New-York tribune., 1875-02-04
LIFE IN PARIS.
LETTER OF ARsENE BOUssAYE..

lFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE1
PARIS. Jan. 10-M. Theirs yesterday told me this
legend:
When France came into the world as o nation, it
in the time Of the fairies As France was to be
a great princess they invited TO her cradle all the
good faries the fairy of w.t. Of riches of conquest
of beauty. of grace the fairies of harvest and vim
tage. 1t was unparalleled festival throughout
the young kingdom; everywhere they danced and
drank. But in the very midst Of this public rejoic-
ing an unlimited fairy came TO sit at the banquet.
There already dozen at the table, and the
strange visitor made the thirteenth. She was not
gay like the others; the contrary, her face vas
full of meditation, gravity, and sadness.
Every one began to say what is she doing here,
with that unearthly countenancep
She had sat down, but she rose with majesty and
thus spoke you invited all the good fairies to the
cradle of France and you forgot me. Woe be unto
you! France shall have days of victory and con-
quest. She shall be rich in corn and WINE. She
shall be famous for her wit. She shall beguile the
world with her grace. But whenever she is about
to enjoy her good fortune Unforeseen catastrophe
shall hurl her into the abyss of war or Of revolution
And thus l shall be avenged" "Who art thou.
then p they cried out from every side to the
avenging fairy. She was already at the door; she
turned on the threshold and said in a tone at once
have at her cradle all the other good fairies, but as
she had not me- all the rest will he useless"
Thus said Wisdom, and Wisdom is always right.
To-day also-but | will not talk politics.
NJ. Thiers is ALWAYS the wonderful conversationist
whom YOU know While the Left Center revolves
around him, continuing in his salons the DISCUSSIONS
of Versailles he escapes from politics by his won
derful fund Of talk which has enchanted the diDlO-
matte and literary world. The Duchess COlonna
being there with the Princess TroubetzkOi the con-
versaton turned upon sculpture. / wish l could
steuOgraph for you all the just and profound things
which NJ. liners SAID about this great art. He IA
certainly man of learning, but he is also above all
a man of the moment. At the tribune he is always
eloquent but as he himself says. in all intellectual
and artistic work it is only question of quarter
hours. He is very fond of sketches, because they
indicate much more than finished pieces the sentl-
ment Of the artist and the fire of Inspiration
Michael Angelo in his sketches, Rembrandt in his
etchings give brilliant proof Of this truth. They
seize upon you because they alive. You seem to
have Q share in this first expression of genius; some
what as il the Creator had permitted you to assist at
the making Of the world.
Have YOU ever heard of the Academy of the Spar
tans or rather of the Spartan Dnnersi For this is
an Academy that dimes. which gives great advan-
tage over the French Academy. 1t has another ad-
vantage; it is not employed on Dictionary 1t
contents itself with being witty-at table. 1t pro-
nounces no discourses funeral orations. 1t has
held ITS sessions at the Trots Frdres PrOrereaar at
the Petit Moulin Roage at the NaiSoH GOr, and at
Br6bant's.
Who is Br6bant He is a man of genius whom cir
c,mstances have made keeper of restaurant at the
corner Of the Boulevard Mont Martre. He has been
called The Restorer of Letters first because he
hears some resent mblance to Francis H. and then be-
cause his place is always full OF literary men, lie IS
a very Centlemanly person, who has become learner
bv hearing the conversation of journalists who are
not. His library is the public. He Is always TO be
seen at First Nights in the theater where he makes
a very stylish appearance with Madame BreDant'
beauty in full flower. two genuine Partisan figures
The SnartaDs have made their favorite domcile at
Br6bant's This Academy was founded IN 1857 IN the
CAV times of the Empire. Unfortunately It has
already lost several members impossible TO re-
nlace. such as Th6ophile Gautier. the Duke of
Persipnv the Duke of Acquaviva, three original
tvpes. 1T now numbers Paul de st. Victor, bill
liant pen; Lord Lytton, whom you know as the
poet Owen Meredith; Gen. Read, your minister ID
Greece: Xavier Aubryet, Riyarol and de MalsIre
in one; Cabanel. the painter OF Duchesses; Henry
Houssaye surnamed Alcibiades, probably because
he is the living image of Lucius Verus CASTOR Jol-
live+ witty chronicler in verse and prose,
swOrdsman whose thrusts are like epgrams' ana
whose epigrams are like stabs; Arnold Mortler. the
Monsieur de POrehestre of Figaro; Cen Schmltt' a
brave and clever soldier. who could not prevent
Cen. Trochu from talking instead OF acting; PanI
Randrv one of the four great painters Of the nine
teenth century; Ziem, the Venetian who gnnds
sunsb,ne ON his palette; novelist ~ du BOisgobey
a nublicist and historian NJ Valfrey; Paul Lacrolx
the celebrated Bioliophlle Jacob; Edmond de Con
o,,r+ tho historian of art; Dupray the painter Of
battles. must pass some of the best. They
have elected mel cannot imagine why-President
Of this Academy. which is by no means sinecure'
because this is an Academy which dimes
At the last sitting propOseda toast-ln very good
cbamnarne to Gen. Read, who was just starting
for Greece He had brought book OF blank pages
and said TO u.s. This book will be mine, when eacn
of you has inscribed thought in it." don't know
whether we were especially witty that day. but
CODY some things which fell from our pen
There is no such thing Liberty for no man is free II
he II the slave OF hls conscience.
uIoves-eveu maternal love-have their anguish and
their erefs God has made a pain for every pleasure;
the gate Of Paradise opens into hell.
note from a woman, matter how tenoer is sleh'
draft on you you must always pay In some coin or
other. . :,
Marriage begins with Of the seven sacraments; II
ends with one Of the seven mortal SINS.
Thought is like Jeannot's knife. Common men are
,s,t IN keep IL bright for use; OF genius first
change the handle and end by changing the blade
sooner or later we pardon friends the injuries we
have done them
TIA narrower comes lend him your ear.
Women always give more than they promise men less
Love IL ike liquor ; say 1t is killing them Uut
always come back TO IT,
T. Won become famous beware o, the fools-iDr tuey
always gather around the people who are stared at