New-York tribune., 1890-01-12
CHRISTMAS At THE ELYSEE.
MADAME CARNOTS ENTERTAINMENT TO 400
POOR CHILDREN.

|
FROM THE REGULAR coRREsPoNDENr or THE rRIBUNE.l
| Paris December 27.
Madame Carnot did things Handsomely III re-
ceiving the 400 poor children whom she had TO
lunch and strip the Christmas trees at the
| Flvsee Palace There were SIX loiy
| pines in the winter garden, all as heavily
| laden as they could be with presents, ana iour
| others in the theatre, where Punch-and-Judy
| actors performed couple Of Darthenays fuhhy
| pappazi plays The latter were as replete wlth
practical jokes and droll points as good plum
pudding is with rasins. The infantry" were as
| GOOD as cold and though a lot of them had weaZ-
ened faces, they were nice intelligent mites, and
not only decently but prettily dressed. And yeo
they were chosen from the poorest OF the poor.
Madame Ia Presdcnte who, on this occasion, as
on every other in which she has been prominent,
managed everything with excellent sense and tact,
entered leaning on the arm OF General brugere
70 the air of La Marseillaisc" All the little
ones on their feet IN moment one au-
vanccd along a lane formed by double file of
boys and a double file of girls. Equal Rights
were admitted. and so there little girl TO set
off against every boy The wee things of the
marty were in the first row on either side and the
bigger ones behind them Madame n Prcsidente
was i'm an underslirt with black and white stripes
under n chcrry-coored Directory pelissc, trimmed
with black lace and bows Of black and red She
had n large fur tippet on her shoulders and on
her head an arrangement of the rosctte kind OF
black lace and cherry ribbon. The children "ap-
plaudcd." as the French say, Madame Ia Prcsi-
Gcntc This means that they cried " Vivc Madame
Carnot!" and they did it in sweet, piping voices
Madame la Presidente made them nice
mothcrlv speech II was unpretentous thought
ful. kind and inculcated good social lesson. IN
telling the children that absent brothers ana
/ sisters or little friends must not be forgotten
There were 400 small baskets made up for such,
which her Youthful guests were to take away.
| may here say that the contents Of each basket
We're an orange wrapped up in silver paper stick
of chocolate, cake and some almonds, hgs ana
raisins and bonbons taking toy forms. " 1t was
pleasant said Madame Carnot L" TO begin early
10 extend 10 others our enioyments-so pleas
ant that when once got the habit of doing 50
we could not leave of.
There was Just ceremony enough 10 mark TN
high position held by the entertainers. ms
was destined as a mark Of respect for the little
! guests rather than an act OF condescenion IL
was Judged right 70 treat the poor mites with as
| much honor as though they were sprung from
! the noblest houses in the land. And with the
touch Of ceremony there was nothing irlsld.
Madame Carnot was again applauded
when she ended her speech. Two
mites then presented her with bouquet
Of roses, which she seemed to think the loyeliest
She ever saw in her life. She said Ny little
! children I am sorry cannot embrace you. Were
! T not afraid, | should take You in my arms and
! kiss you. But | have just come out OF the
Presidents room He is so sorry that illness
prevents him helping me 20 bid you welcome.
! However here is bundle OF keepsakes which
| le has asked me 70 give you' With that she
pointed 10 pile of savings bank books. each
of which was tied up with tricolored ribbon. and
! had a front leaf beautifully got up II ccrti-
! fed that the book with the inscription 1t con-
tained Of deposit of ten francs was given on
| christmas 1850, 20 But instead OF n blank
there were given name and n surname.
There was never. since Paris became the capital
OF France. such an iufantine treat The ball Of
! pleasure was kept rolling fast that there was
no time for a feeling Of wearineSs. and II was over
/ too soon for safety. No ball dress could be more
prcttilv beribboncd than the theatre and Christ
ma, trees There rosettes. bows. streamers
and icstoons that fell like rows of beads IN
necklace; there were ribbons in pale rose and in
deep rosc iu pale huc and In strong blue. and in
| ivory white and snowy white. Puppct-Show
! cowuercs sent the youthful spectators into
ehrieks of laughter Novelty and the beautiful
interior Of thc palace stirred the ORGANS of ad-
uir,ton Eyes were bright from aStonishment
md dclirht. and checks We're flushed 4 little
1.rl whom I interviewed thought that Madame
| l Prc,identc must be the mother Of little Noel.
the French Chrst-kind." thc child who comes
down chImucys on Christmas Eve 10 stun the
shoes good children lay on hcarthstones with toys
and sugarpluus. T. T.