National Republican., 1883-08-03
A Wedding Night Passed on the Steps of
Theater-' Pean d'Ane.o
.Snecial LeRer.

weather. Rain and sunshine alternate-but,
TO be strictly exact, fear rain predominates.
There was such downpour tho fourteenth,
the day fixed for the national fete of the re-
public, that most of the fireworks stands were
soaked through and only the Trocadero illu-
limitations proved thoroughly successful
BY the way, this was new experiment of
fountains running real water with the cleo
trio light playing above, below, about, across.
and so on. There were nearly 100000 jets of
light, with 10000 colored lanterns and the
extraordinary splendor of the scene may we'll
be imagined. 1t was the most bewildering
sight in the way of artificial illumination
that any fete of the republic has yet enjoyed.
There is very honest suspicion lurking
about that the days of republican France arc
ON the wane. Although the rain ceased be-
fore in the evening, there was such u fall
ing off in the enthusiasm, as compared with
previous years, that oven the people seemed
disappointed. Poor France No longer sought
after, no longer feared, only tolerated. almost
detested, what future the immediate ensuing
years may bring, who may tell
Masses are being said in many churches for
the recovery of health for Henry V. the Count
de Chambord. Medical science has not yet
discovered what ails the poor king. Five
doctors floating around him, each one of the
quintette disagreeing with the other, and the
wise men of tho east were they at Frohsdorf
might find even their conclusions set at
naught. IL is indeed strange that no one can
tell what ails dc Chambord.
Tho fact that he embraced the Comte do
Paris many times and with much violence
of affection, is a conclusion that his mind is
not only right, but that his affections are in
the right place. This fact has great political
significance. No one ventures to say which
or what, but an undercurront of sentiment
most favorable to the legitimists certainly is
daily gaining ground in France.
The present system of government IS one
which spreads, sows, and reaps general dis
content. Paris in itself, once SO clean and in
viting, has become filthy, impudent, and un.
reasonable The streets are no longer watered,
the most eXtravagant pour boire" or drink
money only illicits snap of rage or insult,
and ones coitierer or barber sends word that
he is preparing political letter, so that one
must wait to be shaved until his convenience.
The only word in use of the immortal trio
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" seems to be
the second which, TO tho stranger within
Partisan gates, is the thorn between two
roses. There is such thing as bad repub-
lie being even too republican to attain its
own ends. France has gotten to that state,
and is itself daily reducing its own i'm
portance.
For my part, it is absolutely immateral to
me whether Bonapartist, legitimist; or re-
publican regns, but 1t is of vast Importance
that |, a stranger, should be taxed even more
heavily than any native of the soil to enjoy
only insolence, filth, and discomfort. l
cannot drive to the Bois but l am
choked with dust / cannot have en- ough
water to secure to myself my daily bath. l
cannot dine in a restaurant without being
obliged to suffer the familiarity, so-calle |
equality" of the waiter. The next thing we
know We shall have return of Messidor"
and "Mermidor," and l shall be called "ci-
toyenne" to my face. The shadow of Robe
spierre's guillotine seems almost hanging over
France In the present state of things one
almost regrets that it is only the shadow.
While political factions are brewing and
discomfort is general the theaters try to keep
up, or some of them, at least. Speaking of
theaters, i must remark an incident still
apropos of the fourteenth, the fete of the re-
public. Most of the play houses gave gra-
tuitous representations. The string of as
pirants for the opera was something astonish-
ing. At 10 o'clock on the preceding night
the crowd commenced to gather on the steps
of the Grand Opera. By little after mid
night the scene became more varied, and
about o'clock of the morning bridal party
arrived.
As usual in Paris the commoners spend the
wedding day in the Bois dc Boulogne, as no
one may be married after midday i'll France.
One of the little chalet restaurants, with the
conspicuous sign, Salon des Noces," invites
the newly welded Beatrices and Benedicks
and the participators at these restaurant din
ners usually eat of the best aud fill themselves
with "wine not in pills" The aioremen-
TONED party, however, out of peculiar defer
ence to the wishes of the bride, ate
and drank with extreme moderation. Why,
one asks? 1t was indeed saCriiicial, but she
had made up her mind to see the Grand Opera
She had decided to pass her wedding night a
Ia belle itOile upon its steps in order to secure
good seats for the morrow and she determined
that nothing should interfere with this plan.
Wedding parties at that hour attract atten =
tion. Hers should not. In fact they were so
orderly, so too-too good, that no one scarce
dared whisper. They sat bolt upright with
haggard faces, dying of ennui and fatigue,
all because madame would do the opera, and
they earnestly declared this marriage iiasco.
They sat side by side like spectral candles
at wake, the electric light softly illu-
minating most unhappy, miserable looking
party. The cream of this Is to come. After
waiting more than fourteen hours they rushed
into the house with avidity, and, instead of
securing to themselves the best Places so
:, strong is the force of habit they began
Gambling at once to the upper gallery. In
vain dis-the polite Mr.. Louis bid them come
down. The faiuting bride was finally in
duced to accept compromise in the way of a
second tier box where the rest of her con-
wives finally Joined her. This lady, whose
courage could only have been equaled by
Nine. ROLAND, so revived that she led the
applause, mimicked the steps of tue ballet,
and grew tender with Valentine and Raoups
love duet Les Huguenots" was the opera,
as you may have OWNED. Her ready sym
pathy and tears fell with the doomed lovers,
and when the curtain dropped on the last
scene still did not attempt to quit the
house with too undue haste. We predict a
martyrs crown to that husband in virtue OF
the first season of hcn-pecked existence
1t very seldom happens to II man TO pass his
wedding night on the outdoor steps OF the
ater, aud few would have made SO touching
a sacrifice to art.
President Grevy's son-in-law Mr.. Wilson,
has just bought pretty piece of building
ground on the corner of Avenue d lena and
the Rue Madgebourg, There are about a
thousand feet of land or less, for which he
pays nearly seven hundred thousand francs
two hundred and nearly fifty thousand dollars.
Public opinion is divided, and anxious in
quirers ask whether this is handsome gift
from Papa Greyy or extraordinary dividends
on shares of "Petite FranceP Mr. Wilson
ought to know he is deputy, and as good a
republican as any of them,
There is desOlation among the directors of
the Cafe Chantants Outdoor life in summer
is the Parisian's existence, an evening at one
of these concerts his daily bread. How can
he live without his favorte amusement? But
tt,tt. sfa atag az