New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-05
THE DEuoIsELLES DE ST. cTR.

PUPILS OF NINE. DE MAINTENoN's FAMOUS
rorHDATIoN AS THEY ARE TO-DAY.
Paris correspondence of The London Telegraph.
Guests from all countries. among whom were,
of course included the Commissioners General
and other representative officials of the differ
ent nations AT the Exposition, rather wondered
TO see among Nine L0ubet's visitors at the first
Presidential garden party of the season, held
this week. bevios of quite young girls attired
all alike in u costume made, without the slight
est ATTEMPT at eie$ance OF PLAIN black pom
bazine, with starched white linen collar, which
quite Un-Parsian in its uncOmpromising
severity, not to say ungraceiulneSs- Few OF
those not very familiar with French institutions
probably knew who the Quaker-like young
girls were. They belonged. however to a col
lege which is not by any means new departure,
having in fact, a history dating back to the
seventeenth century. This is the institution
founded by Nine de MaintenOn at St Cyr, and
il the SOmbre dress was unfamiliar TO many
guests at the Elysee, the name. les Demoselles
de St. Cyr," recalls memories of French lit
erature to most of US We have all read how,
at the special behest of Nine. de MaintenOn,
Racine wrote two sacred tragedies from which
the theme of love was excluded, that they
could be safely played by her protegees, and
how Esther and ''Athae" We're thus first per-
formed by the "DemoiselIes de St Cyr" who
undertook the entire cast among themselves, no
male actor, of course, being allowed to join the
company.
The "Demoselles de St Cyr" no longer are
educated at the latter place, the building having
been turned into military school for cavalry
and infantry cadets. Nine de Maintenon's in
stituton has, however, not by any means ceased
to exist, but has largely prospered under the
altered name, given by Napoleon l. of the
Schools of the Legion of Honor. and possesses
three fine houses with splendid grounds at
ECouen, st Denis and at Les Loges in St
German woods The colleges are immense
buildings, and the gardens and parks cover
thousands Of acres. This is fortunately, indeed
the case. the girls only allowed to leave
the premises on special and extraordinary occa-
sions The stringency Of the rules at the Legion
Of Honor establishments is altogether in keeping
with the severity Of the scholars black bOmba-
zine and white linen collars The girls are not
allowed out more than two three times a
year, even to see their parents, and on no
account permitted to spend the night away from
the school. 1t may well be imagined, therefore,
what hutter of excitement there was among
them when they were asked to the garden party
given in Nine. L0ubet'S name at the Elys5e
The girls entered in serred ranks two by two
and, passing before the President and their
hostess, Courtesied DIimly and all at once. if
by word of command. Though looking very
shy at Gr.t they soon forgot their school man
ners, ana the cadets of thc Military Polytechnic
College having been told of to look after them,
they danced without pause till past o'clock
and enjoyed Themselves unfeignedly ard thor
oughly. Tie young women Of the Legion OF
Honor are all. by the way daughters of mill
tary men ~ no have been accorded that decora-
ton The tuition is entirely free. and the
establishment, though its course OF study is
doubtless anything but up TO the mark Of
modern educational standards. is thus useful