Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-06-18
aid, "the respopsibilitv Of having

said, :" the responsibility of having
inaugurated the gangrene Of money in the
French democracy ?" Now that the scrutin
de liste has heen voted, there is chance of
reforms being accomplished with more
rapidity and when the lawmakers will
be men who represent the intelligence and
advanced ideas of the nation, France, un-
trammeled, will march with sure and rapid
strides.
THE SALON OF 1881
Has awakened but little enthusiasm, and
in fact after a visit, howsover long and OF
bonnie cotonte, you come away little i'm
pressed, and ask yourself what you have
seen that is liable to haunt you as the
strains of sweet music. True, your sensi-
bilities are not shocked by anything
very horrible, but the medium is low,
and all the pictures seem to belong to
the same family of mediocre race.
A number of the fine French masters have
grown old and retired from competition, or
else have SO many important commands to
fulfill that they have no time to attend
to the salon, while there are no
young artists of equal talent to
replace them. One misses the remark
able pictures of always large dimensions
belonging to Tony Robert Fleury, the
perfect smaller pictures Of Gerome and of
many others whom the public are now re-
minded of only by their visits to the
musee of the Luxembourg. Even the most
noted of the French artists who have ex-
rat "
small canvases, apparently with the object
only of disposing of them in the market,
feeling satisfied with the laurels they have
gathered in the past. A year ago the
salon was exceedingly interesting, for two
artists, perfect in their style, but who con-
fine themselves to one or two figures and
pictures OF ordinary dimensions, exposed
immense canvases and their best work ever
placed before the public. M. Jules Le-
fevre had then his '' Didnne surprise al
Bain," which contained numerous figures
and was remarkable. This year he ex.
posesFtwo small pictures, containing each
one figure only NJ. Flenner's nymphs,
seated or standing beside their sky blue
lake, and which remind you of Correggio
in their deep rich tones, were last year of
unusual size, spread over
LARGE CANVAS,
But this year his solitary nymph seems to
be feeble descendant of those poetic
beings, and the tiny blue lake seems in
part to have dried up. The great portrait
painters have done this year as fine as
usual. Bonnat exposes a very fine por.
trait of lady, but the arrangement of her
dress is anything but artistic, size having
thrown around her long, loose sacque as
though she had hurriedly started from her
dressing room with unfinished toilet. Car
olus Duran is never guilty of the fault of
is more artistic and becoming than the
satin, velvet or lace dresses, set off by the
deep, rich velvet curtain in the back. He
exposes this year the portrait of Nine.
Graux, a beautiful blonde of fine and per-
feet features and handsome and finely
developed form. She is dressed in long
black velvet dress, her lovely light hair
arranged in coronet on her head, orna-
mented with band of diamonds, and
from there falls to her feet, enveloping her
entire form, long, black lace veil. The
curtain is of deep crimson color, and
suggests the thickest and richest of velvets
There is much majesty in the pose of
the head and much sweetness ex-
pressed in the face. The originals
name became quite familiar to the public
during the Cissey affair, since letter
written by her was read from the tribune
by Mr.. Laisant, the President of the Com.
mittee charged with the enquete. This
letter created great sensation, for in it
Emile de Girardin was accused of being
Prussian spy, besides the characters of
some ladies OF fashionable Partisan society
were placed in such light that even their
nephews by marriage demanded satis-
Nine. Graux is the daughter of former
rece0eur OF the empire, and who at one
time was intendant of chateau where
his young daughter was brought up. AT
this chateau came the Empress and her
maids of honor, who did much towards
spelling the pretty child and filling her
head with ambitious projects. During the
war this young lady's reputation be-
came very much compromised owing to her
conduct with Prussian officer. Shortly af-
ter that Mr. Ernest Duvergier de Flauvanne
fell desperately IN love with her and mar
ried her in spite of the protestations of his
entire family. His father, who never after
spoke to him, was at one time a Minister
under Louis Philippe, and an Academician.
He died but yesterday at an advanced age.
Ernest Duvergier de Fauvsnne was one
of the most talented young men of his
time, and was regular contributor to the
first magazines OF France. During his
lifetime his wife wrote a con-
densed history of the French revo.
luton which was crowned by the
Academy, and is now used in all the
public schools. As this lady had never
before made any pretentions to literary
fame, and has not since contributed to the
world of letters, it is strongly affirmed
that the book was written by the husband.
After short existence of married life
the young man died in the flower
of his age and intellect. His widow
scarcely waited for year to roll round
when she married the rich Mr.. Graux.
This lady, feeling that she has claims on
the literary world, has for years been am
bilious to have salon but she has found
a formidable rivalry in Nine. Adam, and it
is supposed that the letter sent to the
Commission of the Cissey enquete was die
tated by jealousy. VAL.