New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11

4 PICTURESQUE DINNER-LETTERS OF Ma
POLEON ILL.,

tocracy which to certain extent have cast
gloom on society, the fashionable season may be
said to have fairly and even brilliantly begun
here. OF course, the great balls aud receptions
will onlY come later on, but most OF the great
ladies having by this time left their country seats
for their town homes there are many dinner par
ties, soirees and evening entertainments which
take place both in the Faubourg II. German and
the Faubonrg St HonOre. The dinner given by the
Ccmtcssc de Pourtatc and that given By the Mar
orisc de Gaifet in honor of the Russian Grand
Dukes were successful affairs, and everybody is
still talking of tie marvels Of elegance and taste
displayed by tie Countess on the occasion men
toned She is one of the most charming hostesses
in Paris and her fertile Imagination perpetually
devises some novel way of pleasing her guests.
She gave the Grand Duca party what she calls
dinner Zen SURPRISE" the various dishes being
served in 80 dainty and picturesque way that the
courses looked like some astronomical masquerade.
The huge sterlct for instance, which out Of cOmpi-
ment 70 the august MuscOitcs had been brought all
the way from the shores Of the VOlga to grace the
festive board, was disguised with differently
tinted mayonnaisc and adorned with flowers until
it rcscmblcd gigantic b,uquet the pheasants were
sent up TO the table clad in their gorgeous plumage,
and as in medieval times, peacock with Its fan
like tail spread hao-fashion behind it was served
in lieu Of roast IA ponderous gold salyer.
Another interesting topic Of conversation here
is the announcement that the executors of VI
Rcnan are about TO publish the immensely vau-
able collection of letters written by Napoleon III
TO his foster sister Mime. Cornu. Nine Cornu was
a daughter of Nine. LacroiX. lady -in-waiting 10
Queen lIortense. When, in 1911, this unfortunate
Queen lost her kingdom, she still wished to keep
semblancc of state, and surrounded herself with
ladies and gentlemen waiting. Hortense
Tacroix was educated with Napoleon III, and the
two were inseparable companions in pay and
study After the famous December 2 4ortense
Lacroix did not see Napoleon for numb of years,
but through all his life she remained his firm
friend. The Emperor very fond o. Drtense
Lacroix and wonderful TO relate, she 10 way
took advantage OF his friendship. To the end of
her life she remained the modest, unobrusive wife
Of an humble artist. For long time sir was much
disliked by the Empress, but Napoleon and the
friend Of his childhood were in c,nstant cor
respondcncc.
At her death, Nine. Iacroiy COrnn left the let
tiers OF Napoleon TO Renan, with wish that he
should srperinterd their publication. The En-
press at the time refused her consent but now
she il willing TO see the letters in the hands OF
NJ Duruy. the eX-MnRter, and they W II therefore
soon be ready for publication One Df the chief
reasons why these letters arr 10 be made public
il that, contrary to what was supposed, Ernest
Renan left scanty iCrtunc and Nine. Rcnan has
therefore decided sell me library Of her dead
husband, in order obtain some ready money
while awaiting The National pension which the
Government is about 20 grant her. VI. ReEan left
the world almost a. poor rs he was on the day
when he quilted Sairt-Snlpice to face the struggle
for existence. RcIia had the same dISdain for
money per Sc toward the end of his career that he
had when he said 70 the Imperial Minister who
offered him lucrative post: Sit trcum tua p"cu-
MAJ" All h. wan al was sufficient means to en-
able Inn 10 pur ue his studies in ease and comfort
As 4 Professor of the College OF Franco, Renan
had =. 900 Y. ar from which : per cent was de-
Quoted in order TO form pension. A. director Of
,hc cstablishm1 t he had $500 yearly and rooms
500 also ~ fes fer attending committees:
and $500 for fttcndances At the Institute Of
France On Tho whole. ii is estimated
flat Remains official emolumcnts amounted TO
g. GOO 4 vu II" had sold all rights in
his literary KS to ms publishers, aud had to
live for man vars what hr earned by writing.
Tho minors f. the c.IeCt that Rcnan had a writer
and a lnrcti,' airy amused large wealth Is there
folc absouf J. false.
4
nctu. from the fact that Partisan head-cooks OF
no.c. or rather ~ tlcy term themselves with be-
nttinc modasty. Al istes Culinairr," have ioGndc
an association CALI the Academic DIES Chefs de
cuisinc IN a luxurious buiidiag of the passage
Saulnicr where they meet month in order -
discuss AZ ltn5th IA .ers appcrtaining 10 their be-
loved art 1t l. tu M thee scanccS that they III
vent rcw dishes, and arrange about the touching
,, of old ones 80 to make them acceptable 10
the gourmcts OF ~" day. The president OF the
as,oci,tiol, who is the wellknown and highly APP
urccintpd chef OF celebrated restaurant, las
lately nrr' astcd with deep sigh against the de-
cline ard llil OF Taste in eating lie ilsS taste
in IFS ar, ictc sense of cOurs, ami naiut lils that
fine rae, Of SOlrnctS is fast dying out To hear
him l.n.cri one would believe that the ,.iplcs
OF Bralai--ayirin have become rs extinct as thr
dodo Formerly. says this authority, three
honrs were considered to D, III" proper duration
of a wcll-coosei, wc-serv"l dinner. Five dishes
welr sOwly served up and nobudy complained
steam. electricity and the tclcpAon" hn - now
CHANGED all that. The customer wants fl h, ~
tended 10 with letnin- rapidly. and Bee. Nn'
care liz about finish thr dinner mast 10. 80 A.. ;
in half Al hour, and the unfor unatr cnnk-.ti., 4
ou,N inluIri III his artistic CONSCIENCE ahi ,H.
tloI5-f"is Ms han AMI Wfint' his hu. l
Feet anguish 1t the Dicnusfciuus diilcIlfia. -
situation SD tEla utiilIali'n century ~lI
word Tor vol. the latest moan on th,
ustronomc ii~clitn alton and taste n LAT eff
Lndicrou. ~ al tIl~ MAY seem n 49,
semblic~ have created o. pfaisel 49,. a.
emulation aaong the num'Iuus Au, ..u,t ~
yet IN rNl'l'hco. AMI ir iiif Zsrin,. "A Nnic |
rapidly im1uNin. u D.1- ~ ttttnt, ms. l. |
,.,a..--
ncr - 49, "'n wonlS