New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-29
LIFE IN PARIS.

ELARD-A RADICAL ARCHITECT.
JYRoN A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THT Tribunal
PARIS. june 16.-There has just been duel at the
Academy. People said even in the eighteenth CEN
tury, "Thc French Academy is IN illustrious com
pany whore they receive mon of the sword, men OF
tho church men of the law. men of the world-and
oven men Of letters" AT present the Academy is an
lllustrous company where they receive nothing but
politicians. Therefore before the duel Of which
an speaking the Academy had given the chair Of
Jules Jann to NJ. John Lemoinne, and editor OF the
Journal des Dfbas courteous gentleman, who Will
recall under the cupoa OF the Institute the appear
ancc and tho wit Of Prevost-Paradol, who was Min
lister Of France among you. Rivarol, who was not
an Academician. said, ITO he ono of the Forty you
must have done nothing but he added, lyon
must not carry this too far Nj. John Lemoinne
has made no books. but he has fought yaliantly
against darkness and prejudice give him my vote.
NV son who is also an editor Of the Debat, assures
me that he was the only candidate worthy of the
chair This is what is called preaching for ones
saint But for the chair of III. Guizot there was a
real duel in four combats. On the one side tho Re
public, on the other the Empire and Orcansm N.
Jules Simon, formerly Minister of Public Instruction
under the Governments of the 4th September and OF
NJ Thiers and NJ. Dumas, Perpetual Secretary OF the
Academy of Sciences and Senator of the Empire.
The struggle very hot. Each required only one
I'm. Dumas had not had Alexandra Dumas against
him. he would have been safe enough; but the author
OF 1.-THE Demi Monde" thought that there were
enough Dumas there already The duel is postponed
for six months. About that time-for things do not
20 RAPIDLY at the Academy-M. Lemonne viii have
had his green embroidered coat made. People will
cav, OF course, "Lhabit fsit peo Lemoinne." His
rivals have already said that he had better put on
harlequins coat to represent the different opinions
which he has defended.
For six months TO come shall not say another
word about the Academy but will soon sendyou the
twelfth edition Of my history of The Forty-fi
Chair" The forty-frst chair, rendered ilIustrious
by Descartes, Pascal Moliere, J. J. Rousseau, Dde-
rot, Beaumachais, lie Sage, Balzac and Th6ophile
Cautier, is the only ono l desire. l have never
taken step towards any of the Others, though it
has been mistakenly said that have beon candi-
date.
The salons soon will close. Nine. Ratazzi gave to-
day a fete which was called V6ntienne because
terc was nothing like Venice about it-no gondolas,
no dcges no dogarosses. The water of the lagcons
was advantageously replaced by champagne The
enjoyment seemed to be endless. for it began at
noon and at midnight. while write the tableaus
are still in progress. Ii is not everybody that Is gay
in France A good many are thoughtful, and dis
Quoted about the digestion of Nj. de Bismarck.
shallow but it was nothing but shadow
There are salons in Partisan society where there is
no dancing but where there is an endless gratfca-
ton of all the curiOstes Of the heart and the mind
There has recently been good deal of talk about an
exotic Princess who has held hospitable court in the
Champs Elysees. will not tell you the country OF
this great lady; she may be Russian or Wallachian
or Italian She is so fantastic that public opinion
has no existence for herr she laughs it out of countc-
nance. She and a friend Of hers, also little too
fanciful. live together in circle OF women some
thing too witty. who make o joke OF everything |
Gen are apt to imagine that woman who laughs IS
disarmod. 1t is just the other way. Mockery is the
best amor against love. What ruins women is
aspiration, revery, sentimentality. woman who
never laughs is half lost. if she is not defended by
fbe cradle of her children. To know sOmetl ne OF
this il would only be necessary to visit this Princess
who although bird Of passage, is far more PaTlsan
than most Of the bourgeo;ses who were born III
Paris. You could not count the number OF tops
eptrapped in that hornets nest Of tho Prin-
cess salon. Her receptions arc twice day-at 4
o'clock before starting for the Bois and at midnight
after returning from the opera; OF the balls OF the
evening. After being bored everywhere else, people
20 there to pass pleasant hall-hour. The snObs and
the imbecilcs, who are always found together, but
who are not necessarily of the same race, are not
permanent at this house. She makes no objections
10 receiving them, knowing they viii never take
ROOT ii Is amusing to see them go. 1t is comedy
70 watch swell Of feeble mind who wants to 20
home and dares not who beats his brains for witty
word, and does not find it; who drops at the same
moment his silly remark and his crush hat; who
backs against closed door. and misses an open one
The Duke de Morny, Leon Gozlan and once tried
10 put this comedy on tho stage at the franeais We
called it Madamo's Mondays" 81. Fould. the Min
lister Of State. did not approve it. lie hated Morny'
and interdicted the piece. We had gay revenge.
NJ Fould went driving with the Emperor the day
before bis dismissal from the Ministry. Sowe framed
a coupiet, which stated that yesterday NJ. Foul1
was driven out in company with the Emperor and
to-day he was driven out by himself"
All Paris passes through the salons of the Princess,
but her circle remains essentially the same. because
the now cOmers rarely return There is plenty OF wit
too much of it," one of the Forty said one day lit
scattered 80 literally that you think 1t is paste until
Won find il is damondss The Princess answered
"Never mind Throw as many stones as you please
In my garden. But let them be precious stones"
Plato banished poets from his republic, and the
Princess banishes politicians from hers. She says
that politics. which were invented to arrange every
thing derange everything that with their pretext
Of humanity they only exist by virtue OF scaholds,
pillage. and CONGREGATIONS. Her programme for the
happiness of the people is not voluminous: God up
there, a sergeant and four gendarpes down here"
Girardin, who is one Of her friends, gave in his adj
hesion TO this constitution condition that it be ex-
tended to half stickful.
shall not tell yon all the charming absurdities
invented by these ladies. They are very engag-
ing. from their beauty and their lack OF prudery.
Ono is tempted to gid friendship with the rays OF
love go on" they seem to say. But when yon
have come into the depths OF the forest they leave