The New York herald., 1879-12-24

THE LADIES IN PoLITIcs-sALoNs OF REPUB.
LOAN FRAHCE-wHKRE TIE DHBATs AND
TEMPS CATCH THEIR INSPIRATION AND MINIS
TERIAL CRISES ARE BORN.
The present crisis in France is all the moro lively
because it is duo in no slight degree to the arts.
hopes and rivalry of the ladies. Nine. Leon Say.
wife Of the Minister OF Finance one of the last
representatives OF that grade bourgeoe which once
ruled France In its drawing rooms. She be:
longs to the race OF those who made
the salon q power in the State. Under Louis
Philippe the ladies were accredited supporters
opponents of the government Twenty salons
governed Paris. The word Of the Duchesse de
Dino was law in the Faubourg st. Ger
main; the Duchesse de Broglie and her
daughter the Comtesse d'Haussonville could
make and unmake Cabinets; the Comtesse de
Castellane. the Comtesse Boigne aud the Princesse
de LEVIN we're the Egeras Of several Ministerial
Numas; Mme Recsmier collected all the notabilities
Of the town to pour cloud Of incsnse round the
old age Of Chateaubriand; statesmen gath
cred in the halls Of Mime. Theirs. poets
in those Of Nine. Victor Hugo. fnanciers
in those Of the Duchesse de Galiara; and all,
without respect OF calling. bent the knee to Delphine
Gay. But among these salons none more distin-
guished than that Of NJ. Bern. chief Of the Debats
His son Armand was for many years editor Of that
Journal, and Mme Leon Say, daughter OF Armand
Bertn. grew up in the midst of an artistic society.
Of which Liszt, Ingres and Meyerbeer were honored
members. To-day, the wife of q statesman, she
receives such guests policy dictates. Her hus-
band is allied to the Broges and Montebellos; her
castle at Stors is during the summer months the
centre Of official France. and her influence in the Re
public is by means nconsiderable factor in the
present crisis.
oAMrrrrA's MrfsEs
There are three other salons in Paris to which all
eyes are now turned. Tho first is that of Mime.
Edmond Adam. who edits La Nosspelle Revue. Tho
second is that of Mme. Richtemberger. People say
that at the latter subprefecturee served up at
every course. and petitioners And their nominations
in the middle OF the cakes. Nine. Richtemberger Is
widow, rich elegant, smiable and still pretty She
Is not without wit, Or rather. she is intelligent and
cultured How did she acquire the influence that her
salon gives? Nothing in her early life gave any sign
Of the existence Of this ambition. As girl she hardly
thought Of anything but her dress. Her political
vocation was born in day. Her name. like that Of
Juliette Lsmber, has been associated with supposi-
tions Of marriage with M. Gambetta. 1t is certain
that the President Of the Chamber favors the salon
of the Boulevard Haussmann with his presence as
he favored that Of the Boulevard Poissonniere but
although. since his elevation. he Is little less
siuous there. no still remains the principal sttrac-
ton. The salon Of Nine. Richtemberger has
more fashionable character than that Of the
Boulevard Poissonniere. She receives women,
mothers OF families and young girls. as well IS
political men, artists and literary men. One finds
there to great extent the same names IS at Nine.
Edmond Adams. Ministers of the past. Of the pres
ent and Of the future; Deputies and all the staff OF
lie Temps. Nine. Richtemberger Is an Israelite and
daughter of NJ. Lange. coulissier on the Bourse.
But among tho political republican salons that of
Nine Arnaud de IAriage Is the most distinguished.
Under her sway there is agitation. nothing that
betrays intrigue, nothing thst resembles political
pedantry, much less club gossip. The company is
more select and restricted than elsewhere. There
few called and fewer chosen. Mime. Armand is
devoted to tho Republic. She does not act:
ter Of M. Guichard. vice president of the Budget
Commission. and sister Of M. Guichard. the friend
Of Ferdinand de Lesseps and director of the
Khedives agricultural exhibitions at Ismailia. Her
uncle. M. Dubochet. acquired. during his MANAGE
ment of the Gas Company of Paris, q fortune esti-
mated at nearly 6o.OO0.O .OOUf.. which he left
at his death to Nine. Arnaud and her
brother. Nine. Arnaud owns the Chateau dos Cretes.
near Clarens and she is building a magnificent
hotel In the Rue ed'Aguesscau, at Paris. There has
been much talk about the marriage OF Nine. Arnaud
de pAriage with M. Gambetta. People say
that this rumor has been tho cause OF the GOODNESS
that has sprung up between him and Mme Edmond
Adam. In any case It Is in the drawing rooms of
France that the secret of political agitation
must be sought. rather than in the Luxembourg or
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