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17 May 1891 — Paris | |
Sunday. 17th May [1891]. Blanche was not very well & did not get up till lunch. I went to church at the Rue d’Aguesseau with Edward– It was showery all day. Walked at 5 to the Embassy with Edward at 5 to see Lady Lytton– He left me there—but as it came on to pour with rain he returned at once & Mr Austin Lee brought him up to tea– Blanche did not go out at all. Henry & I & Dacre and Louis & Edward went to dine at La Tour d’Argent in the Quai de la Tournelle kept by a man called Frederic—lately established there & renowned for the cuisine. To our surprise we found there Lord Powerscourt & Mr Henry Doyle. We had an excellent dinner & a dish called Daneton à la Presse—which was done before our eyes– After the slices were cut off the carcass was put into a press & all the essence squeezed out. Then the duck was cooked in the juice over a spirit lamp at the side table & was excellent. It was a pity Blanche was not able to join us– She had caught cold at the Hippodrome last night. We did not much care for “Neron” it was a great “spectacle.” The curious thing was that when the Christian prisoners were supposed to be going to be thrown to the lions a huge cage which embraced the whole arena was raised by hydraulics from the ground in a few seconds. The prisoners were led in & thrown down a hole to the lions! After which 6 or 7 lions came up from the hole & 3 keepers came in in tights & armed with whips & large heavy steel tridents. The lions were made to run round the side of the grille by the men cracking their whips. The biggest lion seemed disposed to resist & attack the man who looked anxious. The lion stood still opened his jaws & growled but another crack of the whip decided him to postpone the attack & he ran out as he was bid. One felt a sense of relief when it was over—especially as this lion had already once attacked the man who limped still—& this performance has only been going on abt 3 days. The costumes were effective & I suppose some 2000 people must have been in the Arena at once during the processions &c. | |
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