The sun., 1880-12-12

from doing more. The audience included
Queen Isabella OF Spain. the Rothsohilds.
Baron Haussman. Laohaud and all the law
yers. Grevin and all the artists. Blowits OF the
London Times and all the foreign correspond
ents Arsene Houssaye and all the feuilleton-
lists. Lecoca and all the composers. and every
member OF the fashionable world besides.
The Figaro was 30 delighted with the success OF
It's latest device for self-advertsemeht that 1t
printed not only the names OF the people who
played and sang. and OF tho people who were
there. but also the names OF the modistes who
made the dresses. and even Of the florist who
contributed wreath OF immortelles. 1t is
curious illustration OF the economy OF French
journalism that the bust over which all this en-
thusiasm was lavished was worth about t25.
The extraordinary Japanization OF public
taste which began in France but has reached
its extreme limits in England and the United
States. is giving way by degrees In Great
Britain to a new phase OF Oriental art. The
wonderful skill with which the Japanese
translate objects naturally beautiful into sys-
tenn Of decoration that is as severe and pure In
Its forms as geometry itself and as opulent In
color as bed OF flowers achieved on its first
assault an easy conquest OF the Anglo-Saxon
mind. Ever since the first introduction to
English favor OF the broad washes. the distinct
Oulllueb, ule nht lTtHlHeut, anu tnB new IOnsb
OF the japanese artist, there has been growing
eagerness on the part OF English decorators to
relieve the hard, uilitarian. or profuse taste of
English householders with the tender and deli
cate ornamentations OF the remote East. just at
| present japan is fast giving place to British
India as the source OF artistic novelties Thanks
| to the good taste OF the Prince OF Wales, the
| drawing rooms OF London show an unusual
| hospitality to the workmanship OF Bonares. of
| Travancore. Of Delhi. and Of fTrichnopoly. The
| hammered and craven brass ware Of the holy
| city OF Benares has supplanted the cloisonnse
| OF Kioto in Mayfair. and even Sir Garnet Wolse-
| ley's wonderful collection Of Satsuma ia for
gotten in the fashionable rage for the shining
| lotahs and trays and seraRes in which the
needle OF the patient Hindoo has traced, as in
cobwebs. tho pictured legends and traditions OF
| his race and OF his religion. 1t almost shocks
, one to know that even the idols Of India have
become playthinRs for English children. and
that among the presents OF the coming Christ
mas Anglo-Indians rejoice to discover the
eflgies in miniature OF silva. OF Krshna Of
| Ganeca. and of Parvati.
One OF the sights OF Faris In spring and
autumn is the Hotel des yentes OF the Rue
| Drouot. The Hotel des Ventes is a sort OF cen
tral auction bazaar presided over by ono OF the
best known characters In Paris-M. Charles
Pillet. His monosyabe equivalent of the
English 'gonel" has been the knel OF many q
vast estate personal and real. Although a
private affair. in the American sense. his sales
room is recognized as the headquarters OF all
the bailfrs and brokers in Paris. and every day
from 1 to 6 an enormous crowd Of idlers gathers
| to witness the dissipation OF household furni-
ture. wardrobes. libraries. and picture galleries
| under the ipexorabie hammer Of tho auetie ieneer.
SO many people 90 to look and not to buy. that
NJ. Pillet is seriously considering whether 1t
would not facilitate his business to charge a
franc admission fec. and thus exclude from the
sales all but people having actual business in
the Hotel des Ventes or willing to pay for the
privilege OF seeing the goods of others put up
| to be knocked down. n L. T.