Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-05-25

To the Editor of she Free Press and Times
l seem to have budget of gossip this week.
Although ant seems to take the lead now |
rs n topic of discussion, still there are many |
entertainments, the races and various other
matters that are talked about. "Mauprat' has |
been revived at the Ocean, the theatre which |
has been very justly called George Sands, !
for it has been here that all her plays have !
been produced. Mauprat as play Is far
more delicate and effective than IN the form
of a romance in which it first appeared. The
authoress was very anxious to see it repro
duced, but the action of the play requires
dog. This the director told George Sand he
would find, no, mere toy, but genuine
Scotch terrier. This was achieved and one
day when the authoress was dining in town
the presentation was made in due form.
Blareau was duly presented and dined with
the company. lie behaved like dog oil
breeding, had napkin placed around his
neck and comported himself with a gravity
worthy of his Scotch extraction, until un-
fortunately the cat belonging to the restau-
rateur appeared on the scene. Inherited
animosity was too much for dignity. Down
bounced Blaireau, his napkin still around
his neck and dragging with it sundry hne
glasses and couple of decanters. He chased
the cat out upon the leads of root before
he returned triumphant with ictory to his
meal,-looking ashamed of the mischief he
had done-not at alI-proud of Monsieur
| Chien's triumph over Madame CHAT The
| authoress laughed heartily and caressed
| Blaireau, but with touch of sadness wlthaL
| Not long after as the representation OF Maui
| pratt was put off from time to time to admit
| of the heightened run OF other dramas,
Madame Dudevant wrote to the manager.
81 shall never see Mauprat played again. an
Blaireau so lively, so pretty, and so active
will only be an old toothless dog, incapable
| of Jumping into his bag. Part OF the pro-
phecy has proven true, for although Blair
| eau is as lively dog rs ever, the authoress
of Mauprat sleeps the sleep that knows no
waking.
The play has been put upon the stage
magnificently and the scenery is particularly
fine while the costumes are rich, varied.
elegant and scrupulously exact copies OF
those of 1775 to 1882. There is but one fe-
male character, that of Edmee de Mauprat,
upon whom falls great responsibility. This
is admirably assumed by Madlle Antoine.
Ii er. costumes are beautiful, especially one
en- AmG-one of ruby velvet caught up by a
torsade dor, with white satin hat and cuffs
and revers of dove gray, and scarf OF
gray net forming ceinture frlnSed with
gold. A gray felt riding hat with band OF
gold galloon, turned up q la Cartonetre and
trimmed with long blue and white feathers.
In the third act her costume and bearing
are of an indescribable grace, and present an
exact representation of portrait OF Queen
Marie Antoinette at the Louvre.
Your money or your life" has long been the
motto of highwaymen, but your picture or
your life is a new reading, yet such has been
a recent report here. At recent picture
sale at the Hotel Drouout, Monsieur de T.,
an advocate OF the Court of appeals, bought
Jan Steen representing a Flemish fete. A
day or two after the sale, a man called upon
him and wanted to know what he would sell
it for 81 do not wish to sell it at all" was
his reply. '.but l wish to buy it will
give you 1000 francs" Il will not sell it at
any price" said NJ. de L. More parleyinG
=, ensued, but the advocate refused to sell he
wished to keep the picture he had bought
''But must have it, | tell you ; 1t IS neces-
sary to me-" said the well dressed, but i'm
Fortunate would-be purchaser, and as NJ de
t. turned impauently away, he struck him
a blow on the head with loaded cane.
When the advocate regained consciousness
his jaw Steen was gone, and 1000 francs
were left on the table.
pupil of the academy who has been stay
ing in Rome was DESTROYS OF painting PIE
ture for the Salon and bcsought a friend OF
his, a rising young politician, to sit to him
, for model for John the Baptist. Aftel
some hesitation this gentleman consented
and when the picture Was finished his young
Q wife went alone to the artists studio to de-
a eide upon the correctness of the likeness
The curtain was drawn aside, hasty glance
a scream and Madame had tainted. 1t was
0 only too true a likeness of her husbands
head, under the form of John the Baptists'
but livid, dripping with blood as it was car
u ried by Herodias to her mother.
q The races still present a brilliant appear
l.. ance, the finest toilettes being worn there
Nlaudain yellow is already yielding to Vesu
: vius red and absinthe green, which are a
present at the height of favor, especially 70
!. the Innings OF race umbrellas and carriages
. which for the present reason must match
the outsides of both being black. Othe
: shades are used for lining but not SO fash
!. ionably. White or coloIed umbrellas hav
silk borders OF another shade or are trimmed
, with band of embroidered gailoon.
Yours, SHIRLEY.