OUR LADIES' LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 4155, 21 June 1876, Page 4

OUR LADIES' LETTER.

Paris, March 18. Water, water everywhere, and more than a drop for drinking. " Jj£h© environs of Paris only, wanted the attraction of its river, competing with the Nile in respect to. overflowing to possess all the wonders of the world, It is calculated that there are 7,000 villa residences submerged, just at the moment when'citizens commence to think of brushing them up for the summer campaign. Only think, this calamity never arrived when the Prussians squatted-around ste capital. The enormous hefght'df the witer'in the river has blocked up the sewers j so the cellars, as far as the - Madeleine Church, are filling •wtith water, and firemen, instead of pumping water on houses, are actively employed drawing it out of them. Crowds promenade as well as they oan along the banks of the river to obtain a good look at the progress of the flood, and many ascend to 'the top of the Arc de Triumphe to enjoy a bird's-eye view of the disaster; the newly erected kiasques along the banks of the river, destined to succor the drowned, are drowned themselves; at Bercy, where the wirie iff stored in bond, the casks seem to be enjoying a kind of life on the ocean wave existence. The gas there also burns clay and night, as it, cannot be cut off. It was purposed on one occasion, when fetichism for Louis XIV. was at its height, to surround the-equestrian statute erected to the Sunking on the Place des Victoires with vestal, lamps, to be kept burning incessantly : the illumination at Bercy is accepted for joy. that the wine cannot be wilfully diluted. But few lives have been lost, and the chief accidents are limited to quick dip 3; boats replace cabs and omnibuses, and are hired fey the hour to pleasure parties. Wirj it not for the Cimmerian sky one could flatter, themselves to be in Venice; but umbrellaß in a gondola, and Ulster coats on the revellers, are not in harmony with the bride of the sea. More than literally these calamities damp the public feeling, whichthe theatres unintentionally increase. Thus are being represented at present, the oratorio of the "Deluge,-' by M. -~aint Saens ; the '«Canal iSaint Martin;" the "Donjon des Etangs," and "La Petite Pluie," all full of aqueous souvenirs. This state of things is the more deplorable as spirits were light after the general elections, and society commenced to make up for lost time. It is impossible to fiddle while Paris is—drowning. We could manage to submit to the rigors of the Forty Days of Lent, but the supplement of Forty Days of a Flood is too much even for the most solid flesh. The steeplechase season opened four weeks ago, when each day's running was in a down-pour, the field was deserted, save by the jockeys, and the grand stand was only a grand display of waterproofs and umbrellas. 'lt is wearisome having to remain constantly inside doors ; how one sympathises with the patriarchs in the Ark, 80 long under hatches ; their ennui explainsuperhaps not a little. The "spree" in which Noah later indulged. Dinner parties are general this Lent among all classes; the new legislators fete their success, and the defeated find in the pleasures of the'table the consolation electors withheld from them ; but prosy dinner parties do not suit young folks, unless the dessert be . followed by a dance after a certain time is allowed for forty winks. Now, dancing -would be as much out of place at this moment as a display of fireworks; only at the balls and evening parties on dame, and there alone can those surfeited with sacred concerts, a-:d fatigued with the practice of Lenten speci il exactions, find relief. A young lady the other night broached the dogma that, instead of the Church allowing, pending Lent, a