GOSSIP FROM AND ABOUT FRA_NCE.
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) That occupy mankind below," and which Cowper's jackdaw contemplated "secure and at ease" from his speculative height, have reached their climax on the banks of the Seine. Mid-Lent had come and gone ; the Easter season was near ; the paradise of lions and lion-apes was opening its gates, and there was no cherub with flaming sword threatening to keep out the unworthy and sinning. On the contrary, none but alluring and enticing creatures walked before the brilliant portal.
The early spring had dispelled the dark clouds that hung gloomily over the political sky, and the Bourse looked serenely on, seeing all matters en couleur de rose. Poland was dying quick—Italy fast asleep; the Greeks had found a King, the Americans missed a battle ; Langiewicz was a prisoner, Garibaldi sick; the Italian loan was at a premium, and the Bank had lowered its discount ; M. Havin had renounced competing with M. Picard ; the Moniteur announced that Cocong was taken, wherever that maybe; and the statue at the top of the Vendome Column was to be replaced by the true effigy of an Emperor bearing the Crown and the Roman mantle. The funds rose steadily, and there was rejoicing among the tribe of Israel.
When lo ! there suddenly arose an ominous report that the great Fould had offered his resignation, and the whole château de cartes of financial prosperity tumbled to pieces. So terrible and ill-boding was the flutter among those faithful props of the second empire, the stockjobbers, that the special commissaire de police attached to the palace of speculation is said to have asked in high quarters, even at the Tuileries, whether the rumour ought to be contradicted. In true Napoleonic fashion, he was left without an answer, and, in consequence, the depression of spirits and funds continued sorrowfully.
We say in France that there is never a smoke without a fire, and the proverb proved true in this case. M. Fould has actually resigned, but his resignation has not been, and will not be, s,ccepted, at least not, we suppose, before the end of the session. The Journal des Debuts and the Fable contained an official communiqui, which is said to have been written by M. Magne, the former Minister of Finances, with the co-operation of M. Walewski and the assent of Napoleon. It appeared in the papers without having passed under the eyes of M. Fould, who learned its existence by reading it in print. Since the communicated paragraph takes rather the side of M. Magne against his successor, the whole proceeding was somewhat blunt and offensive, and M. Fould ruffled his feathers. He felt already wounded by his master's unpleasant strictures on the speech which he made in the Senate, and sees looming in the distance the dire necessity of a loan, and so he took advantage of the affront, and begged to be released from the cares of office.
Of course, political gossips immediately indulged in a hundred idle speculations, and a thorough alteration of the Cabinet was pre- dicted before sunset. But no ministerial change will take place for the present. M. Fould cannot be dispensed with on account of the sympathies of the Bourse ; and the hostile clique, headed by MM. Walewski and Magne, are beaten. The financier had an interview with Napoleon, which lasted above an hour, and in con- sequence the Moniteur contains a notice that M. Magne's resigna- tion as Minister without portfolio is accepted, together with an Imperial letter, which says :—" My dear M. Magne, an incident, the responsibility of which can by no means be imputed to you, has just set in a stronger light the differences existing between you and M. Fould on the financial question." If the communiqué were not written, or, at least, "disposed," by M. Magne, why is he sacrificed? We do not lay great stress on the eau b1nite de cour, and the appointment of the resigner to the Privy Council, by which the master tries to soften the bitterness of defeat. At all events, the Bourse recovers confidence, and the Jews are again the things of the age, as Alphonse Toussenel would say.
Let us praise the Government which cares so wisely for our welfare and our tranquillity. By a singular chance, even at the French Academy, where generally the" old parties" are wont to utter disagreeable hints, and indulge in bitter regrets of parlia- mentary liberty, the Imperial censer has been dexterously swung by M. Octave Feuillet, one of the four Bonapartists in the body composed of forty immortals. He spoke somewhat unwarrant- ably of the respect, the gratitude, and the hope which the "grand reign" (not of Louis XIV., mind, but of Louis Napoleon) inspired in his predecessor, the lamented Scribe, and then added, "these
feelings were strengthened in his French soul, when he hailed on the throne that sovereign gracefulness, united to a sovereign charity, which seems to have been chosen and crowned by the free suffrage of a great and chivalrous nation." If the compliment was not exquisitely delicate, it was, at all events, clear and direct, and it was acknowledged as such by the "graceful and charitable" Eugenie, who happened to be present, with the Princesses Mathilde and Clotikle. The " august " ladies had to be received by MM. Vitet, Villemain, and Legouve, three decided adversaries of the present Government. But, alas ! there was another and still greater misfortune lurking in the dark. The staircase of the Institut was built before the days of hoops and crinoline, and the Empress, together with her trailing dress, could only be mounted with the strong help of two ushers. I wonder whether the enthusiastic chronicler who describes the festivities at the Tuileries, and pretended of late that every one recognized the stately Eugenie, even when covered by an impenetrable domino, could have, on the present occasion, again indulged in the hack- neyed quotation: "Incessu patuit dea ? '
Well, it is a comfort to think that my friend Alphonse Esquires felt entitled likewise to apply Virgil's Junonian description to your English barmaids, who are said to make such sad havoc among unfledged undergraduates and hirsute commercial travellers. Except that laudatory tirade, M. Feuillet's panegyric of poor Scribe was rather tame and uninteresting ; and M. Vitet, who answered him, mildly criticized both the new member and his predecessor. Alluding to the days of Louis Philippe, the Academical director observed, "then, on the stage, conquered parties were glorified ; you have said truly, Sir, that it was the golden age." This was a sidelong hit against M. Augier, another confri.,re, who is taxed with insulting the conquered parties in his clever comedy, Le File de Giboyer, though he could justly answer that the clericals are by no means vanquished.
