New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-21
FRENCH GOSSIP.
,rrpApv AND ARTISTIC NOTES.

HIS HISTORY OF THE WAR OF SECESSION "A
FRENCH EDITION OF sHAKEsPEARE-PAUL la
CRoIxs "ErGHTEENTH CENTURY "-OPINIoN OF
THE CzAROwITz THE NEW OPERA HOUSE
THE PROPOSED OPENING PERFORMANCE.
irRoM AN oCC AsoSAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBuNE.i
PARIS, Nov. S0.-The bad weather and the
Assembly combined 10 bring people back In crowds
10 Paris for life country, dun and wearisome at
the best of times. becomes perfectly intoerabie when
bad weather begins. But we have no very striking de-
veopment OF French literary talent consequent on
the return OF "the world /" and the Assembly.
We are not 1t seems to have the third volume OF the
Count de Parss History of the War of Secession In
America" for mouths yet. 1t was originally In
tended that third volume should be published be-
fore the end OF the present year, but understand that
he author determined TO delay Its appearance until
next Spring. when 1t will be given to the world in com
many with fourth volume of the same work. This
pIan OF publishing brace Of volumes at time is,
believe in strict accordance with literary tradition but
those who have been allowed to have glimpse Of the
of the volume naturally feel somewhat
disappointed at this long delay in It's appearance Tbe
Count Paris is most conscientious literary WORK
man. So far back las; August he had already cor
reced the proof of this volume no less than three
tmes and did not talk OF publishing for sew
eral months
For lovers Of good editions authors there is
likely 10 he shortly some good news from Paris NJ
Aiphonse Lemerre, the well-known publisher in the
Passage Choseul whose ouly rival in the printing OF
adnirabic books NJ Jouaust, the printer TO the So
eoX des BiblOphes is about to publish an edition OF
Fra co.'s Victor Hugo's excellent translation of Shakes
pearc Some English admirers of Shakespeare here
have sug .ested NJ. LemeIre the idea OF printing
companion edition of the original text. promising
him a large sale England aud America. NJ. Lemerre
has very recently published duodecimo edition OF
MOere which fairy rival any of the best produc-
tious of Pickering. T6ere is OF course. certain dill
Guilty with regard to the production of an English book
from French printing press account o; The errors OF
En- residents
already offered their gratuous proofreaders
NJ Lenere should lie carry his scheme into execu-
tIcD.
NJ Paul Lacroix's volume. which continues the
admirable series Illustrative of the arts, the manners
and customs OF the Middle Age has lust been published
b. Frmin Diiot, under the title of lie 1sne Steele"
can give ii no higher praise than 10 that the new
volume appears TO be in way worthy Of its three
excellent predecessors. An English translation of the
g SB,e Steele" Will be produced 10y Messrs. Chapman
Hail. the Publishers of the translation OF the three pre-
vous volumes. l do not think there many other
novelties III the book world unless IL volume Of
"Prem,ers Landis," by NJ. simultaneously only
collection OF by the great critic which he did not
think nth Ieprodu ron in his lifetime. but which are
collected and published by NJ. Jules TrOubat. for
merly his A little book on LES Caf3s Lite
rareS At TOitQucS de Paris gives some amusing gossip
about the literary history OF OF the best known
cafes II PARIS The thing about the book results
from tue fact that NJ L3page Is violent reactonist
aud pains conceal his feelings There Is how
ever, not little curious information about an entertain
iug side Paris lie in his book most of Which has,
believe, already appeared in the Rfrue de France.
THc Paris papers frequently publish small paragraphs
less about the progress of the OPP
era building one day there is an account of splendid
Chandelier for the new theater, which Will. in
French estimation at all events, utterly surpass all
chandeliers that have hitherto been constructed Then
another paper prints paragraph telling of an expert
made OF the qualities Of the house. trial
of n
AT another time journal INDUCES speculatous
the ceremony winch Will be observed when the opera
house is opened But what no newspaper, French
foreign. has done, / have SEEM TO give
account OF the state Of things the whole.
at the new opera house. do not mean a
statement OF the OF bricks, stone, mortar iron
other materials used in the ed1e but the general
aspect OF the interior aud the prospects of superior
coiunOdaOns those usually Afforded in French the
aters.
Lord Bacon il think, who says that in coosnga site
for house there ihnSs-equally important
10 be sdeIed FIRST, bring water INTO It, and
secondly how 10 keep the wat'r away from ii. or
great theaer much the may be said An architect
hus think only 10 take crowd OF people into
his theater but and this even more important how to
take a crOwd-pOssiOly freIighteDel crOwd-rapiliy
OUT Of theater. NJ. Charles GARNER The architect of
opera house, has only himself to blame IL he is
Judged failed IN tins particular seeing that his
thea perfectly Isolated from all other build
ins and that he has therefore every opportunity of
giving ample room for ent ance AMI exit Unfortunately
however, NJ. G,raier TT TO the whole OF
size of the opera u the exImpeTIl box and the APP
DO ces thereto Indeed. there is a whole pavilion the
szs OF an ordinary thcaer set apart for tae
Use Of the future Chief of the State So much
for one OF the four sides. Another faca lie. the
one looking Boulevard HIus.mann Is given up 10
and the different services of the theater
aud could not be used any by the public There
only remain, therefore, the southern and eastern
entrances The first Of these by far the largest sde has
been apart for public foot whe the eastern
sde-or should say part OF that side-las been ar
ranged for reception OF those drive the opera
Carriages arrive under pavilion whose basement
is pleIe cod arches that 1t promises to
be very Temple of the Winds NJ ,rnier claims that
no less than seven carriages set down intending
visitors tins entrance but there Is likely
to be much skeptcism this point The entrance for
subscribers and those who have bought tickets for the
best boxes skully arranged. large circular ro0n
winch occupies the whole space under the orchestra
stalls aud the PIT, is apart for the arriving guests
BY an equally comuendabe arrangement the suoscr
bcrs are to Join general public the grand stair
ease which VII certainly-so far II is possible at
present to judcc-present a magnificent spectacle on
grand opera nights when the wedressed crowd covers
the marble steps leading to the best boxes But when
the brand staircase is assembled there is little else TO
admire.
NJ GARNER has had enormous resources at Ills disposal
and # il astonishing to little he has improved
On tneaters built with twentieth part OF the money
Tue auditorium causes the greatest disappointment.
Formerly French tneaters-notably the old Operahouse
which was burned down year ag0-had striking
Characteristic III what called iOges dec0ureres or
omen boxes. These formed a very pretty feature as
their shape the ladies' dresses ana diamonds 10
be seen 10 greater advantage than the od-fashoned
form OF boxes NJ GARNER has returned to the OLD sys