a always communicative-ces dames ci, flare of the lamps, the patriarchal man, and never veracious). Presently a smiling now on her and now on him, young gentleman comes out of a side acquits himself of the said song with door, at which he surprises sua inno- prodigious success! But the object cenza listening! Suzette and he are of his visit is yet a mystery: he comes thus found (we suspect, not for the then, it appears, to propose to Suzette, first time, though so they instruct the not M. Edouard, of whose energetic pit) publicly. Presently she falls to and summary way of making love he talking again about her innocence, cannot be supposed to know any thing, when « le cher Monsieur Edouard” but a certain brave militaire, with a insinuates a liberal proposal to take wooden leg, who had been wounded the incumbrance off her hands at her in Spain, in his son's defence, and has own price-an offer which she very loved said mademoiselle, in secret, for decidedly declines in a song, partly two years odd! On this communicaaddressed to the polisson in question, tion, Suzette, a reasonable young woand partly to the pit-which, or man, first cries a little, but on reflecwhom, it now seems our Suzette in- tion consents, and the pit cries bravo! tends to make her confidant through. On fait les noces—and the evening of out. But the young Moustache is a the marriage ceremony arrives. Act soldier; the song has no other effect 3d, Suzette comes alone, and is making than that of causing him to attempt up her mind to try to love her new hus. familiarities, which compel her once band on French philosophical princimore to remind him of her virtue. ples, and has nearly succeeded, when More empressement on the part of M. who should tap at her window (which Edouard, who appears quite incorri. she opens) at this hour, but that ingible_his arm is round her waist-a corrigible Edouard ? Neither gods stage resistance follows selon les nor knockers should be invoked for regles ; in vain she invites him to be nothing, and certainly the dignus vinreasonable ; he upturns his head, and dice nodus does appear to be arrived. swears by the gods (in the gallery) Our old friend of hinged brass, “good that But hark—at this new, at need," is a second time in exercise, touching, and unexpected proof of his and our gallant lies perdu, while devotion, the lady breathing at the admission is given to a female cousin, rate of forty inspirations per minute, who comes (at this unseasonable hour, and putting, we must think, to rather when every body is going to bed), to an unfair trial the laces of her corsets congratulate her on her mariage de elastiques-(you know, reader, that a raison ; she finds occasion, in the brass knocker on the stage is often course of the conversation, to relate appealed to in the straits and difficul- many things to the advantage of the ties of female virtue)—a stormy dis- accepted spouse, and not a few of an charge of double knocks is directed to opposite kind, for the edification of one of the side doors, before the auda- M. Edouard, who, becoming assured, cious youth has had time to under- from behind the screen, of his own stand his advantage,-knock, knock, pretty character, takes the earliest ock, nock, knock! The where- opportunity to bolt. And now, non abouts to hide has been vainly sought, thing hindering the mariage de raias in those cases, passim, between the son being consummated, a nuptial impracticable cupboard, shallow fire- dialogue takes place in public, coram screen, and a table that would not populo, in which the husband manages conceal a cat.-Come, come, sir, you his proæmial part so well, that Suzette must really let the old gentleman (it is fairly birdlimed into a new affection, is his father) in, in common decency.— and, coming forward, assures the au(Scene shifts.) The brown Suit enters dience, as the curtain modestly falls on accordingly, and a jolly old fellow he his marital privileges, that she has deis,—and wherefore comes he? Not termined to live henceforth the blameto scold, or to talk big-wig morality, less spouse of her “ brave Henri ;” and as you suppose, to the young people, the pit as instantly determining that, but merely, it seems to sing to such being the case, she shall receive them and the audience ! To do its most unanimous support, white which more majorum, he tucks an kid gloves are shaken in the boxes, arm respectively of Suzette and the and coloured cotton streamers wave gallant under his own, and leading from the gallery !—They call these them in front of the stage, full in the things Vaudevilles ! a а CHAMPS ELYSEES-ON A FETE. a a It is a crowd of people amongst the vels which are related by the man of trees, some of whom, at the rate of that wonderful wheel!