New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-01
THE HOLIDAYS IN PARIS.
NOVEL NEW YEARS FESTIVITIES-HOW THE
BEGGARS MANAGE To THRIVE.

BEGGARS MANAGE To THRIVE.
Paris, Dec 2O.-Even the most prejudiced are
forced to confess that Paris has not been bril-
liant as it is this year since the palmy days Of
the Empire. The shops are dazzngly decorated
in honor of the coming Jour dc PAn,' and enOr-
nous crowds of wel-dressed people and luxurious
equipages fill the streets, while the theatres are
wing with each other to- attract a choice and fas
tidious public. Stratonice' at the Opera. Is a
complete success and it is almost impossible to
obtain seats at the Porte Saint Martin, thanks TO
the marvellous acting of Daily in that superb
military pageant entitled Attorney" Everybody
seems bent upon thorough enjoyment this winter,
and dinners balls, suppcrs, soirees and receptions
succeed each other in bewildering rapidity. Some
of these entertainments, however. are too fin de
steele in their extravaganza and may inspire
doubt as to whether our requisites as the
"gommeux" are now called, have not taken leave
of their senses. For instance, the young Count
dc F., we-knOwn member OF the Epatants CluD,
has just Issued invitations for midnight supper
on New Years Eve, whereat every guest Is TO
appear in the costume attributed to the figure OF
Death, namely, draped in loose robes OF sable, and
wearing masks representing grinning and hollow
eyed skulls, which, by an ingenious contrlvancc
are 30 arranged that they can be- kept on during
the process Of eating and the company will Ger
tainlv present most cheerful and decately
humorous appcarance when seated around the feG
tive board. which, in order to be In keeping with
the mirthful feast, will be covered with black
velvet. fringed with silver. Instead Of lamps,
great bowls Of burning alcohol and salt Will throw
n livid light on this extraordinary scene, and a
danse Macabre executed by all those present, will
fity terminate the evening.
Very different will be the New Years Eve sup
pcr which the charming Comtesse de Rancy is
ahont TO give II will be Louis Seize in its every
detail. the dinng-room being transformed into
bower Of flowers, the attendants wearing the flow
cry silks and bright-hued brocadcs Of that epoch
and the numerous guests being expected to don the
lovely costumes which we admire so much when
we look at the portraits of our great-grandfathers
and mothers Powdered hair will be " de rigueur, "
and the New Year will be ushercd in 10 the tune
of minuet which the friends of the Countess are
now learning how to dance with the grace of by
gone days
The young Princess dc Tarente, nee Pillet-Will.
whose marriage recorded about year ago in
these columns has just given birth to daughter,
who is 10 DO named Charlotte, after her grand
mother. the Duchcsse de la Tremoillc The advent
in tho whole family and the christening festivities
will. I hear. be Of extreme magnifcence. Before
his marriage the young father known as one
of the fastest members Of the Partisan jeunessc
dorcc but since that event took place he has be-
come a model young man in every sense Of the
word He il the son and heir Of the Due de Ia
Trcmoille whose title is one Of the most ancient in
France. Superb presents are being sent 10 the in
FAINT from every country in Europe, and form al
most as imposing an array as an exhibition OF
wedding gifts. Among the most noteworthy are
a cradle Of sandalwood, inlai1 with mOth,r-of-
pearl, pink coral turquoiscs and silver, and lined
with ros"-lcaf velvet, which the old Duke ordered
in India several months ago for his expected
grandchild: n point d'Alencon christening robe OF
exquisite workmanship, and a gold and rock
crystal toilet set, Including the tiny bathtub
pitchers. ewers. basin, powt!cr-b0Aes. etc. Count
Pillct-Will the maternal grandfather who is enor-
mously wealthy presented the little newcomer
with a s,t of nursery furniture, the description of
which will make young mothers dream. Ii is Of
white lacquered wood, upholstered in paest pink
Madras foulard, brccadc1 with wreaths of daisies,
among which little birds are Hitting Similar
designs are hand-painted on the panels Of the two
warrobcS containing the elaborate baby trousseau,
ard the saow-white Aubusson rug which covers
the floor is powdered with daisies In the most
delicate shades of pink and pale yellow Curtains
# white silk muslin lined with pink surah and
edged with valcncicnncs lace complete this unique
room.
Tho Comtesse Fleiry who has been spending
fcw weeks in England, has now returned to Paris,
and is settled for the winter in her beautiful house
ON the Rue Christophe-C Colombo where she has be-
gun her weekly receptions. The Countess il the
granddaughter of The fnmous cantatrlce Cataani.
from whom She Inherited considerable wealth and
some magnificent diamonds Her husband the
Connie Feury. is Likewise exceedingly well of, his
money being derived from his father, the late
General Flnury, who was one Of the most promi-
rent and most brilliant figures of Napoleon the
Thirds reign The Count is a good-looking man,
but is far from possessing the comclincss of his
father, who was one of the hanisomest men in the
French army. His features bctray the
Jewish origin of the Fleury family, for the late
General was the son of well-known Partisan
Hebrew horse dealer of the name of Felix and the
General only changed his name 10 Fleury when he
enlisted in the army.
or All the members of the Napoleonic Court, the
General was certainly the one who bore the final
catastro phe with the greatest cquanimity and the
only comment which he was ever heard to make
wa, that the Empire had enabled him 10 pass
eighteen years of his life in an awfully pleasant
manner Both his son, the present Count, and the
lattcr's wife can no longer be described as be-
longing to the Bonapartist party. for their father
was one of tie pet aversions of the Impress Eu-
genie, and after the death of the Prince Imperial
m South Africa she dispensed with any further
communication with the Flcury family. while the
General made no secret of his conviction mat III
was her arbitrariness and iooscncss in money
matters which had led her unfortunate son to eX-
patriatc himself The young Countess Fleury is
a very accomplished woman, and has published
several very successful novels She is on the eve
of bringing out another book.
The last three months have been especially pro-
life in misunderstanding accidents. Baron Aiphonse
Rotlschild was peppered in the face anu narrowly
oananod lnSinr Liz excsinht Mhil after the phcla-