The Washington times., 1905-08-20
HEALING WATER
FOUND At PARIS
Health-Giying Springs Are
Just Discovered.
ARTISTS ARE ALL THE RAGE
Swelldom Shows a Decided Preference
for Actors, Actresses, and
Opera Singers.


place, It has been on The tapIs for Il
long time. and for about six weeks it
has been a fact-and people have been
coming to take the waters as they have
done at AK or NIchy
Suddenly the doctors have discovered
healing springs at ChantiIly and al Yer
sanles. which are now added to the
springs at Engmen, long known for
THEN rich thermal virtues. Each morning
trainloads leave with elegant water
drinkers or seekers OF fresh air on their
wav TO the park OF the Grand Condo or
that planted by Louis NV.
The number Of French people who
have come 10 Paris this year to UNI
derso a water cure is estimated At some
$4,000, and the fashion has been led by
the most prominent people in Paris cir
eles. The Due and Duchesse de F'ezen-
sac leave Paris each morning TO continue
their cure at'VersailIes: the Count and
Contesse Aymery da Ii RocheroucauId
are staying at Enghien, while Vicomte
and Vicontesse dHarcourt spend their
time at ChantilIy and its umkrag eous
surroundings, And in the evening the
lights OF this now movement OF fashion
make rendezvous in the gay and bril-
liant music halls.
Paris will soon be the first watering
place in the world.
Dote on Artists.
French women of fashion dote on ar
tists-actresses or singers OF repute-
and rarely miss an opportunity of pIac-
ing themselves on line with them We
call this ''cabotinage' '-what the Anglo
Saxon would cali being stage-struck. It
Is an essentially French maIady, and in
high society We are in fact so intoxI-
Gated by it that it governs all our acts
almost without our knowledge-so much
so that 1t actually dictates the choice of
the resorts where we shall pass the
summer months.
Every Parisienne who can be labeled
of the fashionable coteries, and who
has the slightest pretention TO a voice,
no matter how feeble, feels an imperious
need. as soon as the second fortnight of
July arrives. to have herself sent by her
doctor 10 drink or battle in the waters
OF Mount Or. which is the rendezvous
OF all the relaxed threats in the world.
And there the curious spectacle is wit
messed of rnarquises and duchesses feel
ing themselves stricken with the same
malady IN order to be confused by the
public in the same category as the
actresses and singers. And, as is the
case 1T the present moment, the Vicom-
tesse de Tredern walks arIn-in-arm with
Afademoiselle Breva1 of the Opera, or
the Comtesse de Guerne makes the halls
) of the Casino ring each evening with
her impassioned notes IN response TO
those OF Jean de Reszke
Fer the time actresses are taken for
Processes and marchionesses for artists,
and all are pleased with their game of
make-believe.
The Little Widows.
French society keeps in its bosom four
persons whom it commonly denominates
its little widows-four choice beings,
creatures OF charms. TO whom it would
seem society has made up its mind it
has a duty 70 perform. that OF causing
them to forget their past disappoint-
ments by all sorts of gallant and pas
sionate devices.
AT the head of the little widows is
the Comtesse de Cosse, passionate
Wasnerian. the nynph of music Then
comes the Comtesse CASTOR de Con
taut. whose husband was one Of the
most spiritual men in French society;
the Comtesse Joachim Murat ana Nine.
AIichofsheim. nee Chevigne, who at
Orange was proclaimed queen OF the
court of love ana poesy.
These four hold a position quite their
own in the fashionable world. and they
are considered to be so enviable and are
so run after that no society Is complete
without one or more of them. and II Is
looked upon as the duty Of society 10
make and keep them gay and happy.
Also once a month the public rumOr
awards each of them q new husband,
whom. 1t Is hardly necessary 10 say,
they themselves have never dreamed of
taking.
Shah a Unique Tourist.
The Shah of Persia who IS within our
walls. came here uniquely as 3 tourist,
and as such he is regarded rather than
as q political man. The Shah is a tourist
quite of his own kind; he does not like
solitude. aud, therefore, he is accom-
panied by Il suite OF eighty persons
visiers. secretaries. actors. buffers, mu-
siciaus. and 50 on
The proprietors Of the Elysee Palace
Hotel. where he Is staying. has taken in
this little army for lump sum For
the ''priX fXe OF 81, 500 a day MS ma
Jesty and all his followers are lodged
boarded and supplied with carriages.
Each Persian works cat, therefore at
about SIG "A day. II is dirt cheap! One
asks oneself. indeed. if the monarch of
such magnificent kingdom does not
think It q little humiliatinE rot be pFiC-
himself III The grand manner Of his eE-
tensiVe shopping In the best stores Of
the city There is scarcely n article de
Paris which he dues not buy, no matter
what the price may be. Therefore. his
majesty Is very popular, and IN COM
petition Of EOnarcns in Paris. l fancy
he would not be far of being ''facile
princcDs'
Nile. Bartet Great Artistic,
Mile. Bartet is a great artistic, and
feel il an honor TO be one of her admir-
eTs and friends. as / have been for many
years But / cannot congratulate her on
the distinction which she has just gain
cd, and this is why MademoiselIe has
been made a knight" of the Legion Of
Honor by the government. If she had
ten times more talent than she has
should not approve Of the measure
which places In the same category the
EFaVe soldier who has shed his blood
for his country and the woman who for
twenty years has each evening made US
laugh or weep.
Not that the latter are to be dis
Gained, but they are different. and thesr
belong 10 the public. who claim the
right of paying for their ten-franc place
OF an evening TO applaud or to jeer
And The point IS this-any one who has
been marked by national approval, as
has 4 recipient of the Legion of Honor.
has not the right TO EXHIBIT himself for