OUR PARIS LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 3908, 2 September 1875, Page 3

OUR PARIS LETTER.

( Concluded .)

Paris, July 10.

Mdrimce was one of the two distinguished litterateurs that the Second Empire only succeeded in attracting ; Saint Beuve, the other, was but considered at the Tuilcries, as a friend of the second degree. Mdrimee was married privately to the mother of the Empress Eugenie, and was of course thus at home with the Imperial family. Indeed, it was said, he sacrificed himself to the marriage in order to free Napoleon from his mother-in-law. Merimee’s letters to a new Inconnue has appeared, wherein lie depicts the ennui of intimate Court life, and his contempt for it; it consisted «f eating, drinking, walking a little, ami talking less. He describes the visit of the Empress Charlotte, “ whose eyes wore full of impatience, anger, and madness;” she had the air of a “mistress-wife,” aud resembled Louis. Philippe as one drop of water does another; her maids of honor were equally wild looking; “were the color of gingerbread, and had the air of orang-outangs ;” the Empress has arrived from Mexico to demand soldiers and money, “ but it is decided to give her nothing but fetes, about which she does not seem to care much.” A writer lately described the Second Empire as “ presumptuous soldiers, grand ladies ignorant and devoid of wit, fates for all tastes, farces, and police; also, “the Generals believed the statesmen infallible, and the statesmen viewed the generals as invincible,” so that when the war was declared, “ the strategists counted upon alliances to organise victory, and the diplomatists counted upon victory to organise alliances.”

Mcrinde also relates that during an October evening, in order to kill time, a “Love Court” was improvised, of which the Empress was Vice-President ; the subject discussed was iu the case of a sovereign childDss, and not likely to have an heir, is it permissible for his wife to taiie' measures for securing the future of the dynasty? The matter was eloquently discussed, and on a division the votes declared the adjournment of the debate.

Good news for the pianists. M. Wolff, a manufacturer of pianos, has invented a “ tonal pedal,” quite distinct from the ordinary pedal, and working independently. It adds nothing to the power of the instrument, but it purifies the harmony from thorn discordant and confused sounds alike unpleasant to the performer and the listener. Perhaps it may reconcile bachelors to the practising of scales A young lady has met with a terrible disenchantment. She lives in the neighborhood Oi Isenilly, and since a week passed her mornings at her room window expecting a dashing cavalier to ride by. Her father comprehended matters at a glance, so one evening astonished ins family by announcing ids intention of Kate aucl himself visiting the ambulatory circus ; he took box seats for six sous each, aiicl passed into

that portion of the tent serving at once as a stable and green room ; here the cavalier was viewed in his behind-the-scenes-life, as well as in tlie arena. Father and daughter never exchanged a remark, but next morning instead of moping at the window she resumed her music lessons.

The Fourth of July was, as usual, observed by loyal Americans with the solemn silence winch of late years has characterised the anniversaries in Paris. The Embassy and the Washington Club displayed bunting, some extra big drinks were indulged in, and dinner tables inelude.'l a few more guests. The children showed that there was no place like homo, by adding Hoynton flags to their toys and perambulators.

A new edition of Stendhal's works relates that the author had several wishes, his most cherished one being that he might die of apoplexy at the corner of a street; he had his wish realised, as he fell dead at a corner of the Rue de la Paix. MTrinde confessed death cruised him no fear, “ but the thought of it was trixte and disgusting.”

Since the names of the streets have been changed three or four times during the last five years, partisans of certain political tendencies may be recognised, as they" employ the name bestowed by godfathers and godmothers; a railway clerk's sympathies can be disturbed or soothed, according as the traveller demands a ticket for the Avenue de ITiaperatrice, the Avenue Ulrich, aud now-the Avenue da Pois de Boulogne, for example. The Iv'gistrar-General of Liege adopts a salutary tabulation of his monthly vital statistics, by causing to follow the number of marriages the number of divorces. The con temptation of the two pictures has no weight it seems with turtle doves ; do not we think all othor people mortal but ourselves?

M, Beiot dedicates an article to babies : fur him a beautiful infant is the last word of creation; it monopolises all perfections; its eyes, hair and flesh, suggest colors the most exquisite and the most tender ; its little hands and rosy nails defy the sculptor and painter; its leg is diviue, and its foot a marvel. M. Belot, a well-known novelist, has been lately married ; wait till he be charged a few times during the night to give the screeching divinity a little soothing syrup or a promenade. A man was lately brought up before the magistrate, and in reply to the question what was his profession said he was a “ naturalist,” occupied in scouring stuffed dogs, birds, and such preserved deer generally. Erailo_ Augier, on being asked, said he liked to live in tlio country, because the peasantry were not sufficiently educated to display false ideas.

Jacob, the new chief of the detectives, is as small as Louis Blanc or M. Thiers; during 1870 he called a giant orator in a public meeting to order, and, drawing himself up, and displaying his authority, said, “ I am the Law.”

A patrol party, surprised by the enemy, and not finding a tree at hand, exclaimed— ‘ ‘We are betrayed.”