-of wasting five centimes per shock, per person, muscles restored to strength and size; are about to take a dose of electricity of sightless eyeballs filled with instanin public, whilst others, detected by taneous light; of ears that never heard the keen-eyed owner of the apparatus before becoming avenues of sound; contriving to filch a little of it on the of palsy, touched by that life.giva sly, are informed that his wheel does ing spark, starting up to run after an not brew electricity without materials. omnibus ! Such are his themes, and Walking round his ring of bystanders they are, of course, backed by a suitwith electric cord in hand, he offers able display of electric power, well it liberally, to all and sundry, for a calculated to make the hair stand on farthing a shock, while many a brave end, and extort for the peripatetic exmoustache, not afraid of gunpowder, hibitor as many sous as there be fools turns away his head from the un. or philosophers to hear. known agent, not exactly feeling the Near this monopolizer of so much of courage to accept, till some curiosité the public money, but out of his danfrom the country steps forward, and gerous atmosphere, roulette tables ratasks boldly for a whole sous worth tle away to the wooden ball, or small of the product of the wheel-him the metal discs ring upon a copper floor, “physicien” salutes with courteous over which knives, candlesticks, and bow, and, presenting the magic string, cork-screws hang as prizes for the nods to his attendant. When a suffi. successful discobolus. * Plaster cats, cient accumulation to stun an ox has stuck upon skewers, fall victims to been produced, “ touch,” says the man ambitious archery-a yielding cushion in black to his hob-nailed customer, measures the strength of your foreand "go" says Electricity, as she arm—the Gondole, confronted by a flings him back in terror amidst the mirror, clicks your weight, and shows admiring crowd! He is now offered, you how you look, for the same penny. with becoming gravity, another charge Here is the facile princeps of puppetwithout further expense; but, thinking shows, in which, pull but the string, the amusement rather overcharged, he you may say your prayers in St Peter's, slinks away, with aching shoulders, to or fight at Eylau or at Wagram. But pastimes better suited to his physical make way for a troop of young scheand intellectual capacities. A hundred nobatists ; and don't mind that stentorsuch shall not be missed from that gay voiced tooth-extractor who wishes you arena, where tinfoil and gold leaf, for a customer. To refuse the syrens and brass-knobbed phials of different who sell the bad gingerbread called dimensions, the enchanted house, the “plaisir" is no great act of virtue or dancing paper, the horse-shoe mag. frugality, but the indefatigable chairDet, the pith balls (now rubbing letters are not to be resisted. The shoulders, now standing aloof, from tinkling limonadier's bell may be a each other, like dear friends in diffi. cheerful sound to the thirsty ; but dare culties), and many other marvels, we here affirm αρισιον μεν ύδωρ, or trust afford their thousand attractions! But that his lemons ever had a peel upon when the physicien,” emboldened by them? The turbaned venders of the an increasing auditory, flocking from date of Egypt or the fig of Smyrna, all sides, begins to tell of the medical want not their customers; but for those virtues of the agent to which he is whose whole commerce is the smoul. Agent, then, not Punch himself, in any dering pastille of many a detestable act of his brief and eventful career- aroma, one is at a loss to conceive how not even when it comes to his “ last they get on ;-in short, go where you squeak," when the battered head of the will, it is the same scene ; every body hero leaning over the stage of his agon- looking merry but one's self, and that istic exploits against the “ Adversary," affrighted cur that yelps at his advenexhibits all the symptoms of incurable turous master carried round and round concussion_not even then can he com- on ship or wooden nag. But who can pete for public attention with the mar- put down a tithe of the provisions made by a bountiful government to seen within) from a yelling horde of You start on this journey from year, for an amalgam of tallow and the Porte St Denys, the arch of blacking, than it has cost him for balf • Gladness and of Sadness," as king his life in soap. See how complacently loving chroniclers have styled it, he looks on the shining surface now through which all the early monarchs in progress, and with what satisfaction made at least two journeys. By this he pays the coin which requites the portal they entered Paris en rois; indispensable, and the only indispenthrough the same, their funeral cor- sable item of his toilet. Here, too, tége