OUR PARIS LETTER.
February 19. At a dinner recently given by some swells, in the first restaurant of the city, one of the members of the party, was the son of a a millionnaire cook; when the fun became furious, this gentleman observed, “I wonder what our fathers would think, did they see us now?” “Your’s,” was the reply, “ wouty certainly be astonished why you were not in the kitchen. ”
Prince Jer6me Napoleon, in order to prove his courage, is ready to accept any challenge sent to him. This is intended as a hint for the Due D’Aumale.
M. Dumas has had only a succes d'esthne in his new piece “ L’Etrangere. ” The fact is, the play was all but victimised in advance by very ignoble pnfiing, so that a reaction was inevitable. Apart, however from all this, the comedy has several defects. Brilliant though be its style as a matter of course, witty as of usual, and satirical as might be expected, it is inferior to bis other plays ; it has been so altered that it does not run smoothly; it has the evidence of indecision,
and incohereucy is apparent. Then the plot is improbable in the highest degree, and the scenes of life impossible. Originally, Dumas intended, like Sarclon, to satirise or caricature American society, and \ read up ‘ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ’ with this object; it is thus we have Mrs Clarkson, or I. htrangbre, no relative of Mrs Haller’s, nor of our American cousin’s either. The next “typical” female personage is the Duchess of Septmonts, the daughter of a i wealthy draper, who has exchanged her J millions for a title. In Turkey men buy j women, in Paris it would seem wives pur- ■ chase husbands. The Duke is as wretched and as insolent a creature as it is possible to imagine; he receives the sobriquet of Vibrion. Such being the term applied by physiologists to the germs of de-
composition. These parties, intended to represent French Society, do no such thing. The plot is the contest between Mrs Clarkson and the Duchess to secure the heart of a young man—a very poor creation. In this contest to commit adultery there is no difference between either women, both being bad. The Duke is involved in a duel for his impertinence, and killed by Mrs Clarkson’s husband, and the Duchess is left free to marry the desired lover. She refused
to try reforming the Duke. There is much nonsense in the comedy, touching the chemistry of love and the physiology of society, and a philosophy that has no disciples, even among the Spiritists. As a curiosity the actum is a beautiful spectacle, and it is also a pleasure to listen to French when well written, and well polished. Mile. Cuizette, whoso muscular death struggles in the Sphinse, has arranged to deliver a cry, that If W0 1 Talma, and people are attracted by this, as also by her superb toilettes. Ihe play will hold its own for many nimbi's, hut not.so long as 4 tdda,ma Anrjot, or the I lour ae vioit de in eighty days,” 1
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Evening Star, Issue 4103, 21 April 1876, Page 4
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517OUR PARIS LETTER. Evening Star, Issue 4103, 21 April 1876, Page 4
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