L'Illustration, No. 2503, 14 février 1891

A vivid, tongue‑in‑cheek portrait of Paris at the turn of the 1890s unfolds through the eyes of a wry observer who watches a grand “Bœuf gras” parade slip from public celebration to silent slaughter. The narrator drifts from the absurdity of a ceremonial ox, tethered and displayed like a prize, to reflections on the carnival’s lost sparkle, weaving in snappy critiques of contemporary politics, theatrical fashions and the clashing cultural currents of Wagner versus Meyerbeer.

Interlaced with vivid street scenes—costumed bouchers, flamboyant banners, and the exotic amazons of the Jardin d’Acclimatation—the piece captures a city buzzing with spectacle yet haunted by its own contradictions. Listeners will be drawn into a lively, slightly sarcastic commentary that mirrors the restless energy of a Parisian summer, offering both humor and a thoughtful glimpse into the social textures that defined the era.