New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-15
SPRING-TIME FESTIVITIES.
THE OPERA OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
JEAN BONIIOMME


fctc" in the full acceptance of rbe word, for the
900 living blossoms who filled the magnificent
drawng-rooms of the Hotel 10 Barbcntanc were
surrounded with such wealth of flowers as has
not been seen here for long time. Every nook
and corner was filed with roses and white lilac.
while 200 bouquets Of lilac and magnolia blooms
wore distributed during the cotillon Nile. de
Rarbentanc rohcd in white silk tullc, with a
sboxcr of real margucrites scattered from bodice
,o skirt looked tho very embodiment of youth and
beanty rs she fitted about doing the honors, as
sisted hy her most intimate friend. Mile dc Clcr-
mont Tonnerrc.
The Maruuisc dc LubcIsac also gave delight
ful soircc to young people unde. eighteen. ar a
pendant TO the one given f~w days ago by the
Comtcssc Amcry dc la Rochcfoucauld. On both
occasions all the youthful feminine guests were
dressed in purc white. and looked like flight OF
butterflies or a phalanx of dainty It'll" fairies as
they whrlcd through the intricate figures OF
quadrillc or cotillon Mile de Mallc who Is one
of the prctticst girls Of the Partisan grand monde.
also gave a bal-blanc 10 her numerous friends
Even the flower decorations were snowy and I'M
maculate, relieved only by true lovers knots and
strcamcrs Of silver cord which held great garlands
and clusters Of fragant blossoms together on the
walls and around mirrors and pictures.
The extraordinary delay which has taken place
in rebuilding the Opera Comiquc. which was burned
down five wears ago has Of length received an cA-
planaton and very curious one il is. II seems
that the Government is prevented from taking
single step towards the reconstruction OF this ma
tional theatre until certain claim raised ny the
heirs of the Duca family of ChoScuil has received
settlement The ground on which the Opera
Comiquc stood formerly belonged 70 Dukes dc
Choscu In 1881 King Louis XVI purchased
this ground from Duke Stephen Francis dc
ChoiscuI. and erected on il Royal theatre for
the use Of his Italian comedians The relatively
small sum for which the Duke sold The property
was compensated by clause in the contract Of
sale whereby the King and his Successors under
took TO reserve forever "A large box and private
salon on the grand tier. similar in size TO and adj
joining the Royal box for the Choseul family.
In 1892 the Crown made over tho theatre. as
well as its various obligations. to the Govern
mcnt and it, became subject Ia tho control Of the
Ministrv Of Public Works and Of Finance. Up
TO 1850 the heirs Of the Duke dc Choiseuil, who
are now represented by the Due Dc Mariner and
by the Duchcssc de Fitz-Jamcs. cntinucd 10 enjoy
the privileges accorded to their ancestor by the
contract of sale made | 90 years previously. But
in the spring of 1850 the Government determined
that it was prcposcrous for such a grant 10 have
been made in pcrpctuity. The Due de Mariner and
the Duchctsc de Fitz James thcrcupon appealed 10
the courts. which. after due consideration, re-
turned decision in favor of the plaintiffs,
firnng them in the possession Of their rights and
privileges and condcmning the Government 10 pay
them a sum Of s., 900 by way If damages
In Iss7 the theatre was burned. The Duke
and Duchess waited for a couple Of years for the
Opera CONTINUE 10 hc rebuilt. and thcn commenced
legal proceedings against The State for the an
nulmcnt Of the sale Of 1881. aud for n rcsftu-
ton If the land upon which the theatre had stood.
basing their claim on the fact that they had
been deprived by the failure 20 rebuild the theatre
AZ once Of the enjoyment Of the privileges in con
sdcraton Of which they had coded the property.
This case is now before the courts. which move
very slowly here. and until the matter T. decided
either way or another no step will bc taken
bv the Government 10 nbuild the Opera Comiquc.
and one Of the most desirable sites right in the
centre Of Paris. will therefore probably remain
during several years 70 como disfguwd by the
hidcous board fence which has surrounded II since
the coniagratnn.
Aneomania far from having been diminished
here BY thc cvcr-incrcasing I1ssomania from
which Parisians are suffering. prevails more than
ever in the French capital. Football matches be
tween English and French teams. four-in-hand
club meets. English "sparring' az the Nouvenu
Cirque and boxing competitions arc the order of
tie day Nay, even the dull, cherries. and nm
settled weather Of the past week is thoroughly
English. and pcrvadcs everything with n focgy
London flavor The Partisan Washers. or gom
mcux. 90 the length Of having their shirts lann-
dried in the British metropolis. and they would
consider themselves irrcmcdably disgraced if every
article of their luxurious outfits, from their
shining silk-ha's TO their pointed patcnt-lcathcr
boots did NOT come direct from across the Chan
mel The fair scx duffullv follow in their steps
as far as tailor-madc frrkS, riding habits, sad
dies yachting suits etc, 90. and British perfumes
lace, and customs run pretty close race with
Russian innovations here.
By the way another craze in Partisan hoccty
is for cinnamon, not only in what regards colors.
Int also as a condimcnt used In every shape AMI
form One Of the most celebrated French
scientists has discovered lately that no microhc
can resist strong infusion of cinnamon, which it
appears is deadly to disease gerus Consequently
the faShion-a very wholesome one-s 10 dcvour
cinnamon II is put in soups, IN ices, in
Iagouts: cinnamon liqucGr las lccn introduced.
and French cceancs carry wee bits of cinnamon
bark in their bprbcnnicrcS in lieu ~ bonbons.
The discovery Of the marvellous qualities OF
this tasty spice wOull explain why the Dutch who
live in aguc haunted country, have always had
passion for IT, and also why our forefIthcrs, who
were in the habit of drinking quantities Of mulcl
wine strongly favored with "cancllc" tcinnamonl
suffered comparatively little from fcvcrs and
diseases which ought to have been brought on
by the vcIy primitive sanitary arrangements Of
the time.
May - will he the centennial anniversary OF
the first execution IN Paris by the Instrument Of
dccaptation Which the Consttunnte" adopted on
the motion of DR.. Guillotm II is not likely