The San Francisco call., 1899-12-10

Of the Academy at the seance after
Christmas In preparation for tho great
event they are both somewhere In tna
country, lost 10 their families and frienf5,
preparing In solitude their Academy nd
dresses. for. Of course. everything delv-
cred before the Academy must be beyond
reproach as literature as we'll as In senti-
ment and substance.
After the president came Monsieur
Thedenal. n handsome young priest and
a delegate from the Academy Of lnsCrip-
tious and Belles-Lettros, who read
paper on recent excavations iu the Roman
Forum lie Is very fair 90 look upon.
this young Monsieur Thcdcral quite ltt9
the saints who pray before tho NirEiu
and child i'm Domenichino's pictures At
first every one listened with marked at
tention. His voice was energetic and
fOrciblc. presenting an agreeable change
from the uncomfortable monotone or tho
president. but his subject. / suspected.
was not Of the livelicst interest to that
gayly clad audience. After a. dozen pages
or so a general stir Of impaticucc was
most perccptible. and before the end
Monsieur Bruuetierc was mapping. Pro-
fessor Gcbhardt followed with an anus
ing paper on some modern ideas of the
Middle Ages. and after him appeared
Houssave historian and eminent par
ticularlv in all things Napolcouic. Like
sieur HOussayc ncgan hy addressing
''Messieurs." Ignoring completely the
presence of mesdamcs. The salutati0u.
Ladies and Gentlemen that Is so nat
ural 10 an American speaker, has no
equivalent I'm French pOlitcuess. Tn affairs
that are not conducted according to ac-
ademic principles the speaker sometimes
forgets himself and addresses the ladies'.
hut even I'm these cases the gentlemen
are always first. the salutatiou heinz IN
variably "Ncssiours ct Mesdames.
Monsieur Houssaye Is the p0sscssor Of a
luxurious growth ~ whiskcrs that inter-
fere greatly with his cuunciation. Many
of his words were lost in the depths Of his
beard. but enough of them reached his
listeners To interest them nightly. y
storm OF applause greeted him at tho
close Of his paper which awakened tho
sleeping Academicians In time for tha
final act.
La seance est fermee," said the presi-
dent. and simultaneously the forty arose,
adjusted the little cooked hats which In
France are quite as significant as the
laurel wreath of old, and hled out In sol
emn procession. IL was over. We had
seen the Academy.
In the court the scene was a brilliant
one. The bright uniforms OF soldiers. yet
arranged I'm imposing denle. the superb
costumes Of the ladies'. with the green
plumes, embroidered coats and red sashes
of the ACademiclans-al combined to
make "A picture that will not be easily
forgotten. In the street the pOpulace had
gathered To witness the exit, and the bank
Of the Seine was crowded with gaping
thrOngs.
Five o'clock" said the American girl.
glancing az the huge old clock above the
door OF the institute. We shall reach
home just in time for tea
Tea! / echoed, with an exclamation,
faint, and perhaps with a touch OF pa
thOs.
"Oh. 7 forgot" she said apologeticallv.
Just then our fOOtmau stepped forward
with noble grace 10 meet us. our coach
and advanced with all the proper maneu-
vers. As the American girl settled ncr-
self luNuriOusly I'm the carriage and ar
ranged with manifest appreciation the
folds OF her new silk gown, she glanced
with an air OF superiority az the gaptrg
multitudSs around her and remarked.
from the depths OF her feather boa. Who
cares for an old cup OF tcaT