New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-31
TOPICS IN PARIS.
RUSSIA AND FRANCE AT THE NATIONAL
FETE-TIIE DEATH OF MADAME MIRES.

TEIE-IIIE DEAIII VI MhDAME MIKES.
Paris, July ID.
Yesterday was the coolest and darkest Four
tenth of July we have had for many year. En-
cept, however, for occasional ten minutes drlz-
ale the weather held mp the whole afternoon and
evening, and the National fctc passed of very we'll
after all. The cold weather had its advantages.
II was q distinct boon 10 the 1000 soldiers who
make mp thr garrison OF the capital, and 10 whom
en- afternoons march to the reviewing grounds OF
Longchamps and back on hot day Is often very
trying duty. Owing TO the doubtful state oil the
| weather, there were fewer brilliant toilettrs IN
the tribnnes and there less glitter OF helmets
on the field: but. or the other hand there were
no cases Of sunstroke or exhaustion, OF which on
other years there is often such a dstresSlngly
long list The review was timed for 3 o'clock. ana
M. Carnot, remembering the old French saying that
punctuality is "a regal virtue drove up exactly a
3 o'clock striking The democratic simplicity
of his plain black clothes contrasted strongly with
the brilliant uniforms OF the French generals anu
the foreign attaches The only exterior sign Of
rank he wore the grand Gordon Of the
Legion of Honor. The President was
greeted with cheers all along the way from Paris.
and with applause from the Official tribunes, where
cheering would have been thought perhaps rihe
familiar. Beside him sat Baron MohrenhcIm. the
Russian Ambassador, an elderly man Of STOPPING
figure, who Is very lively and laxative. VI. Car
not listened 10 him the whole afternoon with great
Difference, nOdding and smiling. and occasionally
putting in a word with the greatest possible dis
crpton. Next 10 the President and General Ssus-
sier, tie commander Of the forces. who would be
commander in-chicf in time of war, Baron Mohren-
helm. whose nnmberlcss decorations mark him ont
20 view, the most conspicuous figure. This
Is due TO his having been instrumental in bringing
about the Franco Russian understanding OF which
Frcnchmen are SO proud Signs Of this were not
wanting yesterday in Paris The Republican
character Of the iete was really in the background
The Republic Is longer questioned. and IL there
fore does not need asserting. The novelty Of
ye.terday's fetc was the evidence II gave OF the
Franco Russian friendship. Tlep NOT a house
without the Russian flag: not on open air concert
but played the Russian hymn twenty times over.
not cheap-Iack but sold hundreds Of cocliades
with the coors OF the two nations
The death of Madame Mirs AZ the age OF
eighty reminds lis Of the cruel rivalry that uscl
10 prevail between the late Baron James de
Rothschid and other Frnchihed Jews from Ger
many. and their brethren Of Portuguese origin.
The latter set mp 10 be the aristOcrats o. the
race, an assumption that the others refused 10
admit, the Jews being and having been from the
beginning an equality loving people. The Sephar-
dim. or Jews Of Portuguese ancestry. who were
then most prominent in Paris, dcalists com
pared with the German ones. though as musicians
the latter scared high above them.
The most bitter jealousy was excited In
the Rothschild set by the Imperial favor in
which the Sephardim Jews basScd If the latter
had kept the primscy, Drnmont, believe coull
never have come forward as an ants Semitic
Mires, who was one Of this aristocracy and the
husband Of the lady who las just died, did not,
however set up 10 lie a humanitarian
lie came from Bordeaux, bringing with him "a
beautiful young wife, from whom his co-religiOn
lists for divers reasons stood aloof. She was said
10 have been laundrss. The pair made the
Journey In company with Moses Maud. Some
years later he and Mires founded R Petit
Journal AS they were Bordenis the Pcrcirs
took them by the hand, and being in fever
10 cover the earth with canals and railways threw
chances In the way Of Mres which he did not
lose. lie was little great man, indeed, dwarf
born TO slay giants, and finally 10 b. BOWED over
by the greatest financial giant OF his time the
late Baron James de Rothschild Mir,~ had a
prodgous imagination that ran into business com
binations. Though not fussy, he was In fever
about whatever he took up, whether il was a
Roman railway or Sarah Bernlardts education.
The wife was Il good soul, and she became
devout Catholic When, somewhere in the lifties,
he pushing forward his Papal railway and
other CONCESSIONS and enabling Cardinal Anto
nelli TO pile up the millions that he left 10 his
relatives, the ey-laundrrss became the queen Of
the Faubonrg st. German, and had FcmbarTas d."
chOix when the time came for her TO choose an
arch arstOcrat to be the husband for her only
daughter Emile. The Nuncio and fortune Ter
decided that the choice was to fall on Prince
Alphonse de PoIignac, Of Charles KS unlucky
! Minister, and grandson, on his maternal side, VI
| Lord Radcliffe One hardly ever then heard Of
| French nOblemen marrying wealthy Jcwcss,s a
! storm Of jealousy raised by the wedding Of
| Emile Mrcs, but less among the Gcntiles than
| the German Jews The ceremony was prOvOk-
! ingiy ostentations, and was performed at the
! Madeleine, after an exhibition had been duly
made Of the brides rousseau and Jewels. which
cost about $4,000. What was most remarkable
about IL the collection Of high aristocrats per-
sonagcs who scorncd TO set foot in the Tuilerics
| from the day Louis Philippe entered that palace
! This was thought unendnrable Denominations
against Mrcs for sharp practice and for swindling
! rained down the desks Of the Ministry Of
! Justice, and on that Of the Emperors private
secretary. The wedding OF his daughter brought
on his ruin IL appears all 40 wicked and so
childish that one looks back on the cIrcum.
stances that led TO his persecution. DE Persigny
having les vieux parts on the brain, and look
ing askance at the Lcgitimist demonstration into
which he thought the bridal was turned listened
too easily 10 the accusations, and saw in the
bride the future hostess Of a gilded and highly
aristocJatic Chambordist salon.
But the worst foe Baron james de Roths
! child, Mires having been the successful rival OF
the Baron's Ncspoltan kindred in obtaining the
concession of tho Roman railways. There was
really no grave charge against Mircs. but he had
slid into iegalities which the judges chose to
treat as feonious. The Emperor was industriously
piled with arguments against him by the giant
who stood in his path. Courticrs paid 10 help
to trip him up. To one OF them lent all the