Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-11

on her way home after settling up the
coffee estate of d ceased nephew; Car.
michael, the Marseille tenor, celebrated
for his prodigious head-voice": Balbet
champion French + ncer, travelling with
Billaudiere, constructor of instruments Of
precision. and Luxe. fireworks manufac-
tuTer of Paris, returning from an epoch
marking display at the marriage fetes OF
the young Baron Ballest ros.
Every one recognizes Olga in episodes
of the first Paris season Of the Russian
dancers. So with the feats of Carmichael
the tenor. A key or commentary would
require more pages than the book, and
discretion forbids. Other characters are
put on board to render plausible the most
fantastic scenes. There Is the hypnotizer,
Darriand, returning from a botanizing
trip with unknown plants of strong hal
iucinatory properties" These drugs. act
ing particularly ON light sensations are
combined with Billaudiere's fireworks to
produce statutory impre ssion on Talou
VII-and incid entally permit Roussel tc
produce In colOred fire Baron Ballesteros
elegant ciubman in baby blue tennis
fiannels'' against the sable curtain of the
night They are fireworks left over from
the Ballesteros fetes Ballesteros thin1y
Disgusting the noisy leader of South
American rastas, who make Maxims a
pandemonium.
So, the writer needed an operette troupe
returning from tour. with the beautiful
Jeanne Souze as star-she Of ."orchestra
respiration' troupe Of music hall ar
tstes ard phenomenons. including the
clown ;Whirli-gig, and Tancred. subject
without arms or legs. accompanied by his
five. children, Hector. Tommy. Marius
Bob and Stella; Stephen Alcott and his
Six Sons. and the Breton Lesoualch, who
'p.ayS the flute HIS tlDla.
Often ROuSSel seems content to laugh
alone, is his meaning wrapped in fan
tastic imagery: but show the passage to
one more Partisan than yourself and he
says: 'I'll tell you tomorrow Thanks
to this elaboration the most Vulnerable
clubman or society beauty need not ad-
NIT a personal application Indeed. the
book may be enjoyed, but it will not be
understood outside Paris.
For its mere French style, the young
millionaire used a touchstone Of sim
ulicity and clearness that demands en-
frightened humility from the writer: not
every one will give up his pet words and
critic raised to the nth power--young
Roussel submitted his proofs to the ]anl-
tor. the chauffeur. the f1unkeys. the SOU
brettes, chambermaids and kitchen-aids
The private secretary, housekeepers.
chefs and lace-and-linen women were
deemed already too sophisticated. If a
word or phrase of mere French could not
pass the gauntlet Of the humble, it was
mercilessly cut out. Unlike critics of
higher order, they could not pretend to
understand.
It is a house Of def and silent servants
They simply appear from shadows, noise
lessly, when wanted, and disappear again.
There is no need to ring. after the great
street door is passed An elevator of the
size and furnishing Of a bijou parlor
takes guests to the second floor drawing
rooms. The stables and garage, giving
on the great interior court. are-like the
early Christians-in the building. but not
of it. Each member Of the family has a
separate suite of apartments, sets Of
servants, horses and autos.
/ speak OF the RousSel Hotel Of the