Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-18
ODD THINGS IN PABIS.
ODD COMPLICATIONS IN TIE SALON
ODD STORY ABOUT RACHEL.
Odd Doings of the Republic and the Odd
Position of Noted General
Of France, Etc.
PANS, May y, 1880.

napartist, Robert Mitchell, called MIR. Tur-
duet, the Sous Secretdire aur BedurArts,
to account for certain delays and misman'
agement connected with the salon. For
some time past the press has been attack
ing Mr.. Turquet with considerable severi-
tv, SO much SO that he has thought seri-
ously of sending in his resignation, but
Mr.. NJ. unwittingly pushed bark towards
the drowning man, which has safely brought
him ashore, to take higher place than
he has ever yet occupied. This interpella-
ton has given Mr.. Turquet an opportunity
of explaining publicly certain facts rela-
tive to the workings OF the salon, such as
they have existed under the supervision of
jury grown arbitrary through self-appro-
priated prerogatives, and which are both
curious and interesting Mr.. Tnrquet very
SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED
That all the trouble resulted from opposi-
tion he encountered in the jury, who have
acted more from hostile feelings towards
the Republican Government than from
personal animosity towards himself. The
new method Of classification exasperated
them for the reason that it prohibited the
arrangement of their own pictures by aid
of repoaSsoirs, that is, in surrounding their
pictures by inferior ones so as to render
theirs more striking. Heretofore young
artists have always been sacrificed for this
purpose. 1t is noted fact that in 1850
a celebrated master occupied all the gar
dienS, or workmen, three whole days IN
search of pictures of flowers so as to better
set off his own. This same system has
been carried on until this last exposition,
when Mr.. Turquet, in his desire to elevate
art. was determined that certain known
artists should not make of the salon a
picture market for their own wares, and
that young art, which is alone capable OF
saving French art from decline, should
have q fair chance. Besides, this last ar
rangement permits the jury to better judge
the pictures of young artists deserving
Of prizes, since they now touch and bear
comparison and as to the grand medal OF
honor, the operations Of the jury will nee
essarily be more sure, more impartial, the
points of comparison approaching nearer
and preventing mistakes. The public do
not complain about this system of classltl'
cation which permits them to more easily
Judge of the progress of French art. That
there are now artists as solicitous OF the
welfare of their own pictures at the ex-
pense of those of others, and who would
easily be guilty of the same act attributed
to the celebrated master IN 1850, may be
believed, since this same jury, with MIR.
Bouguereau at their head, during this last
exposition of 1878, voted themselves
ALL THE PRIZES
That were awarded, to the shame OF all
honest Frenchmen. To revenge themselves
on Mr.. Turquet, without warning him
they accepted l ,296 more pictures this year
than last year, fully aware that no provis-
ion had been made for the placing OF 80
large number; and instead OF superln-
tending the arrangement of all the plct-
ures, they devoted their entire time to the
section of h0rs coHc0urS where their own
were to be hung Hence, at the moment
OF the opening of the salon, rumber of
pictures were not placed, at which the
owners complained, encouraged IN their
complaints by the jury who put all the
blame upon Mr.. Turquet The speech
made by Mr.. Turquet before the Chambers
was very fine it was clear, concise and
forcible and it has placed him in posi-
tion liable to make him future Minister.
So it seems politics have crawled into the
Beaux-Arts, and that the reactionndires are
determined on casting obstacles under the
feet of the Republic upon all highways and
even in by-paths. A society of artists has
been organized for the benefit of Catholic
schools, called a Committee of Political
Artists, of which, doubtless, Mr.. Bougue'
reau is President, since it is IN his interest
to conciEate the directors OF Catholic
churches, that he may find a place for his
Christs and Virgins. Mr.. Turquet is not
brilliant man, and has never been consld.
cred an orator, but this circumstance proves
that superior and subtitle men are more
particularly needed on occasions when a bad
cause is to be sustained, just as a clever
lawyer is necessary for the success of
poor case, and that Republic has more
need OF honest and loyal men whose hon
esty and loyalty replace adroitness and
subtility.
STARTLING PICTURE.
One of the most startling pictures of the
salon is the portrait of the General Mar
quis de Gallifet. commander of the Ninth
Corps d'Armee, by Georges Becker, a
young artist hors concoms. The portrait
is Of full length and lifc-size, showing the
General in careless attitude, with his
sword thrust between his knees his face
is exceedingly red, like man OF very chol-
eric temperament. and he appears for all
the world furious about something and in
the act OF swearing like trooper. Every
body stops and takes look at the General
in the first place, because his red face
naturally attracts their gaze; and then
again because the General is thrusting
himself more and more on public notice.
General Gallifet was an ardent adherent of
the Empire, and revenged Its fall on enter
ing Paris at the head of the Versailles
troops during the commune, By massacring
men, women and children, old and Young,
and revelng in an amount of bloodshed
sufficient to satisfy the most Unsuitable of
ogres His great boast was to have spared
no one he found in his way, but to have
swept all before him like chat before the
wind, in a true imperial fashion. 1t is be-
lieved that were Gambetta to be found at
Paris at that time instead of at Saint Sebas.
tien, that the General would have called
him ont and fastened lin to the wall with
HIS Jay olltbo 40 NiNl % Oti4tio DGb
today, through some mctamorphose, the
General Galhfet has become an ardent Re-
publican, as solicitous of the welfare Of the
Paris canaille as he was in Kidding the
earth of them some few years ago. But
that which is stranger still is, that ne has
become
TIE BOSOM FRIEND
OF Gambetta The Bonapartists smile at
General Gallifets conversion, and say that
as he is clever and ambitious man, his in
tention is to obtain the confidence of the
Government and control of the army. and
that he will then make coup d'et0t and
proclaim himself Emperor. Many Repub
licans say that Gambetta cherishes him as
commander Of the army for the purpose OF
using him later when he shall want to
make coup d'etGt and proclaim himself
Dictator. Oh these c0Wps dcat' The
French live under them as under the sword
of Damocles they are everywhere they
seem to hang on trees, and like an eolian
harp, resound at the slightest breeze and
make all hearts tremble. Be it as it may,
the people are suspicious OF General Cali.
fet and the other day when he attended
at Saint Maixent the Inauguration of
statue erected to the memory of Denfert
Rochereau, the valiant defender of Belfort,
he made a speech, when the crowd am.
swered him with 81 Vire PamH;stie - How