Transcription
26 Villa Dupont
48 Rue Pergolese
The Whole dear family –
I have done so much over the last Saturday and Sunday to interest you all. It was Saturday night a party of us went to see the Rhein Gold. For so long I have read about the wonderful scenery of this particular opera, and you may imagine how thrilled and happy I was to be finally seeing it. The first scene was truly wonderful, a lovely peacock green-blue, light was thrown on the figures of the Rhein Maidens as they glided around among the sea-weed and rocks in the bottom of the river. I was so taken up with the beauty of the scenery It [sic] was all I could do to pay any attention to the music.
The underground scene was equally as fascinating too. Penny and Ginny would have enjoyed seeing the little dwarfs come trooping out with burdens of gold baskets and vases and jars. They were too darling and the scene was very wonderful with the smoke and steam rising from the glowing red cavern. I almost felt as though I were underground myself. I have the pleasure of seeing the last effective scene, however, still before me. For one of the girls was taken ill and we all had to leave before the last act. It was such fun to go into that beautiful opera house again. This is the first opera that I have gone out to since my stay here, and I assure you I keenly enjoyed it.
Well, Sunday we went to the Russian church. I thought of mother and Aunt Harriet as I listened to the beautiful music. I couldn’t remember whether Aunt Harriet had gone there or not when she was in Paris, but I remember that we endeavored in vain to make this little trip during our short stay before. It is indeed one of the most unique and interesting affairs staight [sic] that I ever witnessed. As we entered the gates, before we had even started to mount the steps of the church, the oder [sic] of burning incense reached us. As we opened the second inner door we beheld, straight down the middle isle, a priest in gold robs [sic} standing in front of a closed silver gate, behind which rose the voices of the choir. There were no chairs about the congregation stand or kneel throw [sic] the whole service. This custom in its self lends a very oriental feeling to the service, and then, of course, the entire service is sung. The choir is entirely invisable [sic] and these beautiful harmonies arise from behind the richly gilded choir screne [sic] or alter, many, yellow twinkling tapers adorn the alter, and a few can be seen glimmering behind the silver – gate. But the wonderful voices. I can hear them now chanting. No organ or instrument of any kind is used and the armony [sic] that they make is wonderful. A priest is behind the choir gate, as well as in front, and the two chant occasionally back and forth. And once or twice during the service the choir voices arise from a different places [sic]. It was very lovely, and very spiritual throughout. I can hardly wait now to go again.
This same Sunday after-noon, I went to a symphony concert. A little [sic] only twelve yrs. old played the piano, as soloist, with the orchestra as accompany [sic] She was darling. She appeared in a simple little white dress, with her hair in a braid down her back and tied with a white bow, and astonishing to say, she wore white shoes and socks. She played one thing from Liszt and one from Weber, with exquisite feeling and delicacy. I did enjoy it so much. On our way home we had a most delightful time. We stopped at one of the many little batisseries [sic] (all about Paris) and had tea. You know, over here, each person takes a spoon and plate and picks out the cakes they want from the various tempting ones filling the counters and windows, and when they have finished with their tea and cakes, tell the clerk how many you have eaten, pay for same and depart. I find the system extremely charming, but it is a wonder to me how it ensures. As we drank our tea we watched the man standing by the door sell his big baskets full of hot buns. It was great fun. The large trays or baskets of steamming [sic] hot buns were carried out to him and he was kept busy dealing them out: Some to people to carry home for tea, and many, many others to passers by who smelled the delicious odor, and stopped then and there, right on the street and ate them. Of course, it was dark and cold at this time of evening and it did look so funny to see the various types of people munching the steamming [sic] biscuits, as they stood on the corner. The whole scene was all so foreign and unusuall [sic], I just reveled in it. I am sure Penny and Ginny would have enjoyed it. The buns would especially have appealed to Virginia.
Yesterday, Monday, I had an unusually lovely ride. It had rained just before we started out, and there a warm moisture in the gust of wind that scurried about, which gave the day an unusual touch. The Bois was almost deserted, which gave another fascination to wondering [sic] through the long arched paths, and past the little lakes, and over the wet gray vacant avenues. The sky was such a restful, gray-blue, and the grass and moss on the trees was so green after the recent shower, and the tall bare poplar trees, were blown in such a fanciful way, by the gusts of wind, that every minute of the ride was most delightful. When I returned instead of writing my home letter as I intended, I did some good practicing. But that didn’t matter for the mail doesn’t go until to day anyway.
And last night we had a talk about our vacation trip, which made it seem very real indeed. It was chiefly about the things of interest to buy in that country. Miss Learner said each of us should write home and prepare in the way of having money, if we intended to get anything down there, and as this is my last sure chance of writing you and receiving a reply before going, I am following out here [sic] instructions.
Chiefly and foremost they have lovely broad – cloth caps [sic], braided about the hoods and down the front, in various light colors, yellow, pink, blue, green (and in dark colors too) which are fine for evening were [sic], or for auto capes, in the darker colors. They are the same kind of garments the Arabs wear themselves, and range from $17 – to - $19. As I didn’t get any evening garments before I left America, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this would be the very thing I would like to get. Of course they are not lined with silk as the liberty capes are, but I think it would be interesting to have one from this country. The liberty capes cost $40 and more too. That is the long ones. The short ones are $15 to $20 dollars. Some of the rest of the family might like to have me get one for them too. For instance, Helen. Perhaps she would like one either for evening or for auto riding or anything use when she would like an extra dark rape [sic] to put over a suit. They have also short silk caps [sic] with hoods, such as you would use more as a scarf, or for a very light rape [sic]. They cost from $6 – to $7. Then there are little straight garments of white silk & so forth, that the Arabs war under the long capes, which the girls buy sometimes to use for kimonos. Then there are all kinds of scarfs and brasses and probably lots of other things that are interesting. I would very much prefer to have you send me money for Xmas, so I will have some money to buy some of the above mentioned things with. As I need a party cape of some sort, I may want to get the kind they have down there. At any rate I ought to be prepared for it. Then I will want to get some things, doubtless, for the family too.
I will close for this time.
With a great deal of love to you all, Irene.
Nov. 30, 09.Transcriber
Barb WelchLanguage
English
