New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-04
TRYING THE SON-IN-LAW.
SKETCHES OF SCENES AND ACTORS IN The
LATEST PARTISAN DRAMA.

IT, ;s trulv said that Paris has fresh theatricai
,;ece 10 MAY on each Of the 800 Gays Vi .nc year
hnlv it. is not in the theatre that the farlsians
Art IL Sometimes the boards are IN tpe cehaVe
or the Chamber sometimes IN the bois more oiteh
~ ,ha Roulcvaris and most often in the law
courts. Dame Thems keeps the playhouse most
fertile in theatrical establishments and extrava-
CANA and this in the face of priggish judges,
who are so infallible in their own eyes. German
Ambassadress on saving intent, who dotted on
theatrical entertainments, used TO put by the
money allowed her for going to the play and find
the excitement that she wanted at les premieres
at the Palais dc Justice.
The trial of Wilson and his alleged touts and
agents for the sale Of the red ribbon Is what no"
draws the town. 1t is q less dramatic affair thah
the Cafarel one, but more curious one to study.
One sees there voracious pike among lot OF
pikelings. They have been likened to hawks ana
kestrels. But these birds fly high and come down
with bold swoop on their quarry. Inc WILSON
method was cold-blooded cautious ana al proSo'
What makes the trial attractive Is the contrast
between the situation of the principal memocr VI
the gang and that which he filed before last
October He was just strong to do as he pieased
rs the late Prince Consort Of Engand-or perhaps
stronger because he was in Parliament, and had
not men OF stubborn metal and great condition
like Lord Palmerston to Withstand. Ministers
came and went, but he was always IN place. ana
was really the man whenever there was OoV-
eminent crisis who sent for the ponticians'
who were apt to form new Governments Inc
defence will miserably turn on a point OF law
and, like his touts M. Wilson will plead that he
did not swindle, because the influence he soio
was not imaginary. 1t was that influence that he
gave for money, and not the red ribDon. NO
political passion can be brought into play, ana
the accused parties are debarred from posVur'ns
as victims of human malignity. TimOn OF Athens
could rail nobly at mankind because he had gwen
men the opportunity to be ungrateful. But as NJ.
Wilson thought only OF providing for his family
like Pcachemr in "The Beggar's Opera he
did not render services gratis Nor can his counsei
fnsinuate that his downfall was brought about
by Delilah. II he could bring well out 'he
fatal influence of woman, much would be iorgNen'
But the connection with Nine. Jane Hadlng was
prosac business. She expected deal OF money!
and when she did not get 1t threatened 10 SUR up
Mine Wilson's jealousy by means OF the love
letters she had received. When these were bought,
after much haggling at tho price demanded 'here
was an end to the matter.
The monde was agog to obtain entrance to the
court, and two boyish looking young barrlsters
were simply bellies in barristers' caps and gowns
None of the co accused, the unlucky Nine
Rattazzi mo connection Of the Italian statesnaDL
were at liberty. They came early to the faiais
de Justice for the convenience of counsel put kepI
out of court long as they could. behihu INC
scenes they wandered hther and thither, NJ VIII
Son utterly unnamed and looking frightened and
askance lie always had furtive eye ana
poked forward head. Since the scandals haheo
after him were uncarthcd in October he has aged
and run down. Save the eyes, the physlognon'y
WAS unmovcd. 1t is not a taking cOuntenance
l;-L tl,o haip nj
and the nose, which twenty years ago the
shape Of Mary Anderson's, is now high at the
bridge and nearly aquinc. The two
furtiye eyes are set close together. Ills
coat is no longer the short English jacket, but
seedy palctot which hangs on his shoulders as ii
on a peg This shabbncss is dismal to Dehoid'
What a depth of domestic misery it revcals' Inc
skirts Of the garment follow the drooplng-forward
inclination of the wearcr's figure as he Movers
upand down corr doIs, stunning old acquaintance
when hc secs them. He awaits private WORD
from the tipstaff to intimate when he must enter
There is no such caman for Nine. Rattazzi. She
was taken from a house of arrest by q couple OF
police agents in plain clothes, but spared the
indignity of the Jail garb and the dock and taken
to sit on the form fronting the bench-therc 10
await NJ Wilson and the other co-accused.
Enter at length NJ Wilson, followed at an in
terval of some moments by Ilebert. Ribeaudeau
and Du Breuil. All eyes were for NJ Wilson, ana
for him only He of ashcn paleness kept MS
hat over his eyes as he tottered from private
door up to his place, and lcant on ms couhsei
arm ] dare say he has secretly squared things
with Nine Rattazzi, with whom he exchanged
some words in O cool but not unfriendly manner
She is vulgar and sharp bourgeoise albert OF
of the noble family of De Corgouille- Valois Sordd
cares and low number oneism have given vulgar
,ovtfu TNln
IT and this passon shows itself in her speech
when she tries 10 show that it was she who got
Legrand decorated and that she had real influence
at the Elysee. Just here hef couhsei 'oo"' w
wish her tongue-tied.
M Wilson is long in the shank and short III inc
back bone His knees as he sits are far out from
the Trunk and his head tnow baredl bent over
portfolio full of papers The French word Tor
the black leather continuance is serviettc which,
nv the bye CARLYLE in his history of the Revolution
translated towel and drew striking conclusions
from the men Of the Convention bundling away
In their hats waste papers IN towels Inc
boots are seedy as the coat Nj. wilson mas " ihe"'i
way of drawing in his heels and turning IN his
toes Is his reputed dandyism OF former o''ncs
n mvtbp No l remember him In the spcno
thrift phase of his career, when he was s1m ol
an aristocratic air, and like young courier OIL
some Valois king, who had FOUND DIS way HUI
the nineteenth century and got himself oreSseo
by Bond-st. tailor.
The machinery for selling NJ Wilson'S i''iu'no'
,,os re,ysnaners BeIloc. the money changer, was
advised when negotiating the purchase OF req
r;bbon for his button hole that he could have his
portrait published for 10000 In one OF NJ. VIII
sons journals, LIE Moniteur dc lEXposltion
A manufacturer was asked to have his biography
given for 81 5000 in the same paper Others
were told that NJ Wilson ran many papers and
that the purchase of a large number OF shares OF
MANY subscriptions TO them would be gratifying
Ia him. The subscriptions were paid to con-