rest of one day in the three weeks, it ought to sanction one day every week. The Lenten sermons are very trying this year. Ladies have not only to appear at them in boardingschool toilettes,' and to look as grave as Quakeresses, but have to sit out positive dissertations on science, to understand its affirming revealed religion. Now, except a lady has had good niatks in her judgmentbook for proficiency in the "ologies," it cracks the brain to follow the eloquent Father Monsabre. Ah !it was not so when Pere Hyacinthe, in half-bare feet, brown woollen Ulster, fastening with a new hempen cord and a running knot, hair cut close, and the crown of the head shaven, treated his fair listeners. He denounced onr toilettes, which only made us reappear the folio •viik' Sunday more battel fly than evtr. He alluded to the iniquity in high places, but vo one believed him, for "the Empire was peace." And when that Benedict by his vows expressed that he wculd live a bachelor, of course he did not believe he would live to die a married man. If you go to the opera you must do .so en cackette, and experience the torments of a guilty conscience actorwards. It is net,, however, objectionable to attend the meetings of the Senate and tho Chamber of Deputies ; the attractions of the Legislature are many at present. First of all, there never were so many bachelors returned as representatives, and good-looking fellows too ; they will be positively charming when they have their angles rubbed off by a Jcour.;e of Parisian society. Just now they dsplay the Brutus airs still, that they had to assume before their honest and independent electors, and use doth breed ahabit in a man. Borne districts have been so paternal that, after electing sons deputies, they also chose their fathers to look after the boys. Some little reform is needed under the head of the legislators' costumes; it would be best to commence by passing them through the hands of one of the twenty-two "hairdressers to the Chamber." Feminine thanks to the architect of the new Chamber of Deputies ; he has not forgotten to have roomy Stalls for tho ladies, and in addition a retiring room. Only in the English House of Commons are lady spectators caged, as if they were in a harem ; Frenchmen are not afraid of a pair or a score of beautiful eyes ; oratorical tournaments do not suffer in presence of "Queensof Beauty." As Marshal Macmahon reigns, but does not govern, according to the new Constitution, his lady seems also inclined to disappear from prominent political life. She does not occupy her box during the sitting of the House. Per contra, Mdme. Thiers re-ap-pears on. the political horizon. She has quitted black, which the evil-tongued say she carried sinoe May, 1873, when her husband was defeated; at all events, she looks to more advantage in her grey • pearl silk. Younger Bbe cannot be. She and her sister might well pass for the daughters of M.Thiers. The latter has lost ground since the elections somehow ; the "reason why I cannot tell," but there is a lejroidissemenl between him and the public. He has quarrelled with Gambettr, because the Litter is daily becoming a kind of nation's darling. Two privileges the possess—never to grow old and to be jealous. The only change in Gambetta is that he patronises a thick cane—some say to keep hiß followers in order. Judging the fashions from a legit la tive point of view, where ladies at present most do congregate the prevailing colors are black, grey, and maroon; tho material, faille; two tones and in Varied stuffs; siciLenne, cashmere, and velvet; the princesse robe and the polonaise hold, sovereign sway. A few novelties; the shops exhibit, along with the remaindors of tjfe arrivmg; the4PJßUnaint cso]|f .J>ronjises to be blue, and the favorite ' f&ifakn stripes.. A.

