, 1877-03-25
PARIS GOSSIP.
The Charity Ball at the
Grand Opera.
& Great Jam and a Brilliant Scene.--
Notabilities Present.
PATHS Conjugal Diillcnlty--.The Offen-
bach AfIair-.-Hictor Hugo.
The Dwarf OF Ex-Queen Isabella,
OF Spain.
Ball of the Partisan Players---Cos-
tu,nea of the Notab1es.

THE CHARITY BALL.
Special cor<<pondence of Tie Tribune.
PARIS, France, March 2.-Do you believe in
charity balls! I do not, as rule, myself; il
seems to be always "a cake for INC and crust
.or thec," with the people who get them up
IS for the idea OF bcnero|encc entering into tic
question - but there, there arc cyrics enough
the world already. So, without staying IL
4nalyzc tue motives which brought close upo!
10000 people to dance quadrilles and cut uI
ea:ll others appearance, for the benefit OF the
Lyons <ilk-weaycrs, at the Opera last Tuesday,
] will content myself by giving you short ar
count Of the ball, the guests, and the house, as
it looked inside and out On the cyentful occa-
siun.
Every Travelled American knows the maguii-
cent
PLACE DE L'opEHA,
its shops and cafes, its lights and hustle; the
ccaselcss roll of carriages to aud from the fash.
ionablc quarters surrounding it; and, in the
midst Of all, the splendid monument Of Ma
polcon's glory and dccadence itself, towering
40 feet above the ground. Those that have
not seen it will be hardly able to form All at1c-
quate conception of it from descriptions, all Of
wl,ic. seen, tatnc and lueless beside the reality.
II is the ycry heart aud centre Of modern Paris,
the eliminating point Of all the marycls wrought
with the 1900, 1900 spent by Baron IIauss-
mann and his successors to the Edileshir,- Try
10 imagine it rs it looked on Tuesday towards
10 o'clock in the evening. The vast open space
i'll front Of the theatre, and the streets adjoining,
blocked viii. carriages couycying the fortuna tc
1'ossc:sors OF .25-franc tickets to the bail; the
la:sdc Of the mighty building bathcd III the
mingled brilliance OF moon aud gAs,-thc one
shining far away overhead pure, calm, inlifcr-
.n1 IL the petty worry and mirth OF lis poor ter
re::ia!s.-the other, tlickc.ing and 1ar,nc SYM
I'Hthctically III countless yellow jets OF fame.
Picture to yourself the Boulevard dcs Capucincs
inouHlbcred by crowd Of curious gapers,
lEzious]y straiEing their necks to see some OF
thc iun for nothing, constantly hustled and dis
1urbcd by the consequential malice OF the
serccnts de vile, and as constantly returning to
their discomfort, as II the eternal injunction to
t' 'tirc7lc=, -ucxsicurs - had never been uttered.
Then, turning your back on the rutgana
7'e:us, try to ascend the steps Of tho
theatre, where an immense tent has been
erected for the reception Of the
more distinguished guests, the official dign-
tarics Of tue Republic, the Ambassadors, and
the lady patroncsscs Of the fctc- Through the
tent, hung with Gobelin tapestry: and brigh:
trance gallery. On tho richthand side is tue
Band Of the Republican Guard, PLAYING iancc-'
selections at intervals OF five minutes. The bare
floor has been covered with -aubusson carpet;
flowers aud palms are layishiy grouped in al
tho corners capable Of holding them; a,ad be-
yond, at the foot Of the Grand Staircasc,-that
masterpiece OF the Opera House.
WELL-DKEssED MOB
is waiting for the expected arrival OF Marshal
and Nine. dc MacAiahon. Presently the Marsha.
1hc sick-bcd OF the Due de Castries, her brother.
The ilustrious guest is dressed in the uniform
OF French General, aud has the grand Gordon
OF the Legion OF Honor dangling from his
sword-bclt. He is followed by suite Of officers
and diplomats, among whom may be recognized
Gen. Ladmirault lin evening costumc) Count
Moltkc, the Marquis de }lolins, ctc., ETC. The
Director Of the opera al. Halauzicr), N. AZ
paud, and II. Vaisin {Trefcctof Po1ice) receive
the party, aud the President slowly mounts the
stairs, which are lined by hundred Gareles Re-
pnElicaines in full uniform,--all superb, soldier
lr fellows, well set up, aud drilled to perfection
1t is study to watch how rigidly detcrentiai
they stand there as AfacAiahon passes. Eac1l
opposite to him, and the most microscopic sur
vey Of those martial faces would be unrewardcl
by the discovery Of tile faintest signs Of life.
There is, or was curious cns1om cxtant here,
which ol1igcd the opera i'nprcssario to
himself, carrying flaming torch in
i.a> liana. Ai. HaIauzcr attempts to iluproy.
upon this with six usl.ers bearing six~brancAcd
gilt c:ule.abEa The effect Of thc procession
would be decidedly pretty but for the draughts
II The passages, which put the candles out AS
:ast rs the unfortunate usllers lighted the,st-
':oweycr, no matter The. Marshal finds Ills
.ay TO the Statebox a]1 the same, and. on his
.::1rt. attempt is made to iluse little gai
~ into the .iancinr, which las ST far languis-
Il. II is always the sa1nc story at these mon
scr balls. People come to them to see and to