proceeded to the church of the you are annoyed by the street meracephalous saint, in the cold vaults of chandise of little sluts of thirteen, which they are deposited. To count, who look you audaciously in the face, on a fête day, the arrivals and depar- and try hard to seduce you with viotures, during only a few minutes, from let and rosebud nosegays, and of the Porte St Denys, were as impossi- course generally succeed. ble a task as that imposed on Cinder- Among signs and ensigns on the ella by her ball-going sisters ! houses which surround this ομφαλος γης, Around this spot is generally col- who can fail to be attracted by yonder lected, as now, a large stationary vast portrait of a green Lady, in whose crowd, of what the journalists and arms a winged messenger is depositplay-wrights call canaille, when the ing a young nursling, on whom the · law and the soldiery have the upper painter contrives to make her look hand; but when blood and rapine with such affectionate interest, that have secured to this canaille more re- you almost wish you were its ! spectful consideration, they obtain the But do not suppose the sage femme, endearing name of enfuns du peuple. whose tenderness this production unHere you see fellow's waiting for a equivocally attests, has it all her own job with gold earrings and a doubt- way; for opposite, a younger rival, ful physiognomy; here halts the bas. equally captivating, unbonneted, and ket-burthened countryman to breathe in pink, stands over two eggs, on a under the shadow of the huge archi- richly painted carpet, out of which tecture ; against its walls lounges the eggs two oviparous babes are making dissatisfied labourer, with hands in a their way, at a huge destruction of shell dangerous state of inactivity; here –in the background a languid female, congregate the knights of industry to half hid under the quilt. Between speculate on the probabilities of un- these rival midwives you may read, tried pockets, which they do with an and doubt for a moment if you underinstinct that rarely misleads. Here stand, an intimation that dolls' eyes the shoe. black offers an assistance are manufactured within, and that which is rarely declined in a city where children's playthings may be mended clean shoes are “ de rigueur,” and the on the lowest terms. frequent polish still embellishes the In this quarter, too, you can scarcedeförmed or cracked leather of the ly move your own length without superannuated boot, whose wearer, being confronted by a smartly-dressed perhaps, never exhibited a shirt front, man, placed conveniently to intercept but who pays upgrudgingly more, in a the crowd that passes betwixt him and papa his shop window; he would fain clothe urban station : on we go, and on we you in equally becoming raiment with go-the street getting shabbier at his own; do but glance towards his every step through the long long fauxwindow as you pass, and swifter than bourg (all fauxbourgs are long, all spider darts along his line on an im- fauxbourgs are bad, and this the longplicated fly, he is at your side ! est and the worst), the shop.windows * Voyez, Monsieur !” « Entrez, Mon. exhibit less and less costly merchan. sieur !” Or, are you hungry and not dize; the plate-glass windows of the naked ? Behold the pastry booth, with smart shawl-shops disappear; the plates of cold Yorkshire pudding, frescoed ceiling and the gilt cornico rancid “babas," and gingerbread of the coffee-house are no more. The piqué with almonds, and all that can bon-bons shops, which in Paris more be made of equivocal butter, mildewed than rival the very jewellers in display, four, and brown sugar. Here, too, have no business here—orange, and are stay and corset-makers, who pique pink, and sapphire-coloured sugaryour curiosity or challenge your ana- plums are for other regions. We betomical knowledge, in the display of hold no longer the pyramid of carataille of the most captivating dimen- mel, the pralined petals of the orange, sions, and indiscreetly show the very the violet, or the rose, the chrysolito public how such things may be brought that melts in your mouth, or the pretty about by padding, and wadding, and girls who serve you. Sages femmes cushions, and steel springs. there still are and must be, but not like But enough! The Boulevard St our Boulevard ones; the very signs are Denys, as every one knows, is a com- all in this quarter by inferior artists, pendium of Paris itself, and the St and in place of the chemist's shop Denys coach, by which we mean to with all its glories, dried plants and go, is ready to start, and warns us to tureens full of leeches indicate the mount in a hurry, lest we lose the humbler herboriste, quickly-occupied place to every sub THE BARRIERE AND THE FAUX BOURG. “ Substitit ad Veteres Arcus madidamque Capenam."