The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-30
Paris High. Life.


The curtain rises on ssCendrillon" at
7:3O. It is true that the adorers of the
diva are always certain of seeing good
deal of her from their avant scene toward
the middle of the piece. But this was
not sufficient for Theo. She desires
that they should also see her in the first
act, in which lies the principal feature of
attraction. It is an appearance so mar
velously lovely that it suffices to explain
the popularity of the new "Cendrillon.
The pretty head of Theo rises suddenly
in the center of corbeille of flowers
illuminated by electric light. The coup
d'eil is indescribably beautiful; no
effect like it has ever been seen at the
theater. When any one goes to her box
to congratulate her upon her perform
ance she always eagerly inquiries: stDid
you come to see me in my corbeille?"
When she receives reply in the mega
tive she usually dismisses her visitor
without further remark.
This peculiarly has naturally caused
great deal of disturbance in the CASTRO
nomic habits of the jennes elegants, who
would do anything rather than displease
the star of their dreams. Some break
fast later, some dine earlier, and all
arrange in one way or other to go to the
Porte st. Martin before 8 o'clock SO as
not to miss the corbeille. It is settled
habit When the Russian Grand Dukes
passed through Paris they twice advanced
the hours of their dinner to go and see
Theo in her corbeille couple of even
ings in succession. Prince Vladimar
even made Theo promise that she would
| introduce this luminous corbeille in all
all her operettas when she goes to sing
| in st. Petersburg. But this is not all.
Theo is daily invited to go and give
seances de corbeille at parties or at large
clubs of the capital. The newspapers
have given the name of corbeillomanie.
From all this Theo derives a fresh
celebrity. Tt had enabled her again to
rally round her that court of platonic
adorers which for some time past had
| been on the point of deserting her.
| Among them are rich, intelligent and
we'll educated young men, the bearers of
great names, and who for the last six
years have had but one idea, one object
in life-that of devoting themselves to
Theo. It is devotion more inexpli-
BILE from the fact that they derive but
little satisfaction from it. The diva of
their affections is faithful to her husband,
working tailor, and she will not permit
any one to make love to her. Notwith-
standing that the fact is indisputable, her
signing swains persist in ther attentions
Do they each entertain the secret hope
that some day or other Theo will be less
cruel to them? It is probable. They
continue, despite all discouragement, to
send her flowers and presents. She
deigns to accept them, and they com
mence over again the same game without
ever firing or uttering the least complaint
| hoe Nd I.
whole of her little court, establishing and
defining clearly the duties and rights Of
each of it's members. The visits which
she receives at the theater are divided
into series. Certain admirers can come
to her dressing room on the Mondays
others on the Tuesdays, ,and so on during
the week. These visits are more or less
long, according to the degree of con
siderations in which the visitors are held
And she presides over their reception.
with the most perfect tact, taking cars
: always to mark the rights of ancients anc
i to avoid bringing together people who
'detest each other or adorers who belone
, to the same clique. All these courierl
| obey Theo as conscripts obey their in
. structing captain. The diva movei
about, and powders and dresses hersel
in the midst of the dazzled faithful. Sht
!. places them all under contribution, anG
! is careful not to be ceremonious with any
of them, knowing that this off-hand mode
of proceeding renders her still more
seductive and charming in their eyes
One holds a looking-glass before her, an
other searches for something she hal
lost on the carpet. She asks for infor
nation of this gentleman and for hel
her powder box of that, and orders then
all to close their eyes while she changes
her costume. There is no court, even
court d'amour, without certain degre,
! of discipline. Theo frequently exhibit
great severity for the slightest infractio,
, of her rules. The delinquents-thos'
who in despite of their pledges try t,
make love to her or to kiss the tips o
her fngers-are Immediately punished
, with a suspension of their privilege o
!, visiting her, more or less prolonged il
proportion to the gravity of the offense
Those who repeat it are liable to be sen
fenced to perpetual exclusion.-Corr
~. Y. Herald.