New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-14
TOPICS IN PARIS.
THE STORY OF A BALL.
PRECEDENCE AND QUARRElS-A FENCING TOUR
NAMENT AT THE ELYsEE-TfIE DEATF or
COUNT EDWARD DE POURTA1.ES.

ParlS, April T.
Although France hes the advantage of being
q Republic, according to the doctrines OF when
all men, and all women as we'll are equal
yet questions Of precedence are constantly aris-
ing: this. too. in spite Ct the fact that it is the
only country in Europe where such matters are
regulated by law instead Of by mere usage and
etiquette. II is one Of these questions that has
Just led to the resignation of the universally
popular Comte de Bourqueney, the dgnitary OF
the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, who. with the
title Of "Chef du Protocol and Minister Pleni-
poentiary fulflls the duties of grand master
of the ceremonies. organizing and ordering all
state functions, and being charged with the
Introduction Of Ambassadors to the President
when they present their credentials or their let
ters of recall. Each year ball is given in the
salons Of the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs 10y the
Students Association the same young men who
only a few days before have taken part in the
ridiculous Mi-Carame procession through the
streets of the metropolis. Thy are invariably
well behaved. the ball Is always full of life and
snap. and not only the Ministers. but also the
foreign diplomats. and even the Chief of state
invariably make point of accepting invitations
This wear when the students began TO make
their preparations for the ball and to send out
their Invitations NJ Casimir-Perier was still in
office and hence ii was only natural that his
wife should be asked TO act as the patroness or
the entertainment. and her husband as the guest
of honor But when VI. Felix Faure was elected
Chief Magistrate in NJ Casimir-Periers place it
naturally became necessary to ask Nine Faure
10 act as patroness. and the result was that the
names Of both ladies figured on the programme
and cards of invita- Then there arose the DIM
Guilty as to the place which NJ. Casimir-Perler
was to occupy in the procession through the
rooms and 10 supper the order being invariably
arranged in accordance with the strict laws OF
precedence by the Chief of the Protocol Now. in
these laws there is provision made Tor the
precedence of an ex-Presdent Marshal Mac
Mahon had occasionally found himself at official
functions with President Carnot and even with
President GrGvy But. then. he had his regular
precedence as a Marshal of France, and so no
question ever arose 70 the place that ne should
occupy But this ball was the first occasion at
which two civilians, the one President and the
other an ex-President had been brought into
contact with each other. The Comte de Bour-
oueney. who is an intimate friend of NJ. Casimr-
Perier suggested that the latter should take his
place in the procession Immediately after the
presidents of the Senate and of the Chamber OF
Deputies and should have the pas over Premier
Ribot and his fellow Cabinet Ministers. TINS
did not at all meet with the appreciation OF that
austere republican. NJ. Brisson. the president OF
the Chamber Of Deputies. He insisted that NJ.
Casmir-P erier was longer anything but a
mere private citizen. and as such had no night
whatever 10 any precedence. and that if any
concessions were made 10 him. he, NJ. Brlsson'
would decline to attend the ball. NJ. Brlsson
seems thereupon to have mentioned the matter
70 Prime Minister Ribot. who. according to the
proposal of NJ de. Bourqueney, was TO have
walked behind the ex-President. This was the
first that NJ Ribot had heard about the affair,
and Justly offended that Of his subalterns at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should nave
taken upon himself to discuss such delicate
question as this with the great dignitaries OF the
state without previously consulting him or as
certaining his views he addressed some rather
forcibe rernonstrances to the Chef du Protocol
The matter finally developed into Cabinet
question and at a meeting Of the Ministers 1t
was determined that NJ. PRISONS argument was
the correct one. and that If precedence were ac-
corded to the ex-President Immediately after the
presiding officers Of the Senate and Of the
Chamber of Deputies. it would lead to all sorts of
troublesome controversies with the foreign diplO-
matte corps.
somehow NJ Casmir-Pericr got wind OF this de-
cision on the day of the ball. and, possibly with
the object Of avoiding what he considered to be
slight and Of forcing the situation. put in an APP
pearance at the ball full quarter of an hour be-
fore either President Faure any Of the Cabinet
Ministers arrived. AS his wife was one Of the
lady patronesses. 1t became her duty 10 receive
the guests and her husband quite naturally as
sisted her in this and 50 it happened that NJ. Cast
mir-Perier found himself in the position Of pract
cally officiating host and doing the honors to
President Faure to the heads of the two houses
of the Legislature to the Diplomatic Corps and 10
the Cabinet Ministers. In fact. so thoroughly did
tptO tha NJ he thing thar when 10
time came for forming the procession he turned
10 the Prime Minister and coolly instructed him TO
offer his arm 10 Nine. Casimir Perier. The whole
affair was one Of considerable embarrassment.
which was still further augmented by the attitude
OF the students. who when they saw VI. Casirnir-
Perier walking alone in the procession took it for
granted that he had been sighted and made sort
Of demonstration In his favor. Throughout the
evening President Faure behaved with inimtable
tact manifested the greatest amiability and good
humor especially toward his predecessor in office,
and presented thereby striking contrast 10 other
high dignitaries who did not conceal their annoy
ance The result OF all this Is that NJ. de BOur
oueney has been relieved of his duties Of Chief OF
Protocol and Grand Master Of the Ceremonies. and
has left Paris on leave Of absence with the under
standing that he is soon to be appointed to some
foreign mlssion-possibly at Washington, since
there are rumors Of impending changes among
the higher grades OF the French diplomatic ser
vice
For the first time since the days of NJ Jules
Crews occupancy Of the Elysee Palace, it has
been the scene OF fencing tournament which
came off the day before yesterday in the SALES
des Fates in the presence Of about 100 invited
guests comprising the leading professors and
amateurs of the art OF terce ct quartz. as we'll
the elite Of the great world here. The President
himself took no part in the contests, although it is
asserted that he will do so at the third entertain
ment Of the kind. II having been arranged to re-
strict the second TO military men. The matches
the day before yesterday were exclusively be-
tween professionals, and they acquitted them