Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-17

served tor each. The members were call
ed ''Immortals'' because the ambitious
motto on the silver jetOns of attendance
was "a immOrtalite!" The academy
was 10 publish a grammar and a diction-
airy, and 1to cleanse the French language
from the impurities Of the common peo-
pie, the Jargon of lawyers, the misusages
OF Ignorant courtiers and the abuses of the
pulpit" The academy never embelllshed
the French tongue; but it may have
purged it of imperfections.
some trace the origin of the academy to
Charlemague and his tutor Alcuin. When
the court read certain books, each reader
giving an account of what he had perused,
the members generally took the name Of
their favorite author. The wits have not
spared the academy. They call 1t the
Hotel des lnyalides de Ia Literature, be-
cause once elected the members work no
more. 1t is one of the few French insti-
tutlons that has resisted the leyeling
work OF the.Reyolution. 1t was mOmen-
tarlly suppressed by the convention in
l'92, as being aristocratic, but was soon
restored.
NAPOLEON III. WOULD HAVE GIVEN A
FEW OF HIS FINGERS
to have been elected an Immortal, but
Luclen was the only membar Of the Bona
partlst dynasty who obtained a fauteuIl.
Those real celebrities who We're never
chosen are said to be the occupants of the
forty-"hrst' fauteuil. This imaginary
arm chair is also popularity reserved for
distinguished blue-stockings. Beranger
declined the honor OF being an Immortal
IN song, considering that would be a
reflection on his dignity; Dumas Dere was
excluded on account of his debts; lie
| Sage, because he married carpenters
daughter; Moliere, because he was an ac-
tor; Scarron, because he was cripple
Bayle, because he was too busy with other
matters; Pascal, because he was a re-
cluse; Descartes, because an absentee; j.
/ b." Rousseau, because he wrote an OBJ
scene poem, and j. 81. :" Rousseau, sEthe
genius of bitter tears" because a kind of
wild man of the woods. The non-elected,
| however, can always console themselves
| with Piron's epitaph, which stated: Here
lies Piron; who was nOthing-nOt even an
Academician." Some years ago a Greek
gentleman was very indignant at the
lmmortals because they declined to pur-
chase the original grounds Of the Acade-
my OF Athens, with Pluto's holding thrown
in.
Sarah Bernhard is admitted to be the
best "Dame aux Camellias" that has yet
appeared; in trying to make the repent
ant and phthisical demi-mondian, lovely
in death, she is matchless.
The late hurricane was terrible in its
effects on chimney pats and cabs. Some
of the latter were whisked as if old hats.
The Oyerturning of the telegraphic poles
decides the question in favor of under
ground Wires. Perhaps the seYerest suf-
ferers are the masqueraders who attended
the opera ball. The majority Of these hired
their character costumes, leaving" their
ordinary clothes and a deposit of money
in the old clo' shop where they make up.
The hurricane carried away several head.
dresses and garments, the rain doing the
rest. The holders of the securities de-
clined to accept the damaged costumes.
sonot few merry-makers, to the SURPRISE
OF their friends, are still dressed as princes,
bandits, dry nurses, rajahs and niggers
a valet has been found dead. after
atrociOuS suffering. He purchased a DO
made to Grub on his back to cure a cancer
IN his jaw" The medicament was a kind
of essence Of purgatory. Three scoundrels
denied Of pocket money killed an old
scavengeress and took her purse, contain
ing two francs. A wife has been acquit-
ted Tor throwing Yitriol in the face of the
charmer who seduced her husband. A
mother, during dinner party in a restau-
rant, was sucking her infant; she was
joked about its quietness; on examination
1t was dead-irom cerebral congestion.
Latest originality: A small print has
opened subscription for the Mahdi.
"HallOo! my boy, you have no more white
hair?" 'Of course not; that is only suita-
bic when one is Young"