OUR PARIS LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3663, 22 September 1880, Page 2

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(FBOM OUR OWN COBEEBPONDBNT.) Pabis, August 12,

The artistes of the theatres have only just happily concluded their campaign to be eligible for the decoration of the legion of honour, when they enter upon another—all men being equal since the revolution. They complain of the disrespect in being called Faure, Got, Oapoul, Sarah Bernhardt, or Patti—quite short. They demand from politeness the prefix Monsieur, Mile., or Madame; this daily decoration is respect. Alexandre Dumas is about putting his " Dame aux Camelias" in verse, to suit Verdi's I" Traviata," which is founded on that novel. But the author of the libretto prohibits Dumas from carrying out his intention. Thus the author of a successful novel and drama cannot put it in verse, because it has been pirated in advance. A similar difficulty was encountered by George Sand. One Bourgeois dramatised her "Petite Fadette," and without either her permission or a division of the receipts. Some years later she decided to dramatise her own novel herself, and was prohibited from doing so by the heirs of Bourgeois.

Dr Tanner's experiment, that in dying of hunger, man can lire without eating, has certainly drawn -attention, to the question, do we eat and drink too much? The anti-tobacconists are in the field with their hobby, and so are the vegetarians; the latter have never had many disciples in France, though the hermits of Port Royal no more eat meat than a Fakir, which explains the paleness of their portraits; hygienics and dietary said Sainte-Beure, were badly studied at Port Royal. The Nephalians bind themselves never to taste intoxicating drinks. They hate wine as Noah must hare done after his celebrated spree; at table they are a nuisance, as they draw attention to those beside them who have a weakness for a glass of pure, generous wine, and very annoying when a lady is in the case. During the siege of Paris, it was proposed to throw all the barrels of brandy in the city outside the fortifications, so that the Prussians could drink themselves to death. The plan was rejected as encouraging intemperance. A sceptical member proposed that in case of falling shells, no Nephalian ought to seek refuge in a wine cellar, save when it was empty. The collegiate institutions have given up their thousands to .vacation rambles, and homes are as happy as they can be, by the presence of the boys, proud- in the cases where prizes and good marks form part of the contents of their trunks. France has reason to be satisfied with the results of the scholastic year just closed, and the prospects of the coming one are still more brilliant, for the education of the country is now under the guidance of a Central Council, whose members are practical educationists, and pledged in the fullest exercise of independence, to apply every measure calculated to ameliorate the methods of instruction. It is refreshing to attend a distribution of college prizes : it recalls the happiest days of our lives, and we feel no small pleasure in being thus in contact with youth in all its pride, its joys, and its hopes. Of the several I have attended this year, there is one peculiarity deserving to be signalled, and not on account of the valuable character of the instruction given, but of its remark* able success. The Hcole Professionnelle of Versailles, was founded 16 years ago by Ivl. Bertrand, its able director, graduate of the University of France, and member of the Academy of Paris : he had for sponsor, M., and now Senator, Laboulaye: the aim was to supply the departement of the Seine and Oise, with a profeesional school such as exists in Paris and the north of' France. M. Bertrand opened his establishments with but one pupil, and he has now an average of 500; every year adds to this number. The institution* is non-sectarian, and every facility is afforded for each pupil practising his religious duties ; the English boys attend the English Church close at hand. The dietary is good and plentiful, as the healthy and robust looks of the pupils testify, and the park and grounds of the palace of Versailles, have as much the monopoly of pure air as of beauty. The surveillance is strict, and the boys are governed rather by appeals to their good nature and reason than to punishing by giving extra, lessons and stopping play; corporeal punishment is never practised, but a few hours extra walking in the park with an usher never fails to bring a disobedient lad to a fitting state of mind. The distribution of the prises took plage in the public Concert Hall, capable of accommodating 1000 persons, and yet it was too small for the crowd that attended. Ranged in front of the estrade were the students in uniform or plain clothes—either being optional, and each pupil on being named, ascended to reoeive his prizes from the Prefect of the Department, who was surrounded by the Mayor, Senators and Deputies, the head inspectors of national education, clergymen, and leading notabilities. The Artillery Band executed some choice music, and two actors of celebrity recited humorous verses, from time to time. Tn the evening. a very splendid banquet was given at the school, at which the leading celebrities of the department assisted,

From the speeches delivered at the distribution of the prizes several of the pupils have now distinguished places in the general competition at the Fine Arts' School, the Agronomical Institute, and and other public and technical establish-" menfc. It will be a happy day for France when every department shall have its college after the model of the Ecole Pro- - fessionelle of Versailles.

Not much importance is given in France to the meeting of crowned .heads at Ischl. Bassu'et baa long ago described, and events every day confirm his eloquence, that the best laid schemes of mice and Emperors, gang aft a-gley. Ischl is a pretty thermal station near the Bavarian frontier, and its climate, rattier than its saline springs, effects most benefit for fatigued constitutions. Thanks to a luxuriant vegetation, it possesses an enviably mild and equal temperature. In addition to the waters which must be . drank, the " perfect caro" necessitates also, drinking a kind of whey, and indulging in excursions: the latter are not made either with horse or ass, but in a Sedan chair, carried by handy mountaineers. The Emperor of Germany never hated the French, but his personage covers Bismarck and do Moltke, who do; he ever held the Napoleon Dynasty in detestation, in consequence of the treatment his mother, the heroic Queen Louisa, anA his country received from Napoleon C^W_ hence ho never disguised his personal - satisfation at having Napoleon 111. his prisoner. Lord Pal mere ton said in 1856 of His Majesty, " those thick moustaches will yet make Europe tremble." The Empress of Germany and the Princess Victoria are not enemies of France: the Tormer was particularly marked in her attention to the prisoners of the war of 1870-71: she is deeply read in French contemporary literature, and a few yeais ago she made a trip through the South of France that not even the Government was aware of her incognito. Tho Emperor Nicholas, said of Francis Joseph, who astonished him by his gratitude that he was, "only a scabbard without a sword," at 18 years- of age the Emperor of Austria received, crying, his Grown, and has since never had a dry eye : his life has the stamp of fatality: no person in Europe is superior to him in aristocratic appearance. He has drunk the cup of bitterness to the dregs, politically and privately. He married for love, but after 15 years that passion evaporated, owing to his livison with a circus rider, and producing consequences that necessitated his Empress to go to Madeira to recruit her health, and left behind a nervous affection that compels her to find excitement in hunting. The Emperor himself has suffered from epileptic attacks, and the possibility of such ending fatally, is the chief reason for the early marriage of his son.

Mile, de Vailly, me dcs Pyramides, has been fighting her fellow tenant, who concluded she had, from extraordinary noises in her rooms, relations with the evil one :'■: a warrant was obtained to investigate, and the Commissionary of Police on entering, was met by a battalion of 50 cats, that commenced spitting at him, besides displaying arched backs and tails at angles of 45 degrees. Mile, declines to part with a single, one of her pets. " _ Cider sells in some parts of the city at four sous the*quarfc, and has none the less to pay three sous entrance dues, besides carriage from Normandy. Owing to the unusual display of ribbons of the Legion of Honor this year at watering places, the Government has the intention to demand many of the wearers to produce their parchments. The Crown Prince of Orange is here : he is the most timid prince in existence : his mother who had a dash of Mnae. Angofc in her veins, called him " closed doors."