The Duchesse d’Alencon and the wife and daughters of the Danish Consul-General were among the victims.  The dead were all taken to the Palais de l’Industrie and laid out in rows.  Through the whole night people searched with lanterns among the dead for their loved ones.  It was remarked that, though there were many men’s canes and hats, there was not one man found among the burned.  Not one man in all Paris acknowledged that he had been to the Bazar.

Within an incredibly short time subscriptions amounting to over a million francs were collected.  From America came many messages of sympathy and a great deal of money.  But no one could be found except the cook and the stable-boy who had done anything to merit a reward.  After giving them large sums the rest of the money went to form a fund for the building of a chapel in commemoration of the disaster.

PARIS, 1897.

Dear L.,—­Social life here is very confusing and fatiguing; physically, because distances are so immense.  People live everywhere, from the Ile St.-Louis to the gates of St.-Cloud.  Hardly a part of Paris where some one you know does not live.  The very act of leaving a few cards takes a whole afternoon.

In reality there are three societies which make life for a diplomat, whose duty it is to be well with every one, very complicated and unending.  The official season for dinners, receptions, and soirees is in the winter; French society, just returned from the Riviera and Italy, has its real season in spring, when Longchamps and Auteuil have races and Puteaux has its sports.  The autumn is the time when strangers flock to Paris; then commence the restaurant and theater parties.  How can any lady have a reception-day where people of all countries, all politics, and all societies meet?  Impossible!  I have tried it, and I am sorry to say that my receptions are dead failures.  Still, I persevere, as I am told it is my duty to receive.

When our first invitation to the ball of the Elysees came I was most anxious to see what it would be like.  Is it not strange that the cards of invitation are the same used in the Empire. “La Presidence de la Republique Francaise” stands instead of “La Maison de l’Empereur.”  I have the two before me, the old and the new, and they are exactly alike, color, paper, and engraving!

The Diplomatic Corps has a separate entrance at the Elysees.  We were met and conducted by a master of ceremonies to the room where the President and Madame Faure were standing.  M. Faure is called un President decoratif.  He is tall, handsome, and has what you might call princely manners.  The privileged ones passed before them and shook hands, quite a l’Americaine.  I was named by M, Crozier and got from M. Faure an extra squeeze by way of emphasizing that I was a new-comer.