I’m constantly surprised at how uncharitable people in the Parisian aristocratic social scene were. It’s as though being rude is a sport of its own! Here, the Count Apponyi keeps a diary entry about a disastrous dinner at the Thorns.
Mr. Thorn, the famous American, gave us a dinner for fifty people, boring at first and detestable on top of that. After this unfortunate dinner, there was to be an amateur concert; but these amateurs thought it best not to come because they did not want to sing in front of so many people.
Madame de Gabriac claimed that she had a terrible cold and, to prove it to us, she tried to cough a little, especially when entering the drawing room and then when she was asked to sing.
The Duchesse de La Trémoïlle, not wanting to fall out with the Thorn family, decided to go to bed. Fortunately, she was tired from a ball the night before, otherwise she would have found this method very hard.
Madame de Nieuwerkerke alleged that she was obliged to look after a poor old aunt who was very ill and to spend the whole night there.
The Marquise de Caraman said nothing, but did not come. The whole Thom family was furious, and poor fat Mrs. Jonsay (Jauncey) especially, because she was the biggest victim, having to sing with some nasty bawlers, Messrs. de La Bouillerie and a tall, pale blond hick whom I didn’t know and who looked to me like a retired singing master. At midnight and even before, everyone made for the door as if the hotel were on fire. It was because James de Rothschild, who was giving a party, had promised us a surprise for midnight.
Journal of Count Rodolphe Apponyi, attaché of the Austrian-Hungarian embassy in Paris: twenty-five years in Paris (1826-1850). Vol. 3, 1839-1843 / published by Ernest Daudet
The Colonel and Mrs Thorn 
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