45 s PALAIS ROYAL. 



a perpetual fhiile. The gaudy and parti-coloured 

 ..effect being heightened by the decorations of fugar- 

 work and confectionary placed about them, which 

 likewife belong to the department of this artift ; the 

 whole forming a magazine of the molt fantaflical ihapes 

 and colours that can be conceived. 



.On the fame fide ftands the room of the chefs- 

 fociety (Societe dti Sallon des Echecs), which is known 

 over all France ; and frequently chefs-players come 

 hither from the moil diftant provinces to look for their 

 mailer, — -and often find him. The company is felecl:, 

 and no one can be admitted without the unanimous 

 confent of the members ; though ftrangers may be in- 

 troduced for once by any one of the fociety. 



Farther on is the room appropriated to the Olympic 

 fociety (Societe Olympique), which is at the fam* 

 time a fociety of free-mafonry. Their principal object 

 h the encouragement of mufic ; and perfons of high 

 rank, both men and women, frequently come hither 

 to difplay their talents as vocal or inHrumental per- 

 formers. The number of their members is unlimited ; 

 but they receive none who are not mafons and dif- 

 tinguifhed by rank, ftation, and elegant manners* 

 Strangers, who poffefs theft qualities, are welcome 

 here, if introduced by a member. In the fecond ftory 

 the fociety has a lodge very elegantly decorated. 



Proceeding on our courfe, we come to the apart- 

 ments of another fociety, which, by way of eminence, 

 is called the club ; the entertainments of which are 

 confined to converfation and parties of play. Admit- 

 tance is here to be had without the unanimous confent 

 of the members, and even without a chaperon. The 

 y company 



