Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-20

lions, he nevertheless has done much
HARM TO AMERICAN WOMEN
In the minds of the French ignorant of the
truth. Until the present everything that
was fantastic and strange in the shape of
woman was invariably ticketed-American
In the Etrangere of Alexander
Dumas fills the heroine, an unnatural, ex-
traordinary creature, is also an Ameri-
can, although the type could not
create as much astonishment anywhere
as in America. Sardou did not neglect to
ridicule what are called Woman's Rights
women, and endeavor, by either ignorance
or carelessness of the truth, to put his
eompatriots on their guard against the GUS
toms of free country. The character of
Lea Henderson, aside from her fancy for
theological discussions, is charming, all
that one may desire in woman, and this
shows either a refutation of Sardou's pre-
conceived idea of American women or the
acknowledgment of the progress he has
made on the road to facts. 1t has pleased
the French, perhaps more than other ma
tions, to picture the American women as
creatures capable of the most extraordinary
and fantastic conduct. The moment a
woman is free what surprising things will
she not do They do not seem to compre-
bend that liberty does not mean disorder,
and that the strength acquired by women
of America through the free exercise of
their own powers makes them more capa-
bic of steering in straight course Every
circus rider, the subduer of wild animals,
the velocipedist, etc, if woman, halls
NJ,
ever proficient in any OF these professions,
could count on any success whatever did
she not change her name to that having an
Anglo-Saxon sound, and announce herself
as arriving fresh from American shores.
Many French persons are therefore some
what astonished to learn that American
women are quiet and modest, live with
their husbands to the end of their lives,
and raise their children pretty much as the
rest of the civilized world, instead of
spending their time hanging by one foot
from trapeze, driving four-in-hand along
the streets, or promenading on veiocipedes.
Each year there is an
EXPOSITION OF PAINTINGS
At the rooms of the famous club of the
"Miriltons." A majority of the most
famous artists of Paris are members of this
club, and it has been customary for them
each year to expose those works ordered
and finished in that time which may not be
destined for the salon. Although at the
salon great number of the pictures may
have been sold beforehand, the majority
are for sale, whereas at this exposition
there is nothing for sale, and as the name
of the owner is given with the subject and
name of the artist greater interest
even is manifested among the numerous
aristocratic visitors A certain number of
cards are issued by the club to each of the
members, who loan them around to their
friends. At no artistic exhibition is the
crowd as choice and as aristocratic as here.
All along the sidewalks of the Place Ven
dome may be seen elegant carriages with
ensigns armorial incrusted in gold ON the
doors and the harness, and gayly dressed
footmen in their gilt and lace awaiting i'm.
patiently the arrival of their masters Not
only known artists but many members of
the club who are merely amateurs, with
pretentions more or less merited, expose as
we'll on these occasions, and If there are
often very indifferent works, the fine ones
have all the better advantage by the con-
trast This year | remarked two very fine
portraits by Bonnat, one that of portly
and apoplectic-looking gentleman, which
displayed the vigorous hand of the artist !;
the other was portrait of two children
with faxen hair; but it must be said that
Bonnatd does notsucceed so well with blondes
nor wherein delicate touch is required.
Here were also two portraits by Carolus
Duran, one, that of lady with very
pleasing and finely painted face, but her
white satin dress, at whatever distance you
might stand from it, invariably appeared
white-washed with a very heavy brush
which had consented to move but twice
up and down the canvass. One of the
hands was almost black for the want of a
little more white paint. But Carolus
Duran will not finish his pictures, and de-
lights in defying both the public and critics
by his obstinacy. The other portrait, by
the same author, is that of his little girl.
That is charming and more finished, for he
certainly loves his children and does not
quit them so suddenly as he does others.
He has large family, and as each child
reaches certain age he paints its portrait
and exposes it, so that the public are quite
familiar with his little family.
HIS CHILDREN ARE ADORABLE
And are always most beautifully painted.
There is very fine picture by Detaille,
which is probably the most remarkable of
the exposition The subject is Iraite
parlementaire aar aUant-postes. The scene
varies little from the rest of his, as it is
always soldiers, soldiers. Several soldiers
are in the foreground, with their
backs turned to the public, for they are
engaged in looking at the enemy's officer,
who has descended from his horse and is
having his eyes unbandaged. Near by are
the two horses, on one of which sits the
guide holding the flag of truce, the other
patiently waiting its rider. In the back
ground is the army drawn up, whose
number is SO great that they mingle in
the distance with the dull gray clouds.
The clouds above are broken, and the
struggling sunbeams fall on the center
figures, enveloping them with soft mellow
light. Like the pictures of his famous
master, Messonier, Detaille has carefully
painted all the details, and they always
appear miniature soldiers about to march
away. There was very fine picture by
De Melville, who paints the same genre
talent, according to the opinion of
artists and connoisseurs. This pic
ture is small and represents an officer
on horseback, followed in the distance
by soldier The face is quite character
istic, and leads one to suppose that it is a
portrait. There are two fine portraits
by Emile Levy. A fine Spanish scene
of pretty senoritas by j. Clairin, a young
artist who first attracted attention some
three or four years ago by very fine por-
trait of the actress Sarah Bernhardt,
which was exposed at the salon, and
which brought him honorable mention.
He it was illustrated the absurd book
she wrote, entitled Historic dane Chaise
the history of chair. We noticed two
beautiful statuettes by Gustave Dore,
which certainly gave us more pleasure than
could one of his paintings. VAL.
I