OUR PARIS LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 4285, 20 November 1876, Page 4

OUR PARIS LETTER.

y *-- September 30. The French musical critics who put in an appearance at the Wagner festival attacked the great composer very violently ; only one or two forgot he was a German, and viewed him as a musician. Strange, not a French lady left to witness the fit', and those critics, who are disciples of the Wagner schools, either abstained, or their journals would not allow them to officially go to Bayrenth. The French ought to be philosophers enough to remember that their petty spite only adds to the eminence of Wagner. A few enthusiasts eveu go so far as comparing the late Felicien David with the composer of the Sing des Nibtlung n ; F. .David wrote some very pretty piano music, as the Pirate, Herindelles, &c, that our mothers especially appreciate; they were very melodious, but excepting his De"sert, inspired by a residence of five years in his youthful days among the Arabs, none of his works created much enthusiasm in France. His genius had its ups and downs, and many prefer his more matured composition—as the Pe.de. de BrSsil, and Herculaneum. He was a man of very eccentric habits, and prided himself, like Alphonse Karr, on his eyes, which were very black. It is an anxious moment for a lady who receives at her chateau. She has not all tne resources at her command to entertain as if she were at Paris; but all goes wonderfully well notwithstanding. The table is exquisite with its flowers, its preserves, its beautiful fruit aud service. The bonbons aud petits fours rival the tapers in lustre, and the colors are exquisitely reflected in the finely- cut crystal; the table-cloth is supple and satin-like, and is most charming looking with its ] ringed and embroidered corners ; white and delicate hands compete with it iD whiteness. As a rule, the survtillance of the dinner-table, the making of the guests at home with each other devolve on the hostess, for the host generally selects a lidy he likes beat, and forgets all the company in the enjoyment of her society ; he receives the invited royally. "That's all I owe them." he seems to say. After dinner, the separated friends come together; the jealous express their discontent; the wicked say their severities ; and the happy state their regret to have to leave; the ladies commence then to admire one another's dresses, and chat chijfons, while the gentlemen employ all their strategy to steal away for a smoke ; then that bore of a pleasant evening arrives, the professed pianist, who gives himself more airs than he does to the company ; then ices are passed round; then tea to the arrivals for the reception, and who are ever served first; then a general mixing of the guests, of gossiping Jin groups; then a folding up of tents like the Arabs, and a quietly stealing away.

Ten years ago the dramatist who would write a tragedy would be considered as only qualified for Bedlam ; now the mind has changed, and crowns and money are the reward for such pieces. M. Alexandre Parodi has known all this to his advantage. His " Kome Vaincue," a tragedy in five acts in verse, is a great success. He is a Greek, native of Candia, and brought up at Smyrna, where he devoted himself to the study of the French language and literature, and behold his reward. Ht is thirty-iour years of age. The actress, Mdlle. Sarah Bernbardt, has won a great triumph in the rdle of Posthumia.

At a railway buffet: " One coffee, boiling hot," cried out the garcon to the cook ; "no, cold," nterposed the passenger. "Then its six sous dearer, because Monsieur intends drinking it."