" and shook
him cordially By tAe hand. Tho two players
then began talking Of their private affairs willie
in sight Of tho bowildorel audience. At lcngIh,
olatigny remarked, ~ mn afraid I intrudo ~
= Not at all |" rejoinel Cheyilly. NJ nm aure
d." d.; continued alatigny. .,se. farewell
Ho had reached tho wing in Lis departure,
when he suddenly returned, saying: tBy-the-by,
before re part, lot un hing together little
couplct dc Jacture" "With all my heart;" md
tho Whimsical actors standing before Tie font
lights: sang verso from All old vaudeville OF
tho pleasure OF friends moeting unexpectedly,
Which used to bring the curtain down with ap-
plause.
At this duct tho audience entered into the
joke. and the most uproarious hiar1ty reignod
amongst them. Glatigny tlion retired, loaying
uhovilly to rcsumo hia rola with what Hpirit ani
Buccess were possible to lin.
SHOPPING IN PARIS.
Stories OF tho case and economy with which
ladies CHI pursue tho delights Of shopping In
Paris are enough to drive American women
frantic. Look At this, which Is yonchol for by II
to Lippi'cotes as IL trustworthy
catalogue of prices for feminine gear: Very
wearable nnlergarments. moro triiio linon
markod with embroidered iui-
tials 80 cents each two-buttoncd kid gloves, 80
ccnss pair; iue fashioned mohair strco.-suit,
neatly made and deliberately trimmed, ss15 black
Bllls atrcot-suit, $40; black silk houuo-dross,
trained, s35; silk potticoat for wearing
undcr poolonaisoB, etc:, prettily trim
for ordinary. wear, consisting OF pltirt, over
shirt. aud 5aekot, - to $40; boulet SO to 81
boots, not SO good, l1'e> dsomo, or choap au III
tue United 6tatea Small Anpreg. kl1ch as COL