New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
THE PUZZLE PARTY
Preuailing Paris Fad Imported
from america.
Paris, January Is.

Paris, January Is.
For these weeks that come between
New Years and Mardi Gras tor the first
day of IenD entertaining in Paris Is
taking this year new and special de-
yelopments. The old-fashioned recep-
ton, beginning at 10 o'clock with
handshake under n draped doorway ana
ending at 1 o'clock, when the last Vlohh
solo had been listened TO and the last
glass of champagne drunk, is giving way
to the crazes of the season-the picture
puzzle party, held in solemn silence, and
the private theatricals, with their popu-
lar and gay accompaniments of dressing
up and Irritation.
The "cut up puzzle came on wave
of contagion from America. IL is now an
obsession I'm the capital. Men and
women lean for hours over the picture
blocks arranging the tiresome httle
pieces that refuse to match into any
known lines. To meet the demand there
are now houses that supply puzzles by
the score on the subscription system,
and hostesses change their collections as
they formerly did their music, In weekly
instalments One smart young Amerl-
can art student is making conslderaole
sums of pocket money by collecting OLD
prints and cutting them UP for puzzles
and the shops accept them as fast as
she can furnish them. NO one receives
any bridge whist invitations this season.
The puzzle has. temporarily at least,
killed that game. IT has even invaded
the theatres. and during the long
~ Tax-pfPAS nYO6uCF
their cases, and the half hour speeds by
while the women and their cavaliers
wrestle with rnutilated Fragonards or
Watteaus.
Nothing is easier TO get UP than the
puzzle party, and this perhaps partly
explains it's vogue among hostesses-
Refreshments are matter of indiffer-
ence to the players, and scarcely any
viauds but ''petits fours," which the
Parisienne loves to nibble, are accepted
The large hat of the moment ties itself
up in strange knots with its neighbor's
hair or feathers at the puzzle party, but
the face of it's wearer is scarcely dis
tinguishable. To habitues of Partisan
salons the stiffness that prevails at these
parties is highly impressive. 1t is
broken occasionally by an exclamation
of impatienes or despair.
The private theatricaIs give far more
occupation to those who organize or en-
gage in them. Paris society numbers
some few amateurs who are in great de-
mand to stage manage the troupe
The Count de Ia Fouquieres is one Of the
cleverest of these private actors. and
this winter he has an engagement list as
long as his arm for theatrical parties at
which he is booked for every kind OF
role.
The Psrisienne brings much cequetry
and much ambition TO the private feet-
lights. and she takes long course Of
expensive private lessons in acting, last
ing all through the season. The most
popular such class Is one held in a
modest "entTesel" not far from the cen
tre, where leading actresses are pri-
yately coached for 8 new part by a tall.
blond professor. who. book In hand,
gives them their cues and criticises their
tones end accents with brevity and
gentle decision. You can scarcely tell
the budding professional from the anna
teur pupil at these classes. for both take
a delight In making I'D their complex
IONS as III Ter tnS DldZS lgnI 10 be
faced at the Comedie or Varieties.
One of the most feryent attendants at
the class is wealthy and handsome
woman who has so strong a passion for
the theatre that she has paid large
sum TO be. allowed to appear in brief
role in one OF the lesser bottles" Un-
happily, she has a lisp, which initiates
against her success.
let me suggest that you fill your
mouth with beans, madame" said her
professor. 'and practise your words for
a week in that way"
Madame Was frankly astonished "No
one ever told me before that I Iisped,"
she remarked She was in her place on
the first night Of the play however, and
was still further astonished at the
shrieks of laughter that burst from the
audience after each of her lines
In truth. these neatly built Parisiennes
require little coaching for stage business.
From their earliest youth they are care
fully taught to speak clearly and cor
rectly, and any actress here when at
work, appears to have the same deport-
ment as in her own salon. For diction.
fashion alters occasionally; the newest
school of acting permits of no emphasis.
II you cannot follow the words of a
play, the infiexion of the speakers voice
viii not help you to find out whether
Alps or earthquakes. passion or debts.
arc the subject of discourse For the
modern drawing room theatricaIs society
often writes it's own plays. The first
dramatic attempts of Baron Henri de
Rothschild. author of La Rampe." took
the shape of short pieces for this kind of
performance, and some of the best Of
these have since been produced in real
theatres as curtain raisers with more or
less success. When the play Is a short
one, part of the evening is occupied nv,
recitation of poems, the author or
authoress being frequently the speaker.
for the production of poetry in the
ranks of Partisan society is even greater
tnan that of short plays. 4 poetical re-
view OF comparatively recent foundation
receives an average of two Volumes of
, poems for criticism n day. a large pro-
portion of which are written by women
G. l. Il.