very elegant and at the same time economical

irimming is Mexican netting, adapted for pordering or scarves, and also as insertion tor con>ages> and jupons ; it. can be worked up as mantelet or a Marie Antoinette fichu. Ihe trimming for dolmans, paletots, and mantillas consists of fringe and lace, the Latter, when expensive, being reserved for elegant vdtements. Woollens of every description of fantasy are in request J for home costumes, which display numerou I plaits as the chief trimming. In addition to telt, a great many hats are made up in black crin, trimmed above and below with sea-blue ribbon, arranged in butterfly knots, upon the summit and behind, with bnnches of tea roses; occasionally a large blue feather is worn on the crown, and all around a drapery of faille of the same shade, fastening by a golden buckle. Some grey hats have for trMming. black silk cbratlifreß,-vfith. a red j I wing at the side ; cashmere is much worn in the house along with black faille. Straw hats for the summer will have the light coffee-colored lace, with more of ribbons and gauze than perhaps flowers. English embroidery is in great favor for trimming jupons, pantaloons, and even robes, and colored laces, with tulle of a cream shade, can bo employed in a thousand manners for cravats and barbes.

After doing all that was in their power to keep the Prince Imperial out of Franco, the dosire now is to bring hira back - not to reign over us, but to shoulder a musket and do duty like Roger Bontemps. "The Prince being twenty years of age, and a citizen, is bound to undefgo his chance of the ballot for military service, and if he refuses to comply with the code he must be treated like other citizens living in a foreign landas an outlaw. At last France has found an opening for her superfluous heirs apparent, as, according to all prognostics, the chances of auy Sovereign riding henceforth in Fiance are very slight. Perhaps in the coming International Exhibition the .Prince Imperial might be on duty a§ a sentry, and presenting -arms to Victor Hugo and Gambetta, as senatoi s and deputies. Is it not within the bounds of probability that New Zealand may supply au artist to sketch the ruins of St. Paul's from a broken arch of London bridge ? Respecting the contemplated exhibition, the Government is occupied with the project, and as the -people demand it, and the legislators are not opposed to it, the matter may be regarded as settled—dates and details have yet to be arranged by the Commissioners.

Two marriages occupy much attention, that of Mile. Bettina Rothschild, and Mile. Blanc. The trousseau of the first is professionally displayed at her modiste's, in the Rue de la Paix. It is a vast wardrobe, composed of silks, satins, lace, and velvets, of Ossa piled upon Pelion. The artiste who has prepared these marvels, invited all her clients to come and see what the fairy fingers of her establishment could effect. The trou*seau will next be displayed in the bride's father's house, where will be added the diamonds and presents from her relatives and friends. The formal display of all this ■ wealth takes place in presence of the specially invited. It is a kind of rehearsal of the wedding fete. These occasions are said to be favorable for catching heiresses and husbands. It may not be known that Mdllo. Rothschild, in addition to having her diploma as a schoolmistress, and which is framed and suspended in her boudoir, is also an accomplished milliner; so that if ever she be pinched in circumstances she c:m fall back on the means of earning her bread. Mdlle. Blanc is the daughter of the keeper of the gambling tables at Monaco, to where every lady and gentleman makes a pi!grimage when visiting Nice and Cannes. Her father divides the "profits" with the "reigning house" of Monaco, that has a few mile 3 of territory, a standing army of half -a - dozen of men, a Commander in-Chief, and an etiquette modelled after the palmy days of Versailles. M. Blam; is very rich; he bestows on this, hi third daughter, an annual income of 100,000f., a house here royally fitted up, with carriages, horses, &c. Her husband is a poor Russian Prince, Radzinill, who exchanges his title for these material guarantees ; but as it was a condition that he should take out letters of French naturalisation, the Czar has graciously consented to reduce the population of his Empire by one, and thus show his friendship and esteem for France. The trousseau is not so voluminous as that of Mdlle. Rothschild ; this excepted, the qualities of the treasures are equally cellent. I observe the cambric, &c, articles hava crests and initials v. orked in gold. The female teachers of Faris areorganislnga little exhibition of their own, which willprove interesting. It will likely be accommodated with one of the vast rooms of the PalacG of Industry. It is intended to display all the apparatus employed for instructing infants and girls. This vast machinery will bo set in motion too, so during the summer, on alternate day§, the public will have an opportunity of witnessing a monster female and infant school in full working order. The municipality of Paris is about adopting au excellent measure in respect to its schools. Medical inspectors are to be appointed to visit these educational establishments daily, to report on their hygienic condition, and to examine the state of health of the pupil?. As France thinks of nothing but works of peace and internal reforms, a great impetus may be expected to bo given to educational matters. Obligatory instruction will become the law of the land, and, what is not the least required, all private schools must be seriously registered, and their teachers compelled to produce diplomas of competency in those subjects which they profess. There is also the prospect of Paris possessing some agreeable salons, not equal of course to those of the eighteenth century, which modern journalism has killed, but still calculated to attract intelligent persons of both sexes, to talk a few hours sensibly and wittily together. There is a good story told of the Countess de Pourtartes and a shopman. Tho Countess had made extensive purchases in a fashionable draper's shop, and directed the bill to be'furnished with the goods. Next day she called to expresb her disappointment at the absence .of the bill; the shopman consulted the ledger, and pretended to read nut a note in the coolest and politest manner : " Bill not sent, as it is sa d Monsier lo Comte is indisposed, and in no case trouble him." The Countess at once settled.