Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-09-12
FASHIONS METROPOLIS,


Tothc Editor of the Free Press and Times:
PARIS, August %.
In the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries. French ladies. it may truly
he said, knew nothing of the ocean.
When Jean Bart, a sort of Tom Jones,
came to Versailles to see Louis NV, pCO-
pie were nearly sutlOcated at the palace,
in their desire to get Il look at that fa-
nous rough and ready Jack Tar. Curl
osity, too was stimulated about the sea
side when Natcl committed suicide mt
Chantlly, in consequence of tulbut and
oysters not having arrived in time tor the
great banquet given 10y Condo, in honor
of Louis XIV. ON his way to the wars of
Flanders Courticrs only went to Spas.
or thermal stations and then when really
invalids and for health's sake. Such was
the case with Boieau and Madame de
Montcspan. 1t was quite Il political event
when Louis XIV set out for Barcgcs. II
was felt that divinity ought never To quit
Versailles. but to remain in his paguda,
like Grand Lama.
Madame dc Srvignc discovered Nichy,
as Dumas. pcrc. did puys. near Dicppc.
She and her friends derived very great
benefit from the estates. and perhaps rs
much from their participating in all the
local amuscments : they enjoyed the bour-
rec, Il sort of slow Scotch reel. But dip
lomatists. courticrs, and placemen. found
The best "licatheries' or waters, to be les
EuUr dc I'CrSdWCS there alone played
the fountains of pension. post and place.
Great folks did not then live in the coun-
try. TO be sent to your chateau, or as it
was called. dtfIiS Sos tCrrcS was Il rigorous
disgrace Il genteel kind of transporta-
ton. But then Nature had no Worship
pers the country was no retreat And if
one voluntarily had recourse to Il retreat,
the convent or monastery. were the only
refugees. 1t was while in the latter, that
Racine composed some of his plays. 1t
was in the seventeenth century the fash
Ion was created for country residences
and Ferney, Charmettcs, and Ermonville
led the way.
To-day il is obligatory. to 90 to the sea
side, to 90 somewhere from home to have
an outing in Il word. during August. \
temporary disappearance from your MANI
tdi, has become an institution. Hence
the number of seaside resorts and Their
NAL stations, which are as plentiful as
gold mimcs-and about as profitable. To
keep these places attractive, horse racings
and rcgattaS. have had to he organized
casinos established, with gaming rooms
for the aged and the sharpers reading
rooms for Il mixed public select clubs
limited to all who can pay salons for con
VerSatiOn and Irritation, and ball rooms
for ladies. children, and babies As rule
The swallow never mikes with the native
population: Il Chinese wall separates
them, save in the matters of buying and
selling. when they are natives who aston
ish the visitors, by their cunning and au-
dacious fleeing As strangers they are
taken in.
August r. the height Of the season for
Deanvllc and Deppe, Indeed the former
has but 4 week, as Monaco. 1t smaCkS of
aristocracy and elegance" Till 1850, the
place was unknown. save as the abode of
some poor fisher people who clcd out Il
subsistence 10y catching shrimps 1t was
then the Due de MOrny had the idea,
to found ON the site, Il GOOdWOOd and Il
Brighton IL place of hippic reunion and
Yachting bathing resort and Il town of
pleasure. But the number of new water
ing places that sprung up kemushrooms,
told ON the speculation. Besides, the sand
was Il permanent enemy. DcanNille is I'M
rlValled in one rcSpcCt-itS race course {:
and races come of during one week in
August That is the only animation the
place witnesses throughout the year. The
upper-ten lead Il select, dull, and dismal
existence for Il few weeks they exchange
visits, and organize tiny Almack balls.
But all that is youthful among the promi-
nent squatters, take the wings of the
morning. y villa for the season of four
or six weeks, costs the sum of l5ooOfranc
Having done Deanvlle, the exclusives
move ON to Dieppe, uSt as formerly, Mar
~ was the correct residence after Fon-
Iainebleau. At the Deanville races this
year the right corner of the Grand Stand,
which is holy ground for the clcguntcs
iolletteS as rule, were simple and severe
Dleppe has ever been the gem of water
ing places. and after the massacre of St
bartholomew, it was there Catherine de
Medicis and her son Charles IN. sought
''repose' Puys was the only speculation
poor Dumas ever engaged in :: it is about
aquarter of an hour from Dieppe The
novelist always loved green fields, and
here he had them, i'll peculiarly warm and
bracing air, for the natural speciality of
lGeppe is, that, however hot, it is never re
Taxing or enervating. The Marquis of
Salisbury was the best tenant Dumas had ;
he also sold building sites to artistes, tax
ing their word for payment. Dumas died
mt Pays The latter is adelightful change
after the crowd, the music, and the gaiety
OF Dieppe.
The bathing is excellent at Dieppe, and
from the terrace, crowded like an opera,
glasses have plenty of work to view the
SIRENS and their hair made up into two
large plalts falling down the back, dis
porting themselves, A multitude of
NenliSes rise constantly from the waves.
Then there is excellent music twice Il day
childrenS' balls every evening, where Il
uOn%Cur aged ten, has for vis-a-vis, a
MudcmoiSCilc of eight years ; lower down
IN the youthful scale, are infants who have
their gutta percha dolls for partners, and
II either jump well, ii fond mamma or
friend, rewards the performance with a
bon bon.
What does France do now, Il lady in
CURED lately, and received for reply
''She wipes her brow" Those who can
not 60 to the sea side are saved the trouble
OF packing and studying railway guides
But all alike share the same desire to be
near water. Like certain plants, Just now
we seem to thrive in humidity. Open ain
dining i'll the Champs Elysees at the Am
bassadeurs or LeDOyen's, with watered al
leys and grass-plats, for absent fountains
is u necessity. The menu is not too close
ly scanned, and the blue sky serves the
acceptance of many sauces. Then, din
ner over, there is the circus, or better still
drive round the lake, or Il seat beside il