Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-04-30
MRS. BONANZA MACKEY.
How She Furnished Her Partisan
Home.
Newark Advertiser.

home.
Newark Advertiser.
The following funny story is going
the rounds of the American Colony in
Paris. give you it for what it is worth
it ought to be true, ii it isn't: Some
years ago, when Mrs. Mackey first came
to Paris, the Bonanza King as many
toadies in the states delight to call their
golden idol, came with her. She occu-
pies, as you know, the whole of large
hotel lin the French sense) on a corner
or the Champs Eysees, close to the
Arc-deTfiOmphe, one of the best sites
in Paris for a residence. They, on leas-
ing this grand hotel, naturally desired
to furnish it in manner becoming the
magnificence of the house and the style
in which Mrs. Mackey entertains, which
is gorgeous and unequaled by any pri-
vate individual in Europe. Mr. Mackey
obtained the assistance of an Am erican,
Mr. lie Gay, a well-known commission
merchant here, to purchase the furni-
ture, upholstery, hangings, etc. Meth
er Of these gentlemen being experts"
70 that much-abused worldly in house
furnishing, they rather overdio the bus
mess, and the result was palace, with
its green room, its yellow room, its
mauve room, its saffron room, and its
room, like Joseph's historical coat, Of
many cOlOrs. In short, a great deal Of
money was spent, but without much
taste; or, more correctly, with extreme
ly cloud" taste. The like was never
before seen in Paris; that is, "hardly
ever"
Just here appears upon le tapis GER
tain count, the well-known Count de
No-Account Ito which celebrated fanai-
ly belong nearly all the counts and Bar
ons and marquises of La Belle France
Count de N. is All elderly gentleman of
expensive tastes, which during long
lifetime he has gratified at the cost Of
other people. Now, grown venerable
in appearance and ripe in years, his
setting sun is declining upon life we'll
spent III fleeing out only his country
men, but rich foreigners who need the
assistance Of a man Of refined tastes,
like himself, to help them to live in this
great city, and to do what many foolish
Americans who come here wish to do,
get into French society (about as
protligate, licentious full false as any
society can be and yet no fall to pieces
from inherent rottenness). The count
managed to have Mr.. Mackey brought
to him and introduced into his house.
Mr.. Mackey was then received with the
dignity BETTING scion Of the illustrious
house of No-Account. In return for
this condescenslon he invited the count
to the Mackey mansion. ....
After the count had been shown
through the various rooms, MIR. and
Mrs. NJ. asked him how he liked the
way their house was furnished. Count
n. told them it was very beautiful, you
know, but not at all French, and that
they expected to enter Partisan society
land be what we call in America "anv-
Dody") they must change all that sort
of thing Thereupon Mr.. M. Tor his
wife, which is the same thing begged
the count to direct them how to alter
that which they had done and do it
over in true Partisan taste-toute
fat Francaise. OF course il would
not have looked we'll for the Count to
go about spending the Mackey's money
for them and acting as an humble COM
mission merchant. You know these
titled people affect to look down on
vulgar tradespeople," shopkeepers,"
and all that sort of "trash." That's the
way society is constituted in both En-
gland and France. The nobleman
never objects to making money out of
a tradesman--on the contrary, is al
ways we'll pleased to s'spoil the Philis-
tines" but strenuously asserts his posi-
ton in society, and never allows a man
who has made his own fortune 10 meet
him on a social equality. s.<..
But to return to the Count. He sug-
gested to Mr.. Mackey the appointment
of certain young Frenchman as pri-
vate secretary, steward, chamberlain,
etc. This man was appointed. Through
him, guided by the exquisite taste Of
Monsieur lie Comte de n, ali the pur-
chases for a complete refurnishipg
we're made, the other furniture being
shipped off in toto to the states for Mr..
Mackey's American home. Since that
time everything required for Mrs.
Mackey's establishment, down to a
candle even, is bought by the chamber
lain. The negociants (from pure affec-
ton undoubtedly kindly pay to Mon
sier lie Comte liberal percentage (com-
mission) on everything which enters
into the household or housekeeping of
Mrs. Mackey. No one can sell her
sous worth Of anything without con-
tributing a moiety to the Count. The
manager of the largest ACCOMPLISHING
and picture-selling firm in the world
(having stores in Paris. London, Berlin,
the Hague, etc. J. told an artist friend of
mine that he had repeatedly tried to
sell Mrs. Mackey paintings, and never
yet has succeeded, because his house
will not pay the Count the extravagant
commission he demands. Such is life
in Paris!
Grain at tho WnrI63S Fair