The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-04
ATHENEE LoUIsIANATs.
A Literary, Musical and Artistic Com
petition of Louisianians.

ATHBH BE bOUIbIAR AIS,
A Literary, Musical and Artistic Com
petition of Louisianians.
The flower OF our French and Creole popula-
tion crowded the Opera House last night to
ass at at the annual competition for literary
prizes offered by the "Athenee Louisianais."
This society. which is literary. scientific.
musical and artistic In lts objects. is composed
OF scientists. ltterateurs, painters and aftifts
of both sexes. who work In harmony to keep np
the old traditions OF taste and talent beaueathsd
us by our French anc stors who founded our
beloved State of Louisiana: and we'll do they
perform their task.
With such men ut the head as DR.. Armand
Mercier, the president our talented conirere
Mr.. Felix Limet DIR. Alfred Msreer. ihe per-
manent secretary, Con. G.. T. Bsauregard. and
others, whose narnes ws omit because we can
not go through the entire roll. the soeey y must
succeed. particularly as Its aim Is emlnsntly
noble and pr aetical. The old Il me French resi-
dents and the Creole population who still BIZ
eys II & the Elofei o. .ne pass and I'll fhe b rhd &
tory Of our state think that the French lam
auags must not be obilterated. must not be-
. up "s and / iaiiifd ireviivifed with study. talent and
Industry. The most eminent have. therefore.
banded together and formed. holy phalanx.
fasfry as ywhrs saswa the a' she nss
anee ~ne with % inward % / SIC. a assembled to Witness
the joust Of wit and talent, as exemplihed bY
thae orchestra Ia its fne rendition OF the
pieces. by Or. Armand Msreier In his beautiful
alloeutiep, and by Mr.. Felix Limet In his elo-
ags e o nor shs asy to devote to
an extended mention. Of DR.. .Mercier'1s or Mr.
Limets addresses. Suffice 1t to say that both
they were Interesting. entertaining. tustfuc-
tive and eloauen., Both did good work to-
wards the sustaining Of the reputation OF the
society and the promotion OF Its future Inter-
After the discourse OF Mr.. Limet. our con-
rsTe o. the hs hadss rsas wi
much Taste and in clear and we'll modulated
voice the man useript OF the gentleman wno had
looks rather odd to give public acknowledge
mont to rival Ia trade, but ws cannot help L.:
Capt Burthe did fun Justice to the NJ nor Of
the manuscript. and We believe In giving even
q newspaper man his due. After Me-. Burthss
reading there was an ntermlasinn , i. m nf ABOUT ~
teen minnes during wcn ed ahe :, ~ho no. e.
see Gsnin's aliegoriehl painting Of Louisiana,
Mr.. Genin is rnemba,r Of the Atheneum. and
m artist OF merit. as his work shows.
In this painting we consider that he has con-
unered @. serious difficulty; All his tones are
light. and yet his central figure. r presenting
Louisiana. IL 20 yartisticully managed In it's
coloring and shading as to come out and re-
sptend. rs It We're. Ike piece of statuary from
paintIng rn ting s"y il very % artistic. Mr.. aeuin has has
chosen for his .allegorical type OF Louisiana an
ideal Creole beauty. He has given her that
neither too warm nor too insiptd. that belongs
essentially TO the ,carnation of the beautiful
u eV
' We, a"o good indeed. He his. with much intellI,
genos. painted her with long. brown eyes, full
q 1iRnjtU.
wouli be proud Of. aud In whose light poeG
would loyeio drown his existence. Her hair
fare" Of cotton flowers. There Is the green boil
The me white ~ 4 y wsr inst opening ,,g ana - me DYING
Is pehsps better r0s Toseate with
The hue hat q th the brh
wealth and lite that lies In the hsecy staple.
The "eoiffure" is charming. The mouth is en-.
livened with half smile that makes delightful
expression OF the eyes. The drapery is we'll
made, and the eatin phosphorescenee OF the
eloak's icing admirable. The pose is good.
ideal Representative of Creole beauty. Her only
defect as we think. is the perfection OF her nose.
dlcts 7 % our snowl o % dse q Creole beauty We have
seen many beautiful women in this sunny land
OF ours. so beau iful. indeed. that for. them IT
peril but we do not know Of Creole woman
who is regular beauty q classical beauty. |
When we -ay this. we are far from meaning
1t is not a compliment either |
1t is m MknowledEment Cias sicai beauties
are insipid; all the lines they can show US are
sx 5sctsd nss that mark m tae BEAUTY of o" wo
men all mean something, and as we pass from |
one to the other we 10 on wondering how 80 |
lines can realize wnat in our soul vs. conceive |
as the ideal OF what is truly baau'ifuli
On one side OF the central figure Is 2 cotton |
bale, admirabiy painted. bagging. Iron ties and |
all tit is In self study Behind Is o tobacco |
plant in bloom. shows luxurian- In freshness |
Of W sugar car cane INDICATE 5 he proda o Is
81. gar house show how al these riches of the |
tlllers Of Louisiana. Imme ediately behind the |
central figure the skies are OF beautiful blue |
tint. gradually darkening upwards into gray |
cloudy atmosphere. where hazy forms OF |
battling soldiers call back tn glorious memo |
rtea, Of old Confederate times, wherein Louisi- |
up yet a brightly tinted Iaborer. with bis hand |
resting on . plow. points ont the moral that |
Taken as an ensemble. Mr. Genin's painting is |
good, and We give him our siLc5re compii- |
ments.
An andante by the orchestra called back the |
admirers Of Mr.. G4nin's work 10 their seats, |
and DR.. Alfred MERCER read the eloquent man
uscript Of the lady wnose. composition had en- |
titled her to tn gold medal.
Dr. Mereier had evidently studied the scroll |
and recitad 1t aim oct entirely by heart, with ap
propriate gesture and intelligent defamation. |
Then came the presentation OF medals By tine |
president. DIR. armand Mercfer.
MIS- Arma d Cousin. Of Bonfouea. parish Of
st. Tammany, being the author of the manu-
script, which Ia called feminine on the pro.
gramme, but which from the reading appeared |
to us as possessing as nuch ctr myth as grace, |
was called VI and dec orated with the gold medal
BY the president
Mr. Frederick FrieZ the author of the maseu- |
line manuscript. was then escorted to th7 st. ge
and dec rated with the priza medal. Mr., Fri.z
II will be remembered. Won last year the silver
medal fYered by the Athenenm.
The ceremonies were elosad by magnificent
triumphal march by Mr.. Hubert Rolling veil
Interpreted by the orchestra, and then the flow
OF people went homeTards.