New-York tribune., 1875-09-18
LIFE IN PARIS.
LETTER FROM ARsENE HoussAYE.


TION--A REMINIsCRNCE OF RACHEL.
trRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRIRUYE.l
PARIS. Aug. 2d.-l have inst passed through an
infinitely little royalty which lasted six weeks
What was pleasant in this affair that was a
king without kingdom. But | did not lack for
conrticrs nor | might say for couTiesans, il had
NOT been restrained hy the high dignity of my cali
nr. Il is not easy Go he king in these rcpubI-
can times; still. | ahlicated in the earliest days OF
my reign, having sooR got enough of earthly Van-
ties This is how 1t happened: Two months ago
several muSc-mad Deputies, wrctched because
there was 10 opera in France which would
give ANYTHING new, persuaded me to lend
my name 20 a proposition that the National
Assembly should vote subvcaton Tor new YrIc
the.tcr II was admitted that neither the opera nor
the Comic Opera had for long time given anything.
They had gone to sleep their glory. or on their
degradation. if y0u prefer that. Young composers
di,G uneathcred. There no reaping Of daisies
or golden gram. People recalled tie good time when
Carvalho spent two millions to give to the world
lew masterpieces like Gounod's Fassi. We GER
tauliy had in France plenty of good musicians who
werr preparing their swan-song before having seen
any of their compositions played. The subvention
was voted. some $4,000. and the Minister sent for
me- thinking that would be- overcome with grail
tude Tor the high favor he was about 70 accord
ne. NV appointment was all ready, but cred ont,
as soon As caine in sight of him, NJ. lie Min!stre,
do AT sicn"
TIE Minister of Fine Arts. NJ. WALTON. is the AIT
thor o our present Republic if yOn remember since
= lie VINO caused its establishment by his famous
amcrd.ncnt # is the WALTON Republic, until il
shall become the Mountain Republic. NJ. WALTON
La. every qualification for the post of Minister OF
Pine Art, and of Public Instruction. He has passed
nls lite IN schools, in books and museums. lis pro-
fcs>on is the good. his love IS tie beautiful. He Is
the learned historian Of 81 Louis and % Joan Of Arc
lie is tu of the nat tOral sentiment. | ought, theTc
fore 10 be excessively grateful fer ali lis kindness
toward LIE. Among 20 candidates IL was whom
he chose t. bc the refenerator OF French
music But unfortunately am not mrc.i of believer
Ia neglected genius. / afraid Of introducing to
he Stage operas which would no; si,.g, Of which
there are already roe many. The Opcrrtia has Killed
tie opera. The comic opera has Killed itself. Ne
cause 1t refused to be comic. Sui, accepted tii@
roya,.y. begging the Minister. however, nov 70 Say
out loud that had been appointed. Bat orr r.
purt.rs here as elscwhere. know more 2b0nt tile
news tIan those who make the news. That vcI3
d., the evening papers announced tAat Aad bee"
appointed director OF the Theatre Lyr.g1e.
The next day. at the first blush Of dawn, my rcicr
began. TIL. ladies' Of the market. four Strapp'n-
women who woull have made excellent ccn;ralto>,
cau,e t. bring ne cart-loa@ Of ross psid teii
rcnerat.iations royalty. That was only tfc bec;i-
iinc of te procession. Al day long came reien--
ot sinners. wi;h light women skirlnishiuG in tiont
and hsal. Since the Venetian tetc last WINTER ny
picture gallery has not seen such u concert For
.oae ladies did uo. talk thor sang. They de!n@ncf-
ei-.r,llel,,s to every known air. Il was tantailz-
ira bad delightful. had 20 ask four OF them t.
5r akiasi-iour whom l did not engage. Ot.cTs
cam, p; dessert panied by tcnors. DaY;ones.
aad has,rs W h-calltasjcd IN the garden beside %
living splIug bclon-ing 20 tie ancient Chateau
B,.u,oa. had already around NE no mean eADi-
net. For instance. Fervacqucs, sccf,tary-' General
fol Exterior Rclations Roger dc Boauyor, Score
tar,-Gcrcsai Tor Int .rior Affairs; Moicau-Sainte.
stage manager. I was determined not T. lose an
hour. was resolved 20 hear an opera every day,
AID at least a half dozen singers.
Bat now much tiac los. with letters Of recon-
lnenoarion. signed 10y the first names III he world Cd
poincs and literature! The most serious OF men
r,.. ,,,.r.ideG 20 me M'dcInois,iic Azaia fist
,ia,sej,sc the thcer OF Odessa. ind Aa,l"noI-ee
OpAcla inst arrived from New-York hv steamer;
anu s., hIlc breaking tie seals admired thos" two
monsters. all daGbcd with rice powder Wy sell
ran, a hundred times a day. Would You believe
thai in Two days thirteen doctors called + ask re
g. appoint them physicians - tie tltt'eIY Al.
Sir" lid To She l3.h doctor my thcltcr WUst
be y.ry -i.',." 1t Is joke he mrrmu.,d. "loC
viii appoint ne in memory OF thst joke"
Iw.s not inclined to laagh. wa, thinking sc7i-
ous' of establishing ny jheer upon solid founda-
noas intended TO open with CLICKS 4TmW
which had made lis rival Iiccini. say, a hundred
y.a.. AGO. Click is the CoTncle of opera There
is nothing so grand. profound and melancholy ar
tn.t ui,.ic of ArHiide masterpiece OF symphony
an} melody. 1t was II ny opinion, worthy iroI-
u piece 70 that beautiful living volume which was
II B., called tlc Optra-N i0uT We hat designed
the sccacry: for in an opera everything should
sing 80 w.ll u the eyes the oa:a had imagined
III, gardens OF Arnida which would have made
tie tour Of the wo.d with thcir nyn.ph' and their
dances the wonders I'll art III the wonders Of nature
A leautfl Russian princess who is studying
with Rozer, wss 10 represent Arnifd
had cho-,n for other parts yocng singers
who were more o. less pretty, hut all
clarning Ju,tamcnt. my ballet-Inastor had sworn
20 e thar none oi those frgi.tfu faces which dis
grace the National Academy Of Music should dis
Cli,c his corps. he had already BROUGHT nie three
dozen dancers favorcs Of nature. The cream OF the
CM..elrsto.re The political world was satisfied. l
do not know whether it Il sp'in America. but here
the body potc cannot CT Oh without tie c"ris-do-
ballet All was going for the best IN the best OF al
possible operas. l wore peacefully my pasteDoa.d
crown was hallod King every morning by tiie
newspapers and my oplc, even by ADie'iistN ana
co.anos4rs. More then star fixed lt>eiI in my
SIX. ] had cordial promises from the most nlnsiri-
0us of tenors and prime donnc just returned ir'A
Russia. The reporter came every morning 10 H.
ouirc IL His Majesty would open his Tuilercs 10
tie impatient public. eager for the hour of applause.
Rnt ] was stu only manager m gdriJaS. l
needed ucthing bat ticatcr wanted 10 open al
t, Veutodorr and therestrike my great blow, going
somewhere else aitcrward. as The Nentacour would
belong % The italian Opera III six months But the
1 T,,f,-~. fvroe a ! a, a