New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-29
LIFE IN PARIS.
LETTER FROM ARSENE HOUsSAYE.

PARIS, Jan. 1O.-Friday evening we were dining
with Baron Lesseps at his little Oriental palace IN
the Avenue Montague, when NJ. Emile de Grardin,
who was behind time, came in and said he had just
been with the Vcomte de la Guerronniere in his last
moments His death was very sudden he did not
recognize De Girardin. A moment afterward another
guest, who late, said to the lady of the house.
"My dear Baroness, came near not coming to you
to-day; have just lost one after another, four OF
my friends the Marquis de St. Georges, NJ. Jubinal
NJ. Charles Lafitte. and the Vcomte dc la Guer-
roniere."
"My dinner seems like Lucrezia Borglas supper"
cried Madame de Lesseps.
proposed to shut the doors and keep out any
other news of the sort. The dinner went on, and
seemed at first as if hung with Grape; but we soon
plucked up sprits-the way of the world. we
paid funeral honors to our friends by speaking OF
their good traits and drinking toasts to their mem
DRY. Two of these men you know very wen,
NJ. de Ia Guerronnere, formerly ambassador, ana
NJ. Charles Laittc, the sportsman-inancier, OF whom
it said, His bank stable and his stable Is
bank He lived active, noisy life with MS
horses and his children. His turf pseudonym. under
which he has won SO many nipple victories, was
Major Fridolin. His daughters, equally famous for
their beauty and fashion, were the Marquise
de Galiffet and Madame Cordier, two Incompatible
always gay. always young, having the ready money
of wit as well as the ready money of the bank We
dined together all last Winter, and he was the most
listened to of all the company. He said things to he
remembered and quoted, like these: Every woman
bears the mark either of God or the devil = " How
many men of genius there are without talent, ara
how many men of talent without genius When he
was asked his political opinions lie said: 1t Is haId
for me to be Republican between the Whites aud
the Reds still am devoted to the Green Republic,
that OF the woods and fields"
NJ de la Guerronnitre made his political fortune by
a portrait of Napoleon ILL., in the solemn style of
Lsmartine. He wrote very little which is u virtue
in these times. He said like Pythagoras, " lie
silent, unless you can say something better than
silence" think told you once that lac had on lHs
table a sand glass which marked five minutes for
visitors When La Guerronnicrr turned his glass the
most loquacious would take his hat. Two weeks
ago we dined together at the house Of the Countess
do la Chatrc his cousin, with Henry de Penc ana
some other journalists. The dinner very gay,
considering that were thirteen at table. | am
very sorry la Guerronniere is dead but since some
body had to die | am glad il was he rather than |.
The harmony Of numbers cannot be disturbed with
impunity any more than that of the waves Of the
sea or the vibrations of universal light grain OF
sand under the wheels Of time would throw the
world oil the track. When the Sybare complained
of the crumpcd rose-leaf he spoke a word Of deep
philosophy.
Shall speak OF the Marquis Of st. Georges' He
was a man Of talent, who imagined he would make
himself llustrious Ivy writing the lbretto Of comic
opera Nultairc had said of FOntencllc Born to
all gifts he made an operaW ST. Georgcs'r was con-
sidcred old The hills because hs coupes had been
sungundcr the Restoration. and even under the First
1. 4 ! I..,, half
tury, and his wonderful state of preservation had
been admired for at least twenty-five years. lie
was at all the balls aud dinner partics-at be-
cause h. was the author of words set to music by
Auber aud Ilalcvy at Others merely because he was
the Marquis dc -. Georges. One day fashionable
woman said to him seriously, " How can gentle
man like you write comic opcrasT very much a.
that mbccilc Boilcau SAID Ia Molierc, How can
you amusc yourself with such farccsf
THIS Marquis of 81. Georges was the most gallant
of men. who believed all life to be composed Of
comic operas. While | was director Of the Theatre
Lyriquo he brought me his whole rcpertory. Re
turning his visit was ast0ni-hcd 10 ind him lodged
40 high. lie said Il mount as many stairs as have
descended years" He up his five flights like
man with light heart. May the turf lie as lightly
on him.
One word of Achille Jubinal, the fourth in the
list Of the day + neurology He poet and an
tiouarian one Of those who, though highly gifted,
only yet half way 10 success and fame for lack OF
persistence in one furrow. Jubinal scattered him
self in crumbs night aud left, now journalist. now
historian now politician. Under the empire he
almost succeeded. The clock gave its warning. but
never struck. They were about To make him
Senator from the Iyrcnocs where he founded mu-
scum, when lac died. He was brave soul, who
never did wrong to the French language, To lib
crty, or to morals an epitaph which cannot be
wasted on AL journalists.
And now. my dear readers, let me tell you story
Of another friend Of mine, who was All ass, but not
a savant. His name was Pierrot.
The frost was slvcrug the trees Of the Park Mon
ceau with dull white powder, like the head Of Il mar
onis of the old regime II in front of the
Rotunda, and o o'clock in the morning The sun
hung in the fog like globe of fire. but east forth no
beams The wind was cruel 20 the poor world.
People walked rapidly along the Boulevard de Cour-
ccllcs; women vailed their faces and men drew their
heads inside their collars. II was day when q
lovers SIGH would have frozen i'll the air.
was hurrying by like everybody else. female
ragpickcr. pale and famishcd, led by the birdie
poor little donkey, which seemed hundred years
old and which dragged poor little cart full of the
rubbish of the street: rags. broken bottles. torn
papers worn out skillets crusts of bread, the thon
sand notlings which the fortune Of ragpickcr~.
he woman had done good work since midnight, but
the ass was ready to drop. lis stopped short rs If
he had made up his mind To 20 no further Ills legs
trcmblcd and threatened fall. He hung his head
with resignation as if awaiting the stroke of death
The sight touched and arrested me- man would
have cursed and beaten the poor beast TO rouse him
the woman looked at him with eye of mothcrly
4 l.. l. ON,