come and bwing his fwend."

Another look at the lunatics, who are worse than ever. MOROK and the
party in yellow satin trowsers excel themselves. The Cherokees shake
their plumes and howl after a most horrid sort. The Pierrots redouble
their "chaff," and make up in clamour what they want in wit. The
Carnival is on its last legs, and does not spare them. It is still
alive, and kicking. A few hours hence, and those pious persons will be
repenting of their sins on cabbage and onions. Ah! as the lady with the
camellias says, _Quelle belle chose que la religion!_

When Sardis revolted against CYRUS, a wise captive gave the angry
monarch this advice: "Send men among them to teach them to fiddle and
dance and love pleasure, and they will never more give you any trouble."
I wonder if Paris would revolt now against CYRUS.

Supper at the _Maison Doree_. A little _consomme_ with poached eggs, a
_filet aux champignons_, and a salad with a bottle of Champagne.
PROTOCOL'S acquaintance, it appears, was the _blanchisseuse_ of the
Embassy, an exceedingly respectable person of fifty. The rising
diplomatist seemed rather sore on the subject of _Le Domino Noir_, which
became the principal topic of conversation in consequence. Of course,
the secret she told him must have been about his washing-bill.

The present opinion of the Sage is, that pleasure, and indeed things in
general, are vanity. _Bals masques_ are noisy, dusty, and dull. People
ought not to pay, but be paid, for going to them. Monastic institutions
have charms for a well-constituted mind. Literary pursuits are laborious
and not sufficiently remunerated. When Champagne is not good, it has
disagreeable effects on your health the next day. Bring me some _Cognac_
and _Eau de Seltz_. Oh dear, I wish had cut the supper.

[Illustration]

* * * * *

FRENCH TIES AND DYNAS-TIES.

The Grand Opera at Paris has just re-opened, after a perfect
"restoration" made by order of the EMPEROR, who is more favourable to a
"restoration" in affairs of the drama than in affairs of politics. The
theatre has been gorgeously re-decorated and overlaid with a profusion
of gold, which stands out in all the bold effrontery of gilt beneath the
blaze of a thousand gaslights. Even the members of the orchestra are
elaborately got up, and though not absolutely bound hand and foot at the
will of the EMPEROR, they are literally taken by the throat, for they
are compelled to ap