New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-17

parents were living as political refugees. ne be-
came a great favorte Of Victor Hugo. Later on
he became private secretary to Jules Simon. and
he has spent three years in the United States
partly on behalf of the Government and partly
too as correspondent Of the journal des De-
bats"
In no capital of Europe is it possible TO see
worse driving, particularly on the part OF the
cOachmen Of public vehicles such as Omnibuses
cabs and carts Of one kind and another. as in
Paris Things a re bad enoughn this respect in fine
weather, but when, as on Monday last we re-
ceive visitation Of the dreaded verglas. the
state of affairs in the streets deveopes into
pandemonium Verglas is combination Of sleet
and rain that freezes as quickly as 1t touches
the ground and converts the asphalt and wooden
pavement into vast sheet Of ice. As II in
var!ably comes without warning, the horses are
not prepared for il, and their shoes are not
roughed the consequence being that they foun-
der about in all rections. Many of them came
10 grief and lay on the ground. Others stumbled
slowly along, led by their drivers. whose feel
ings, for once in way. were too deep
for words. Omnibuses and heavy vehicles
Of every kind were totally unmanageable
and 1t must be remembered that Paris is. like
Rome built upon hills Any attempt to put on
brakes made the omnibuses skid across the ley
pavement as If on runners and there was con-
slant series Of collisions between conveyances
thus rendered unn1ana geable or course. this
visitation came In the evening. It usually does,
and as the hackmen absolutely declined To take
any fares and the omnibuses had only one OBJ
ject In view. namely. that of getting back to the
stable quickly possible. everybody who had
selected that night to visit the theatre or 10 at
tend any entertainment compelled 10 walk
home in the rain. able to keep their footing only
by tying Observation-Disclosures or strips or cloth
around their shoes or by putting heavy pair
of stockings over their boots. This verglas is the
visitation which gets the best OF Partisan
equanimity. AS a rule. nothing can upset the
latter. ParisianS are accustomed 10 make lu1
of everything to find i'm all things comic ele-
ment. subject Of merrment. The only excep-
ton to this rule is the dreaded verglas
Among the dramatic events of the week nave
been the production Of THE Necklace Of the
Queen at the Porte st. Martin Theatre. and OF
the operetta The Duchesse de Ferrare at the
Bouffe Parsien Notwithstanding the title OF the
latter piece, it is exceedingly modern and up-to-
date. and deals with that semi-bohenian word
which is seen at its best in the studios of the
great Partisan painters of to-day. The music is
by Audran and the lbretto is by Boucheron. who
has moderniZed the Duchesse de Ferrare ana
Titan. that lady appearing as an interesting
Scandinavian Countess named Nadeje. while the
painter is Napoleon Briancon celebrated artist.
very popular among the fair sex. The other
piece. "The Necklace Of the Queen" Is drama
in five acts adapted by NJ Decourcee from Alex
andre Dumass novel of the same name Inc
PLAYWRIGHT as well as the manager OF the Porte
st Martin, has manfestly been inspired by the
remarkable success Of Madame Sans Gene at
the Vaudeville to reconstruct i'll another great
historic play an event in the history OF France.
the adventure of Marie Antoinettes diamond
necklace The remarkable features OF the piece
are the scenery and costumes. In fact the en-
tire play is a thorough reconstruction OF that
dramatic epoch which marked the close Of the
reign Of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie An
toin