The New York herald., 1879-08-10
PARIS GOSSIP.
About Fashions and Fashionables
in the Capital.
FALL SHADES AND SHAPES.
Society in Costume at the Leyees and
at the Seaside.
PARIS, July %, 1879.

PARIS. July 49, 1879.
Paris is very large city. and yet it is addicted to
an incredible amount of small talk. scandal and
gossip. No provincial place outdoes the capital in
this respect. So rises to public notice
everything connected with HIM becomes public
property. His home his dress. his attitudes. his
cent are all food for comment. II he be fortunate
relatives. to the most distant degree has surely
tale that fun spite amplify. Who in France
has not country cousin who at some time or other
came up from remote locality in wooden shoes?
Who has not had grandfather who sold ignoble
wares such as rabbit skins, or rags, perchance? II
the hero of the day be ex-nobleman in disgrace.
was there not time when whole street belonged
to his greagrandfather? From the day these things
are reported rising man is always tainted with
rabbit skins and fallen accused of having
squandered away all those houses of that great
grandfather. In GImbettas there is his
father who goes regularly to church every Sunday
a terrible sin in the opinion of French republicans;
and there is Jules Ferry's brother who has recently
become monk!
GASiBETTAs MOTHERS N1GHTCAP.
have mentioned Gamtetta's father but now his
mother has been brough forward for having formerly
had the misfortune to be called on by newspaper
writer, who says she wore on that occasion plain
nightcap without any trimmings and short cotton
jacket The literary gentleman who gives the world
this information further states that at the time he
the cap without any trimmings Gambetta lived
up Ave flights of stairs, and his home opened on
a very narrow landing in way redolent Of
the perfumes of Arabia. The early visitor goes on
describing the very plain and furniture of
Gambetta's small parlor, noticing a mahogany
h,,raa CT fha 20
bust a black timepiece, two copper candlesticks.
&c. But he could not interview the owner of this
unpretending home, for the lady in the nghtcap
told him that her held intercourse with
persons who published articles in papers attached
to the Bonapartes. The above all predatory to
parallel drawn between Gambetta living in the
narrowest lodgings possible and Gambetta located
within the Palas Bourbon. and there giving fete
on the l4sh INST The a rancorous
critic can say OF the latter is that no ladies
invited, and that the most illustrious
of contemporary bache ors had provided
freshments by tue cartload; that $500
cigars disappeared from the smokers kiosk in the
space of less than two hours. Somewhat severe.
also, is the complaint made of the herald who pre-
ceded NJ. Grevy in his progress through the halls,
announcing at every tenth step:-
"M. ie President de Ia Repubtquei"
This may be characteristic of the love Of prestige
dear to France, but not as it is assumed pr
venus sudden elevation. Grevy not deserving such
a brand Far more characteristic OF the French is
another little circumstance OF the fate. At one
part of the supper presided over by Gambetta and
given in the apartments OF Gambetta's Sec
retary to the distinguished artists who had
sung during the concert which preceded the
ballet it was discovered that champagne was want
ing. The wine having been called for, hired SER
want rushed Ia, wearing the white apron OF cafe
waters. He was instantly and in a low voice
bukca by of the ball ommissioners, when tho
servant exclaimed "Dear me- what misfortune, to
be sure!" NJ Grevy, it was noticed. wore an
overcoat of the same shade rs that selected by Ma
poleon, Louis Philippe, VI. Thiers and MacMahon,
only M. Grevy has departed from the traditional
rule by ordering velvet collar
ABOUT TAPESTRIES.
Far more interesting than this bit of
gossip is the history of the hangngs with
which the palace was partially hung. Ah if
tapestries could speak! The tribune occupied
by the republican guard draped with
red CLOTH formerly blue. and had been first
used tor the coronation of Charles X, within the
Cathedral of Rheims The deep gold fringe ON the
drapery o. the first hall had adorned the tapestry
with which Napoleon is throne hung when
he addressed his first speech to the Chambers
sembled at the Louvre. Even the kiosk under which
luggage which ever followed Charles Y when he left
the capital for fow days shooting ut st. German.
What pcnics it had sheltered and what converse it
had heard! 1t is reported that the only words
changed while the two new dignitaries rested under
its cover -
NJ. GREvx-T do think it is raining.
NJ. GAMBErrA-It is only the waterfall NJ. 10 presi-
dent
crowds Of guests thronged around to stare
while this discourse was going on NJ. Gambetta
fur cloak pelisse. the evening being vary
chilly.
THE pIaEcroIRE QuApRILLE.
The great success Oh the iete the Directoire
quadrlle, not only account of the dancing. which
was accurate in point of stepping" aud attitude,
but especially in the matter OF dress, designed by
the artist Thomas now ii, in vogue) and
reyiving the styles of 1898. The chief
features large bows on high Shoes bright col
ored short skirts trcoor scars, further enlived by
notices and emblems; immense hats, adorned with
feathers ana ribbons, while the cavaliers wore tail
coats. three-cornered hats tights aud powdered wigs.
The gaop and the gavot were no less successful than
the quadrle, but inexpressibly funny were the
positions in which stood these eight incyoydbtes
whenever there was a pause i'll the performance.
They leaned. stood. sat and moved
acty did the muscadins among that
class called Ia grdnde togr9eoisie. we'll
to-lo citlzens Afectation nicely etiauette were
the fashion OF the day. Long after Napoleon had
ovorthrown the Drectoire the same fastdiousness
prevailed. and ye at no time were public morals so
dissoute. Ii was once observed by Napoleon /. that
Everybody has not the right to dress plainly. He
alone. when First Consul affected to be excessively
plain, but then lie had right which no else
allowed to assert. Nine. de Remusat relates her
memoirs. which are now being published in "a
between Napoleon ard his Marshas, the latter each
in turn. claimed precedence at the ceremony
of BoHaparte's coronation. When they had retired
Nine. De Remusat remarked, turning to the future
Emperor-"I think you must have struck France
with your heel to-day ana turned up all the vanity
holds" VERY true" said Napoleon but it is so
easy to rule the French by appealing to nothing but
their vanitles.
FROM POLITICS 10 NEW HATS.
rather think shat Cambetta is of the same mind;
and, talking OF vanites, there IS an immense bill
stuck up at the Ministry OF Agriculture and Com
for the Cross OF the Legion that more ''decora-
tons can be granted, the Minister having given
away all he had dispose of; hundreds
OF solicitors walk Off thinking themselves
very III used. The management OF this
republic will be much easier wnen there few
genuine republicans to manage. Meanwhile the
hat 10 the Rnouan. 1t deserves its name, and
Will be the prevailing shape ior late sumuer-that
Is. for this season improperly called summer. We
all know what all assertive pugnacious body of men
were those Khouans-how they fought and died.
how they struggled to defend the cause and to
le ReruDlic. Mefp
u set OF outlaws and headed Dy leader whose
cry was that OF the chat-huan (night OWL
thence tho denomination chouan. Well this
hat, started by new star in the mod stcs'
celestial world (hy Mime. Eugenc), looks
exactly what ~ chouan proiessed to behalf cava-
cr half pillacr, but determined anyhow to conquer
or die. Ii ~ u low gentleinan's hat with narrow
brm such as is now worn horseback, and COW
erod wish the new material called antique satin,
kind OF plush. 1t is eucrced above the Drim with