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Show [From Our Regular Correspondent.] It is not the privilege of everybody to study, intimately, artist life in France. It happens, however, to be out lot to assist at the reunions of these people, who form a race entirely distinct from the rest of creation, and who are only to be found in Paris; it was at one of these meetings lately that we had awakened all our old recollections of evenings passed in the years gone by, in the "quarter," with the students of those days now sober, serious, professional men. We used the word artist above in its liberal sense, for with the exception of our host, an artist of music, and one other, the guests were composed of two lawyers, one sculptor, one musician and the sculptor's wife. The apartments of our host were, in themselves, a study, a pell mell of luxury and disorder, only to be found in a French artist's house. A room about 30 feet square and more than that height, serving as salon, studio, reception and dining room, is furnished as a Chinese pavilion, adorned with lanterns and lamps, and lustres after the fashion of the Celestials. To describe the heterogeneous mass of articles strewn about on the tables, the floor and on the walls between the half finished picture would be almost impossible. Dumb-bells, fencing foils, skulls, Chinese and Hindoo masks, ancient jugs and plates, old prints, books and sketches on one table surrounding a portrait of the immortal "Sarah," these and innumerable other knick-knacks are arranged, or rather not arranged, in an artistic disorder that must be seen to be appreciated. The room is screened off at one end by a curtain which hides a staircase leading to a balcony that would be the beau ideal of a resting place for a fair Juliet to listen to the amorous strains of a Romeo below. In this balcony is the bedroom which is in the same artistically untidy state as the below. The guests too, were in the keeping with the apartment, and seemed as if the very atmosphere of the place exercised a spell upon them, for a grave lawyer on entering the sanctum, seemed to leave his gravity on the threshold with his hat and coat, and becomes once again a "mad student." The wit that passed would have made a fortune of a satirized Royal comedy for the host, who is one of the real "blagueurs" of Paris, was ably seconded were in his efforts by the guests. Jokes were passing the whole evening and the manner in which the sculptor, who had been asked to elect a queen for a charade, hesitated a few minutes, and then, as if recovering from the "embarrass de richesse" in the shape of the candidates for the vacant throne, knelt before the only lady present, with a "avez maître redie," worthy of Got or Coquelin, was a treat in itself. A financial disaster, such as befell the Bourses of Paris and Lyons six weeks ago leaves marks which are not easily eradicated. Numbers of quiet country houses have been plunged into gloom; a whole class has suffered a terrible blow, and this class is one without much inherent vigor to draw upon. The dissipation of capital from the collapse of the Union Generale is great and can easily be seen. Undertakings have been commenced which are not continued, and all the money expended on starting them is gone irrevocably. In French financial operations the worst feature is that establishments are founded or enlarged on a scale entirely beyond the power of their promoters, and thus business is wrenched from its natural direction into other grooves which suddenly come to an abrupt end and then comes the crash. But perhaps, the most wonderful thing in connection with the unfortunate crisis is here is the evidence it has shown of the marvelous elasticity of French resources. It even seems probable that from the ashes of the unfortunate company a new phoenix will arise which may redeem the calamities of its predecessor. The Salvation Army has invaded France and has entered the capitol. This is serious news indeed. When some two years ago the Salvation Army was organized in England, great results were prophesized concerning it. It would reform drunkards, thieves, rogues, and all such. From a perusal of the police intelligence in the English papers it would not seem that many of these results have been realized. On the contrary, the Salvation Army has contributed its quota to the charges at the police courts. By admitting, which is bragging the question that the Salvation Army has done good in England, it is questionable that it can do any good in France. Indeed, it seems probable that it will injure the cause it seeks to promote. August. Paris, France, March 27th, 1882. |