New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-28
THE SECOND EMPIRE.
anecdotes of Paris IN the Time Of
- Napoleon III.

GOSSIP FROM PARIS DURING THE SECOND
EMPIRE. Correspondence CS64-'ssl Of Anthony
&c fInterieur. and later Attache au Consel
dEtst- Selected and Arranged by A. r. Wal
kvo, pp. Vi, S5A ID. Appleton * 60.
The writer OF these letters. though a French
Official had no serious difficulties in persuadiag
his superiors TO allow him to send them TO Eng
nsh newspapers. The explanation of his good
fortune lies upon the surface of the letters them
selves he did not take his duties a cor
respondent too seriously. Though be did not
ignore politics. he chiefly paid attention TO the
amusing or picturesque or literary incidents OF
the Gay. His editors wanted him to GOSSIP anu
he gossipe5- Il was worth while to recover ms
fugitive writings from the files Of thirty years
Rgo, for they are fun OF entertainment, ana N
cdentally. give us some sketches OF historic IN
oividusls which. II slight, are nevertheless Uus'
worthy. he seems TO have admired al me mem
bers OF the imperial family. especially the En-
press. He omits opportunity 10 hiuS11'e
the amiabTity Of her disposition One Of Ms
stories brings in an American woman VINO sem
an album OF leaves from our forests to one OF
The crowned heads Of Europe. and another JUST
like Il. 10 the Empress Of the French Her frst
gift was acknowledged by official who wrote
her that s'for once the sovereign mad coioe-
seconded TO accept the offering, which, however
n was hoped. would not be CONSIDERED as d
,,-acasent or announcement for any further
similar gifts" The Empress, on the other haho'
herself wrote a cordial note Of thanks accom-
panying II with a valuable ring I'ed tapelsih
,p-s,,s genuine kindness Of heart" remarks Nj
Peat
There is rarely any hint of red tape in this
volume The letters revive the atmosphere OF
q per4od of pleasure. during which. amid
abounding prosperity, with apparently no pre-
rnonition Of the disaster 20 come, every one IN
public life from the Emperor down. seemed TO
he borne gaily on the current Of a broad stream
OF social splendor Mr.. Peats anecdotes ohly
now and then touch the more cynical SIDE o.
Napoleon's nature. He has one embodylng the
Fmperor's reply 10 the question asked MN one
night at the Tuileries. How distinguish truth
from q ne?" Nothing more simple, answered
-Sapoleon. 'Open the door to both. and the lie
viii be sure to enter first" He had scarcely
spoken before the folding doors were thrown
omen "a groom Of the chambers announced two
Of the ministers who were seen to bow TO each
other and each to decline accepting the pre-
cedence. At last the younger Of the two eN-
ceIlencies remarked that he had but recently
soined the Cabinet. and that it was evident his
colleague had the pas. The company, mean
while attracted by the singular coincidence,
were not a little amused TO perceive NJ. Rouher'
the Minister of State enter the salon. followed
by NJ Pinard. and their excellencies were much
puzzled by the hilarity their arrival occasoned-'
In a letter about the DUO de Morny written at
the time Of his death Mr.. Peat gives pretty
picture Of him breaking of in the midst Of
serious conversation TO accept with delight the
Invitation Of three children. who burst in upon
him TO carry him off TO some newly invented
game. This author cannot speak favorably
enough Of Morny; his impression Of that anaz-
ing individual was altogether hattering.
OF course. Mr. Peat has much to say about
the great authors of his time Hugo and Dumas
were then on the crest OF the wave and their
names constantly recur in his text. " Les
Travailleurs de la Mer' is the literary event Of
the day." he writes, going on to tell how
anxious the poorer classes were for a cheap
edition OF the work. and bringing back to US a
vivid sense of the public excitement that marked
the appearance Of a new work by celebrated
author In that epoch. He tells also, some
weeks later apropos OF Hugo's new book how
De Lesseps has had the sea monster of the IA
NOUS story served at dinner. and how Dumas
has issued invitations TO a select party Of real
amateurs de Ia bOHche for the purpose Of seriously
considering the best mode Of treating the cult
nary delicacy" The question is" he adds,
picture fyIte versus pieurre an grdtiH" Another
Dumas story relates TO his reception Of young
ing him a COPY Of his first volume, seemed
20 hesitate as to what he should write on the
hyleaf. Write to my second father" said
Dumas. Il was thinking Of doing So" replied
his young friend. Then why don't you write
tt7" asked the novelist. why, you see. have
already written to my second father a copy
sent TO my uncle at Lyons" Well, then"
said the great man. write To my third father -
But where shall we end in quoting anecdotes
from this book? On one page we find the tale
Of the census taker who gravely made at En-
vermeu. near Dieppe, the following record:
Louis Denis, aged three months: no profession;
bachelor" A little further on he wrote: Marie
Jouret. aged eight days, idem, spinster." Else
where there is story Of the telegraph clerk
who called in a policeman when messenger
brought him a dispatch running. Il have thought
of a better and more expeditions mode Of killing
Faure." lie started investigation which dis
closed. TO the delight Of every one concerned,
that the man who had filed him with ideas Of
q great crime to be committed was NJ. Merry,
Of don Carlos" for Verdi, and had only been
telegraphing TO his collaboration that he had
thought OF another mode OF dispatching the
Marquis OF Rosa (Which part was TO be acted
by Faure) than by pistol shot. as in Schiller's
tragedy" There is scarcely a page in the VOL
urne which is not enlivened by some trihe Of
the sort IT is Of very little Importance. but it
IS readable from cover 10 cover.