The daily gazette., 1881-04-02
OUR PARIS LETTER.
Correspondence OF the Gazette.
PARIS. March 2l, l8S


The Cable has probably put you in
possession OF the details of the assassi-
nation of The Gear of Russia, but you
cannot conceive the alarm the event
has created in the royal families ol
Europe.
CONSERVATION reigns in every Court
and evidences of plots are discovered
where none had been suspected but for
the successful plot of the Russian Mi
hilists. The Socialists of Germany
and the Communists of France have
taken fresh courage, and the police OF
every European city seem to be on the
alert to suppress manifestations of their
existence. The "manifestos" and
"proclamatlons" posted at midnight,
all disappear before daylight, and the
unlucky poster, if caught, is hardly
dealt with.
We ATTENDED the solemn ceremonies
at the Russian Church in Paris on the
day following that Of the assassination,
being led thither by curiosity to see
distinguished participants. Most OF
the noted personages were pointed out
to us or were indicated by their orders
and decorations.
The Russian Embassy and Consulate
were present, of course, gorgeous with
gold lace, stars and ribbons. Queen
Isabella of Spain, dressed in plain
black silk and attended by the Mar
quis de la Merced and Princess Ma
thilde, Prince Mathilde, Prince Ma
poleon, Marshal MacMahon, General
Fleury, Marshal Canrobert and many
other notable characters, beside the
French President and the members of
the French Parliament.
The splendor of the State carriages,
the trappings of the horses themselves
were simply stunning to plain Re-
publican.
Prince Orloff and his staff took the
oath of allegience to the new Gear as
administered by the clergy of the
church.
There is, perhaps, no city in the
world that tolerates such universal lib
erty as Paris. By general consent ons
may do as he pleases SO long as he vio-
lates no law, or does not sin against mo-
raIity or the known dictates of ciety.
Fashion here holds her high court, and
the whole world is her kingdom. No
where are there such observant eyes
of the novelties of dress, nowhere such
appreciative judgment of literary ef>
forts or success in The Arts.
The Salon will open about the first OF
May, and alreadJ the exhibition Is for
stalled by every issue Of every newspaper
printed IN Paris. Everyone, however
humble his circumstances, is interested
and we meet white-capped bonnes ant
blue bloused Workmen occasionally
amongst the satin and velvet costumes
of wealth and fashion in the art exhibi
tions open to the public.
The telling proof of the appreciation
of high art Is the prices paid tor pictures
At recent auction sale of the collectio
OF an amateur named Wilson, the price
ranged from $500 to $4,000. TIL
latter sum was paid for a portrait Q
Rembrant.
: Mr.. Macky, the California millionare
bid $25, 900 tor Missonier.
, In this beautiful spring weather, whel
I the sunshine comes down all the da
. long from a cloudless sky, and the tree
Z ia the Boulevards are bursting int
5 greenness and beauty, walk in tn
0 fashionable afternoon hour is very inter
. esting to foreigner. From the sho
Q wind )ws and open doors of the Magasin
are hung the most charming fabrics il
the most attractive manner. The cafe
and restaurants (and every second hons
ON every street is either cafe or restaul
anti are splendid with glass, china, pic
i lures and flowers, besides the temptin
n edibles and liquors and they are general
: filled with customers. Sometimes nearl
: the whole street in front is packed wit
d chairs and tables at which men, wome
! aud children eat AMI drink. and froI
: which tn y watch the passing prone
Q made 8. These, though chiefly Frencl
I are made up from all nations of th
J world, aud most of the representative
' in their national clothes. Turks, Arab;
: Zalus, Russians, Sweedes, South Amer
8 cans, sc. attract less notice than does
). handsome lady, richly attired. Indeed
n nothing catches the French eye soquiel
y ly as pretty feminine face and ric
~ feminine dress. have often been amu
ed to see them stop in the street an
delibertly turn around and gaze at SOM
a thing in or OH passing stranger thi
Is strikes them as peculiar. Paris ladi'
IL are unequalled in beauty and in taste
y dress and tho grace with which the
o wear it. The American ladies are vel
e little behind them. Their fault is
- Iun into extremes, and 10 wear som
/ thing bright and conspicuous. Boz
d French and Americans dress with mo
g taste aud are characterized by mo
a vivacity and charm OF manner than Il
y English. The American society is ev
'r IDENTIFY preferred to that of the Englis
i, and Americans are welcomed ever
: where.