To return to Al. Scribe ; his name reminds me that poor old Ferville is going to leave the stage. He earned his first laurels as the amorous lieutenant in Scribe's plays, in which, as is well known, the military invariably perform the chief characters. After a few years, he was appointed premier role or hero in the part of the high-minded colonel with whom all 3 oung widows fall in love. Somewhat later, he rose to the rank of the heavy father, the grumbling general of the Imperial epoch. And at last, sic transit gloria munch! he occasionally walked over the stage in the blue garb of the old pensioner. Ilia person is so intimately associated with the Theatre Madame, now Gymnase Dramatique, that the parts which he played, or "created," as the phrase goes, came to be indicated by his name, aud provincial actors were announced in the prospectus as jouant les Ferville.
The withdrawal of this clever comedian is the more to be re- gretted, as he was not indebted for his success to the vigorous lungs and sonorous palms of the claqueurs or paid applauders. The claque has become a public—we might even say an official—insti- tution in France. They prepare triumphal receptions in the streets, as well as in the theatre, and are in attendance on the Emperor as often as in the service of an actress. The claqueurs are a nondescript class, but their art has progressed with the times, and successes are now "prepared," as the phrase goes, both on the political and the comic stage, with unwonted delicacy and astounding nicety. I remember a circumstance which happened some time ago, and may be taken as the superlative of the kind.
One day, in a trial for petty larceny before the Tribunal Correctionnel of Paris, a handsome younglady, smartly and stylishly dressed, was called upon to appear as a witness. The presiding judge asked for her name, and then put the usual question concerning her profession. "I faint," answered Madame, in her weakest though most silvery tone. The gallant votary of Themis told an officer of the court to bring her a chair, and allowed her sufficient time for recovering. Then, "be not afraid, Madam," said he, "and please to tell me, before you are sworn, what is your profession ? '—"1 faint," again bashfully whispered the pretty witness in a scarcely audible voice. This time, the Vice- President sent for a glass of water ; the interesting dame sipped it slowly ; then, bowing gracefully to the judge, she looked at him, seemingly waiting for further questions. And, again she was required to state her profession. Wondering and thoroughly amazed, she replied, "But, Monsieur le President, I had already twice the honour to tell you that my profession is to faint."—" To faint !" exclaimed the bench? with one voice ; "can that ever be a profession."—Madame answered in the affirmative, and explained that she earned a livelihood, and not a despicable one either, by sitting every evening, in a moat fashionable dress, in a prominent
balcony stall at the Theatre de la Porte Saint Martin, and appropri- ately fainting away, out of sheer emotion, at the tragical moment pointed out beforehand by the author of the play. She added that her services were highly valuable, and that the manager had never had to complain of the impressive manner in which she, for one, performed her part. Unhappily, by thus publicly exposing the pot aux roses, her occupation was gone ; but we trust that the Imperial Court have offered her a wider and more dignified scope for the display of her useful talent. And the second empire rewards every kind of talent, as is shown by the Duke de Gramont-Caderousse, whose name seems destined to everlasting fame. It resounds everywhere—in the law courts, where he plays the prominent part in the Calzado scandal as wit- ness, husher-up, and adviser of lively Madame Barucci ; in the newspapers, which announce that he will be at the next elections a Government candidate at Orange, near gentle Vaucluse, hallowed by the tender genius of Petrarch ; and, finally, as a capital sports- man among the echoes of Compiegne. Let all the world hear that Gramout-Caderousse has received the button, a distinction ex- clusively bestowed on a few first-rate hunters of great skill, who are allowed to ride behind Napoleon in the Imperial chase. Among the buttoned heroes we find Marshal Magna'', Prince de In Moskowa, Count or Due de Morny, Fleury (of Kinglake notoriety), and a few others ejusdem farina, and now Duke de Gramont-Caderousse, who will besides be a deputy !
And why not ? Like misfortune, gambling, hunting, and, above all, Imperialism, make people acquainted with strange bedfellows. The wise De Thou relates in his interesting memoirs that, having been asked by Schomberg why he did not stay longer with the Duc de Guise, he frankly confessed that he left him because he saw him surrounded by ruined men and blemished characters. Schomberg reported the conversation to Guise, who replied, "It is easy for him to speak. What can I do? I never succeeded in winning the friendship of honest persons ; I want friends, and I take what I am able to find." A bon entendeur saint!
A GAUL
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