Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-26
OUR PARIS LETTER.
THE FRENCH INSTITUTE AND ITS
FIVE DEPARTMENTS.
Honors Accorded De Lesseps-So-
ciety Gossip at the Fashion
Metropolis-Etc.
PARIS, March IS. 1884.


seps and Francois Coppee to fill the places
of Martin and Laprade at the French
Academy was a surprise to no one, as they
are generally acknowledged worthy of
seat among the Forty Immortals" The
glory of De Lesseps is universal, and he is
one of the most popular men in France.
His countrymen even 90 50 far in their
admiration as to compare him with Chris
topher Columbus which may be stretching
d point but, in any event, the gigantic
opening of the Suez Canal, despite the diff
fculties and the seemingly insurmountable
obstacles will render his name immortal
His character and his work are too well
known to require details here, but this
double election may not make "tedious
reading" of short account Of the work
ings of the French Academy, or rather
the French Institute, for it is divided into
academies and composed of body of men
whose lives are devoted to science, litera-
ture and art. These five academies are
called the French Academy, Academy of
Sciences Academy of Fine Arts, Academy
Of Belles-Letues, and the Academy of
Moral and Political Sciences.
THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE
Is one of the most glorious creations of the
French Revolution, and creation peculiar
to France. Several countries have at
tempted to found similar institutes, but
France alone has an institute where the
various efforts of the human mind are init
mately associated, and of which the poet,
philosopher, historian, critic, mathemati-
clan, astronomer, naturalist, economist,
sculptor, painter and musician may call
themselves members. These men believe
that the arts and sciences are a part of the
Government, and that their development
should be encouraged and compensated by
the State. In 1866 Colbert, the good genius
Of Louis XIV, conceived the idea of
founding an institute almost identical with
that founded by the National Convention
Of 1875, but his project was abandoned,
and it was only in 1885 that the Academy
was taken under state protection. At that
time historians were refused membership,
but this defect was remedied in 1903: since
which time it has steadily increased in
strength and reputation. Without having
always attained the object for which it was
founded, the Institute of France has rem
dered important services to the country,
and will render still greater services, as the
choice of its members is dictated by the
most profound interest in art and the sci
ences.
THE OLD PALACE OF RICHELIEU,
A most interesting building, situated in the
heart of Paris, is the property of the Insti-
tute, and here, since the revolution, the
meetings have been held and all business
transacted, and when a public reception of
newlv-elected member takes place the
venerable old palace is crowded with the
most notable representatives of French
intellect, wealth, fashion and beauty. The
reception of De Lesseps and Francois Cop
pee will be particularly brilliant, and al
ready ten thousand applications have been
made for admission TO the Palais de lin
stitut on that day. The reception cham
Der will seat only about ten thousand, but
undoubtedly everyone of the many written
applications will receive attention in the
shape of bit of pasteboard, which will
entitIe the happy possessor to enter the
Institute on
DE LESSEPS AND C0PPEES RECEPTION DAY
If he can. The doors will be opened at 9
A. NJ, and the reception speech of De Les
seps will begin at l o'clock sharp. The
bits of pastebOard are not numbered, as
positively no seats are reserved, but Paris
ians will 90 to the Institute on that day at
9 o'clock, and will always patiently sit or
stand for half dozen hours to assist at the
public reception of any newly-elected
member The Institute of France is dear
to the hearts of all Parisians, the ladies
being quite as enthusiastic as the gentle
men, for they realize that it is the grand
est creation ever conceived and founded by
any Government. De Lesseps is an old
man, but is full of strength and vigor. He
is to be seen every afternoon riding in the
Bots de Bologne, accompanied by his five
handsome sons. All Frenchmen raise
their hats to the cherry, pleasant-looking
old gentleman, and he returns the saluta-
tons with boyish smile.
THE PRESIDENTS FIRST BALL
Took place a few days before Ash Wednes-
dav, and was most brilliant affair The
tolettes were superb, and the American
ladies were by no means behind the Pa
risiennes in taste and elegance. As far as
beauty is concerned, it is a mistake to sup
pose that the French women have not a large
share. 1t is amazing TO see so many ex-
quisite French blondes, with eyes of liquid
blue and compilations of exquisite fairness.
At the Presidents ball one was continually
reminded of the portraits of Greuze and
Boucher, and especially as the costumes of
the present day are not unlike those Of the
eighteenth century Most of the heads
were powdered at this ball, and it is almost
certain that powdered hair is going to be
all the rage. Certainly nothing can be
more gracious than this snow-white hair
browning a pretty face, especially when
this face is ornamented with two beautiful
black eyes, but is it possible to return to
this old fashion with the present style of
dress worn by gentlemen? Powder was
not inconvenient when dancing the minuet
or the gavotte-the cavalier at a certain
distance from the lady-for then the clouds
of white fell upon the parquet, but with
the black suits of the day and the round
dances, in less than FIVE minutes the part
ners of the fair ones resemble millers So
it was at the Presidents ball, and the eff
feet was very ridiculous. Powdered hair
IS only possible with fancy costumes, worn
by both gentlemen and ladies, and the
round dances and the german must be
sacrificed for the slower and more " distant"
minuet or gayotte.
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DIFFICULTY
Continues to produce great excitement.
The artists of Paris invited Meissonnier TO
a large banquet the other evening at the
Continental Hotel, but the artist declined
to accept any pity at the recent indignity
offered him by Mrs Mackay," and has left
town for Italy. We have it from good au-
thority that Mrs. Mackay regarded her por-
trait painted by Meissonnier as perfect
caricature, and she was unwilling that such
portrait should remain in the possession
of her children, and she destroyed it for
that reason. She has nothing against
Meissonnier as an artist, having in her pos
session several paintings of his, for which
she paid enormous prices. But Meis