New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-17
A GARDEN PARTY IN PARIS
CARNoT CLOSES THE SEASONING.
MoIRS OF BARON DE MARRIOTT.

| u.
Paris, July 3.
In this warm weather there ia no moro acsu...h,.
manner Of receiving ones friends than at a garden
party The first requisite for this, a garden. is a
| thing which few in Paris can afford Lord Lytton
| brought the garden-party into fashion In Paris
| three years ago. At first il was looked upon a.
rather eccentric, and people went TO them mainly
ont of curiosity to see new thing and were per-
picked to what dress they should apIear I'm. Az
the first garden-party at the British Embassy I
remember seeing NJ Jules Ferry and several other
French statesmen In evening DRESS looking very
uncomfortable, while several ladies were in even
ing toilette. 1t a great success however and
garden parties becoming the fashion, Madame Car
not began receiving her friends in this way. The
matinee at the Elysee last Sunday was favored
with splendid weather Madame Carnot, in whose
name the invitations had been issued, received her
guests in one of the drawing rooms with the Presi-
dent on her right hand, and on her left and a
little way behind, her two and the officers OF
the Presidents house. The latter were in plain
dress to emphasize the private character Of the
ception This is a distinction which the Presi-
dents wife is careful TO preserve, as she is enabled
thereby to exercise absolutely her own discretion
in the matter Of invitations.
Madame Carnot never deserved better her repu-
tation Of being one of the best-dressed ladies In
France. She dress OF lilac brocade, with
paners Of old Valenciennes lace falling on both
sides from the corsage. The bonnet, light as
sembage of lilac ribbons and lace with couple
! of flowers matched the color of the dress. In the
garden, where she went at a later hour and sat to
talk with different guests she carried parasol Of
white satin covered with old lace which dropped
down in festOons. In the sale des fetes the Des-
oranges Orchestra played, and dancing was kept
up with great spirit until O'Clock, thanks to thu
energy of the young Polytechnic cadets number
of whom had been invited. These young men are
great favorites at the Elysee NJ Carnot being
himself an old Polytechnician, and having lost
none of the esprit de corps which distinguishes all
who have graduated at that military academy.
The number of invitations issued for this fete,
which closes the season in Paris, did not exceed
| 700. The list included the Ambassadors and Min
listers In Paris, among them being Mr.. Whitelaw
Reid and Lord Lytton, and goodly number Of
Academicans whose presence brought home to
one the absence of NJ De Lesscps, who until the
Panama collapse was 10 be seen at every important
reception in Paris Music was represented by
| the venerable director Of the Conservatory, NJ.
AMBROSE Thomas. The French official world. Of
course, predominated largely. Most of the Cabi-
net Ministers were present, among them being
the tall figure of NJ. Ribot. with his handsome
| American wife.
| The second volume Of Baron de Marbot's
| memoirs, which has just appeared at Plons, is
not inferior to the first one in point Of military
and historical interest Baron de Marriott, who
| was one of Napoleon is favorte generals, took
| part in every of the great French campaigns
| from the time of the Italian campaigns TO Water
! loo. Although written forty years ago, the author
| having stipulated that this time should elapSe
before their publication these memoirs are still
| full of interest. The series of thrilling adj
ventures and hairbreadth escapes are written IN
a graphic and modest style which interests and
captivates the reader The present volume throws
a new light on the causes which brought on the
reverses of the French armies. and ultimately
Napoeons downfall. The chief cause was the
rivalry which divided the marShals OF Napoleon.
The battle of Essling for instance, was near being
lost by the enmity which existed between Narshal
Iannes and Marshal Bessleres A woman was the
cause of this-CarOne Bonaparte Az the time OF the
campaign in Egypt Lannes and Murat became
suitOs for the hand Of the sister OF Bonaparte:
Murat enlisted ,Bessieres's interest in his behalf
and the latter treacher0usly brought forward
several false charges against Lannes, wncn
brought him temporarily under Napoleon's ais
parte and won her. But Marshal Lannes never
forgave Bessieres for his behavior; and he made
him feel it bitterly on several occasions;
The French lost Portugal also through a
woman. Madame X . as the author desgnates
her, who accompanied Marshal Massena every;
where. even on his expeditions. The Marshal
thus lost three days In front OF lofs Ssope
Another time he stopped the pursuit of a Portu-
guese column because Madame \ -: IS favorlta
horse was lame. One day Marshal Ney ana ueni
Massena, but on finding Madame :. was TO nc
present. they left the room A Tloent quarrci
ensued which was most preiudiclal to the; opera
tons Of that campaign L. ~