New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-19
A GRAND FRENCH FAIR.


PATRONS.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF rHE TRIBUNE
LpNDoV, July s.-0lce year or so the Albert
Hall, built to be- temple of the MUSES. and pious
monument TO Albert the Good, but too big for
either, is found to be of some use. One OF those
happy instances occurred yesterday. fair or feie
had been organized by French residents of London
IN aid of the French Hospital and two other institu-
lions, and tins held in the Albert Hail. Fairs
are no uncommon thing in London, but TINS
is the first of its kind-the first which has
been so deliberately arranged and with 30
many new features France and England
each contributed freely to make il a success; and
very brilliant success it certainly proved from all
points of view. The announcement that the Royal
Princes ana Processes would be present reused of
course much loyal feeling. The announcement that
the ladies of the Coincide FRANCHISE would bold
stalls was possibly greater attraction still. Many
ladies of fashion, most of the fashionable
beauties included were advertised as patron
esses and stal-keepers-not for the first time
however. The band of the Garde Repubcaine
came over from Paris, by express permission,
We are told OF the President of the French Republic.
The conservative Frenehman will be shocked to
hear that they played tne Marseliase in the streets
of London they marched through; the Prince
within bearing.
The Fair was 20 open at 2 the hour when London
is tor the part unehing. Ii seemed safe 20 90
later, but people VINO pushed that presumption too
far missed part of the entertainment. At 2:l5
there already crowd in the arena, the central
space of the great nall Oval-shaped, and of which
ali the had been taken IN order set up booths
You saw as you entered that French hand bad
been at work. Everything was light IN structure
and gay in color, and but for the signs over
the shops the whole might have passed for fairy
encaupmeut. The French tri-coiOT was everywhere
The signs bore the names OF the ladies VINO had
turned shopwOiueu for the occasion. The French
Embassy was represented by the COntesse de Mon
tebelo, and other legations sent their best names
and prettirst women-Madame de BylaDdt from tie
Netherlands. the COmtesse SteenbOek for Sweden,
Madame de Bulow for Denmark and 50 Miss
Welsh had gwen her name of the patronesses,
but on account Of the recent death IN Mr. WelsLps
family, whfch has withdrawn them from society,
was unable 20 be present. America had. neverthe-
less two stalls to herself. one under the control of
Mrs. Ronalds VINO sold champagne, ices and fruits.
and drove roaring trade al the afternoon; another
where Mrs. Adar presided with equal profit. North
and South America cUaesced in the stall which bore
the name of the Baroness Penedo, wife of the Bra
lillian Minister, who found an attractive ally in
Mrs. Henry Schlesinger. with Mrs. BsrHal Osborne
rs aide-de-camp to the latter. Among English
names most conspicuous were Lady Skelmcrsdaie,
! Lady Hood, Mrs Stoner, the Marchioness of Head
fort ard Mrs. BorthwIck
Al the extreme end were three stalls which dis
| pla ed no individual name, but were all labelled
! alike Com6iie FRANCHISE. Whether YOU wanted TO
90 10 these or not, you were borne irTesistIJiy
thither by the tide of humanity which set steadily
! from the entrance Of the hall onward past the
booths of arstocratc blazonry and straight to the
! central sail OF the French Company. You know
| already who was in ii. You nave read enough of
! the passion Of London for one woman during these
! last few weeks TO guess that the priestcss
i IF this altar can De other than Nile. Sarah
Bernhardt. Early as il is You must bide your time
| before you can get enough 70 the shrine 70
make any personal offerings in your own behalf.
! There are men and women in the crowd, but the
women far outuumber the men and this is not the
FIRST time that female curiosity mas shown ltself
keen 20 make close acquaintance with the great
actress and extraordinary woman whose name fills
every b0dys mouth Her costume alone is enough TO
excite feminine enthusiasm. All creamy white, from
the hat which you TO the dImnutlyesatn ship
pers which are visible u the eye Of the imagination;
with clouds of priceless lace about her throat and
sheen of silk over shoulders AID waist fitting like
skin. / don't presume 10 offer my own opinion on
such mysteries. am only repeating. in a modified
~
OH this triumph Of the dressmaker's art By ladies
who are themselves the living witnesses OF skill
not much inferior and so presumably good judges.
On the left shou der tine creamy white deepened into
tie pale yellow of rare roses and the hands and
arms were drawn gloves of the same hue, vrinkled
above the wrists in limp folds of yellow kid hanging
as loosely as cavaliers boots in the oden times be-
fore SPANS chivarv was laughed away. The asnen-
blond hair seemed only deeper shade OF the tone
which made the whole figure a harmony of pure
color. to which the only contrasts were the pink
cheeks, which flushed and faded from minute to
minute and ewes of steel-blue which flashed ire be-
meath deeply shaded ashes. Nile. Sarah BerHhardt
possesses the art of conversing with "A dozen
people at once, and none the less keeping
sharp lookout for business as the talk goes
Oh. She is acting all the time" said one
fair critic with spice of bitterness If she had said
actress all the time, she would not have been far
wrong for Nile BernhaTdt forgot that she was
there TO entrance and caj0le her customers just
on the stage she Is there TO beguIle them into won
der and unwonted emotion. She had wares of many
kinds TO sell fans painted by herself to be bought
for fabulous prices reduced copy of her own bust
of NJ de Guardin Japanese bronzes and porcelain
photograph of herself from life and from NJ.
Basten lie Pages portrait, lately the most admired
picture OF the salon III Paris-a masterpiece OF por-
traituTe and a likeness OF character az Wen as OF
feature and form. Ii did not much matter what
she sold people were ready to buy because she was
the seller, and when she deigned to add her auto
graph te a fan. OF a photograph the gracious ar
with which she handled the pen doubled the price
of the commodity, and the da2ed Brlton paid his
guinea instead Of 10 shillings tor bit of card
board possessing intrinsic value OF
two pence; then marching off proudly
with his treasure and melting others
10 20 and do likewise. Ali the afternoon till long
past G, the nominal hour for closing, this merchan-