New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-15
TOPICS IN PARIS.
RMIDORr-INSPECTING GERMAN foklo
"A QUARREL WITH THE HOvAS
Paris, October 30.

soon he authorized IL premature iHo"
however, probably be debate upon IL NJ '"'
Paais Bourbon when tile Fine Arts Duoset co"'o'
before the House The Ministers OF Pubic inS'rno'
ton and of the Interior will be entirely Suioco W
what may then happen
"Le jour" denounces as bad patriots those Jour
nalsts who found out that the Prince of Oldenpnfg
had oono ncognto on tour Of military inspection
TO Nancy and its neighborhoOd Ii he went 'here
under n narrowed name il was a sign thrt ne
wanted IN INSPECT unnoticed The common foes OF
Russia and Of France are thus warned of his pres
ence near Alsace and Germanized Lorraine Inc
Prince of Olicnburg is rcputed one Of the most SCI
entic generals in the Russian army, and IS married
10 n granddaughter of Eugene Beauharnals ana
daughter Of the late Grand Duchess Mary n
short time ago he went incognito to inspect the
firearms factory at Chateerault, where great
order for Lebel rifles is being executed some III
discreet person let out who he was ana INC Worh-
men at once gave him an ovation lie o'"i
wonders why the Emperor William should pay
n corps of spes when the Paris journals keep him
well informed on things he wants to know.
The greater part Of this day was spent by the
President in receiving official visits Inc series
of visitors began with Senior Russmann, who called
% take leave of NJ Carnot, he being under orders
70 90 TO Constanhnople as Italian Ambassador 10
the Sultan. The outgoing ambassador whom ne
replaces was found fault with by his Government
for letting France and Russia outstrip him IN the
race for influence at the Porte. Some generals
next came TO express respectful homages vi
being promoted But the chief visitor WIS Prince
Damrong of SIAM who lea the palace WIN q
grand cross of the Legion of Honor, ana with MS
aide de camp officer of that order Inc Prince
had with him his nephew, who is to represent his
lint
of equality with the ambassadors of the other
powers. lie was fetched to the Elysee in stylish
open carriage, on which the arms of Siam were
emblazoned, received with royal honors and had
half an hours pleasant conversation in French
with the President of the Republic. The Foreign
Minister was not in attendance, the visit being
non-politica though it had on both sides politi-
cal drift. But Comte d'Ormesson, the director
of the Protocol at the Foreign Office, came.
Siam does not want to be either French or
a British protectorate possession, and the
Royal House fears being swallowed by either
one or the other, 1t would play off France
against England and England against France
and find safety in the rivalry OF the t"o'
Since the Cronstadt demonstrations the Slamese
have opened their eyes TO see that France is not
negligible quantity Judging from those whom
have met here they are an intelligent people
The adults retain the cheerfuness Of childhood,
and so remain happy | should be sorry to see
them under European rule of any kind, and hope
they may long remain free TO live out their own
lives in their Asatic way. Prince Damrong
speaks French. At least he spoke it perfectly
at the Elysee. The Chief Secretary of the
Siamese Legation here is an Engishman. and III
his way a typical one. One might describe him
with the mathematical definition of a lnc-length
fair hoo ic S.f his
very tall body | never saw any who gives
one in greater degree the impression of that cold,
stiff, proud aloofness which the French describe
as la mOrgue Anglaise This sort of thing did
when the diplomacy of all great countries was con-
Quoted by aristocrats. But it is not up to date
when pushing Jews, brany journalists, successful
manufacturers and distinguished professors are sent
to represent not only Republics but Kings and En-
perors Austria is about the only country which
sticks bigotedly to ancient lineage qualification
for diplomat and | believe even at Vienna
the Foreign Office does not scan too
closely vamped-up pelgrees. Italy is rep
resented at Vienna by Nigra, whose father
practised shaving and blood-letting near Turin.
Signor Russmann, who goes this evening from
Paris to ConstantnOple Ambassador to the
Sultan, belongs to highly respectable trading
family of Trieste. The Madrid Foreign Office goes
servants If diplomacy is swell service in
England, it has been in degree thrown open to
competition But nobody can compete unless
he has nomination signed by the Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, and independent income of
800 pounds a year at least.
The Grand Duke Alexis was the last of the
grand visitors whom NJ. Carnot received to-day.
He came to thank him a Russian Prince and
sailor for the delightful reception the Russian
cruisers are meeting with at Brest. Perhaps il
would be more to the point to say that he came
to express his qualification, which every member
of his family shared The Grand Duke lives at
the Continental with his cousin the Duke Of
Leuchtenberg Ia grandson of Beauharnais) and the
beautiful Duchess, nee Skobeleff. They breakfast,
lunch at cafes and go TO theatres together.
One sees them daily walking in the Bots
de Boulognc, whittier they drive in a car
rage belonging to the hotel. The Duchess spends
much time next door at Mime. Nicaud's Mime,
n. is dressmaker TO the Court Of Russia. and this
exalted lady is one of her best customers She
is very hard TO fit and, OF course. hard to please.
Her figure is peculiar. and only resembles. SO
far as | can think, that of Nine. Novikoff, the
lady diplomatist who represents the Gar in
London and looks both like his immediate pre-
decessor and the Emperor Nicholas. her godfather
But those who have never seen Mime. Novikof will
have idea from the compar ison of the figure
of the Duchess of Leuchtenbcrg. Well it is tall
and of free and graceful movement in spite of
the tightest-laced corset in the world. The
waist might be clasped by bracelet, and with
this THE hips are those of Venus of Milo and
the bust almost up in fulneSs of outline TO the
Rubens standard She has an impulsivc temper
and rates her dressmallers when their work does
not up to her standard, often tearing up before
them what they do. But she is ready 10 beg
their pardon the next moment. Her LARGEST orders
generally are given after a fit of anger She has
much of tho charm of her brother General
Sllobeen. No doubt she is vain. but her vanity
shows itself in an admirable desire to please,
no matter whom.