PARIS,—LADIES’ LETTER

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 284, 26 June 1875, Page 2

PARIS,—LADIES’ LETTER

(from oub own cobbbspondent.) The theatrical critics have broached an excellent idea, that of having a box or tribune, exlusively set apart for them in theatres, as is the case on the grand stands and in the assembly; at present these gentlemen are treated in a very free and easy fashion, but 1 am told this is the result of journals not purchasing their places and so enjoy their independence while securing comfort. The new Opera promises to remain ever new to judge by the crowds. “ Hamlet” has been produced, the first real opera brought out since the building was inaugurated, and it is totally impossible to obtain a place even for money, and love, not being current coin, has no power.. Crowds

. go to hear the music in “ Hamlet,” for 1 it is a work, whose beauties to be understood must be often listened to. Faure, makes the Hamlet of Hamlets, i and this year’s Fine Arts Exhibition, to be opened as soon as the Horse Show vacates the Palace of Industry, will contain no less than three portraits of that unrivalled artiste as “Hamlet,” each by a distinguished painter. The French are more cognisant of this, than any other of the dramas of the “ divine William’sthey quote extracts from it in their speech, and in their writings, but it is a play that has weird-like attractions for us all, it poses the grand enigma that all try to solve. Mme. Carvalho, now a quarter of a century on the stage, acts the character of Ophelia, and her impersonation is accepted by competent judges as being more poetical, and ideal than that of Mlle. Nilsson’s creation, and you feel the judges are here right. There is no other musical event, except an Hungarian who is announced with a troupe of “ singing catsthe pussies are trained to “mew” in harmony with the Orchestra, the overture of Guillaume Tell, Fra Diavolo (very appropriate) and Martha. Tabby parties must not henceforth be despised for any attempt to improve the midnight choruses on the house tops, they deserve every encouragement; then when professional singers are becoming chronic martyrs to parsons’ sore throat, it is no small matter to have a supply of cantatrices at hand, for when you have not what you love, you must Jove what you have, says the proverb. The “ Tichborne ” drama, altered to the Affaire Coverley perhaps, out of diplomatic respect towards England, is postponed for a further few days ; the idea of such a revived infliction is enough to drive English tourists from Paris ; perhaps this may explain (along with the season), why so many English speaking persons are removing to the country ; never was the change so anxiously looked forward to, after the longest and dreariest of winters ; even tonics are commencing to fail to brace up the system. April is ever an important period for Hittings—and for “ flights ” too judging by the number of absconding financiers, annual tenants then as a rule try change of air; and the fifteenth of the month is quarter day, when arrears must be settled; the late M. Cochin —don’t omit the*—was an excellent landlord; he always paid his own agent the rents that the latter could never receive, and he died nevertheless a rich man, and a lane has been named after him. But the country; the owners of villa residences bring nearly all their household gods with them, the more Sensible, and who are in a position to do so, generally furnish the country residence apart, the furniture being at once light and cheap; nothing heavy in warm weather, and under a Neapolitan sky. Floriculture is not practised by ladies, save gathering cherries and converting them into preserve can be so considered ; gentlemen do not take kindly to gardening ; after the third day’s experience in delving, hoeing, and “ raking,” they have enough of the fine art, and fall back on a novel, the journals, beer, and cigars, under their own fig tree, or perhaps tent, for since the war a garden tent has become a necessity. You never encounter a city-countryman going into ecstacies over an artichoke and cauliflower, a Jonah gourd, or Windsor beans, that he has tenderly reared at an expense of their weight in gold. Garden parties are very delightful, but do not consist of a game of croquet and a course of tracts; they mean a substantial dinner—or more attractive still, a dejeuner, in the open air, in a bower of vines and rose trees, with salads pulled fresh before your eyes, and the leaves wiped, but never washed ; with fruit gathered as you want it, and other “ pretty little tiny kickshaws that William the cook ” may devise, for, cooks are never bad tempered when preparing for an al fresco entertainment. There is nothing new to be said about balls ; they are finished for the moment, but history deserves to record, that the most succeesful ball of the season was given by M. Andre, a banker and deputy for Paris. I blush to state, that he, the owner of the first palace in the city, is a bachelor, and the crowds of belles that promenade in his fee ven grand dining rooms, admiring the frescoes, the pictures, the curiosities, the collected glories, looked at him with Cupid and Parthian arrows in their eyes. The men now a days do not propose as in the time when George the Third was king. But what about the fashions ? Miss Flora Mac Flimsy will demand. The first object that strikes the eye and materially so occasionally, is that the girl of the period has such a display of ribbons, as to resemble a recruiting sergeant; where there are no bows there are streamers, and the soup-plate hat reminds one not a little of a floating jelly fish in the leafy month of June, at high tide and full feelers set. If you do not like ribbon trimmings for your straw bonnet, the whole botanical world lies before you wherein to choose taking care that green leaves and sprigs predominate for young persons, and that the bonnet for girls ought to well cover the forehead ; some hats are covered with garlands of flowers above and below, and a duck of a bonnet is declared to consist of Italian straw, with white feathers, and lined with blue crape. Ombrelles will this season be composed of the same material as the robes, and will display initials on

the side, which are arranged so as to be ever exposed, but there will (b? no trimming of lace or guipure, and no plaits. The rage seems to be for initials; ladies have theirs worked in diamonds on velvet collars, or carved on clasps for mantles and belts. A change has taken place in boots, they are made long and pointed—the latter at the expense of the heel — a salutary amelioration. There is no new material to announce; plain and checked silk are united in the one toilette; alpaca and mohair are equally mixed for country wear. Colors are bright, almost glaringly so, and cuirass-bodices are still tbs vogue ; the redingote, and mantle tight in the back and loose in front, are in great favor, and the stand up collar, has superseded the turn down shape. Fringe is in great request for trimming, and is made in - very beautiful patterns, and of course in color to suit toilettes, an effort is being made to revive the “ Ugly Club ” founded by the Princess de Metternich, in order to enable plain ladies to make themselves beautiful for ever.