er
of them. The government had put Dr. Evans's beautiful and perfect
villa in the Bois at his disposition. The persons belonging to the
house say that it is swimming in dirt, and they never expect to get it
clean again. The suite appear to have no other amusements than driving
about the streets from morning to night. The Elysees must have a
hundred carriages in use for them. Last evening there was a gala
performance at the Grand Opera for the _blase_ Shah. They gave
"Copelia," with the lovely Mauri as _prima ballerina_. The audience
made no demonstration, although it ought to have shown a certain
amount of Te Deumness, on account of the Shah's escape from an attempt
on his life. He was miraculously saved, and will go on living his
emotionless life for ever and ever. May Allah protect him ... from us!

Speaking of Orientals, the Chinese Minister has taken a very large
apartment in the Avenue Hoche. Evidently they expect to entertain on a
large scale. The wife is called lady, but _he_ is not called lord; the
two pretty daughters look more European than Chinese, having
pink-and-white complexions.

His Excellency was frightened out of his wits when M. Loubet, desiring
a private interview, sent for him. He, not knowing European ways,
thought his last hours had come, and, expecting speedy extermination,
hid himself.

Milady, though half American, did not know exactly what Ascension day
meant and asked her Chinese servant. He replied, "Great Churchman gone
topside to-day."

Mr. Peck is the American commissioner to the Exposition, and Mr.
Thomas Walsh is one of the members of the commission. He gave a
colossal dinner at the restaurant at d'Armenonville, and begged Mr.
Martin, who knows every one in Paris, to select the guests. It was
only on the evening of the dinner he made the acquaintance of the one
hundred people to whom he was host.

Nordica sang after dinner, and sang charmingly, as is her wont.

Mr. Walsh invited us to the American section. We sat on the tarred
roof of a restaurant, where lunch was served _a l'Americaine_. My
heart gladdened at the thought of hot griddle-cakes and corn fritters;
but although everything was delicious, sitting on a tarred roof and
being served by a loquacious black tyro was not appreciated by the
foreign element.

A lady--I won't tell you her name, though you know it--showed the
greatest interest in the house Mr. Walsh is building in Washington,
and desired greatly to advise him