-JUVENAL We are at the Barrière, and some got up on short notice (noces et fes. day we will stop for five minutes to tins). Here a swan with a cross belook at the proceedings of the officers tween his neck and foot is at once the of the Octroi, whose business it is, in signe and cygne de la croix, and by the behalf of the good Ville de Paris, to singularity of the device arrests the exact the municipal tax, so named, on customer. There the “three barbels,” all alimentary substances; and who true to their ensign, exbibit the dish accordingly, run their long steel spits of ready-fried flounder or gudgeon. through unknown packages, and an- Further on, the over-tempted Saint, nounced as dry goods-a skin of wine amidst naked syrens and ruby wineor spirits would stand a bad chance cups, seems by his gesture not so with this practical commentary on the much intended to indicate the necesImpulerat ferro Argolicas födare late- sity of self-control, as the pleasure of bras. The buzzing hornets of this yielding to the temptation of the Burtroublesome excise left to their occu- gundy, &c., within-Burgundy beyond pations, we find before us a long am- the barrier and the Octroi? Peep phibious kind of street, of which through those dirty panes and you every second house is destined for shall see a voiturier's larder,--sheeps' cheap repast and economical wine- trotters, crapaudine pigeons, stale bibbing, where countless sign-boards cold meat, faded sallad, basins filled attest how surely the ruling inclina- with stewed pears and plums, or the tion of the many is to reconcile gas- rolled cylinder of raw beef waiting tronomy with the frugal administra- orders, or the half of a yellow goose, tion of finance ; one tells us of its hun- such as one hopes Cyrus did not dred couverts, and its weekly balls ; send his hungry friends ; in short, another is prepared for marriage hundreds of places are here where feasts, or any other rejoicings to be nature may be satisfied for a few sous, and where hungry carters (who yond all, behold that seemingly in. are repregou ardges of course) assem. terminable avenue which is to end ble to toast sausages on their forks, with our short journey, and place us and swill unoctroyed but sour wine before the Abbey Church of St Denys. with abounding approbation ;-be THE ROAD. a There's a bit of true French road- of which depends on the separate and making for you! Straight and flat as sometimes opposite wills of wheel, need be, and with nothing to draw off driver, passenger, and team, and many your attention from the chaussée itself. others with or without distinctive A double row of young trees on names. Curious it is to see those gaunt, either side, make two geometrical Holbein-looking horses, scampering boundaries, which the eye may follow away under the thundering blows of for miles, with practical illustration of the gnarled whip-handle, or suddenly the axiom that two parallel straight halting, or rolling groggily to one Jines never can become one. The side, or shufiling knee deep, in dust long line of lamps hung in the mid of their own raising, dragging their road; the clean-cut formal parallelo- little friend, the associated donkey, grams by the way-side (for what use through its such as these, and many intended we could never guess) now others, meet or pass you in long half filled with water ; the rectangular succession, two, three, four, at a time, off-walks into the fields; the flat un- with right jovial crews inside, who hedged country, where the frequent sing, smoke, and make the most of poplar needs no training, and towers their short drive; while, at the dishigh above the apparently naked soil; tance of several miles off, o'ercanothe miserable wickets of the few cot- pied, or emerging each from its cloud, tages by the road-side, covered with the towering roof, the herculean build, rags drying in the sun and dust, are and the approaching thunder of rival all un-English; while theutter absence diligences freighted from England and of all vegetable barriers, the land's best Boulogne, approach, arrive, and pass covering, explain the striking absence with all the honours, privileges, and of birds, which elsewhere adorn the concessions of the road, leaving the sorriest rural scenery ;-in short, you cloud of dust which has dredged us are soon tired of the whole thing, and like millers to be slowly dissipated. look forward to the objects that are Again we are able to look about us, approaching or passing you, the sub- and find we are at the bridge of the urban carriages, which rejoice in the Canal de l'Ourq; the Rubicon is passname of coucou (a nest of strange ed, and we descend with both noise birds may usually be found there in and speed into the very centre of St incubation); the à volontés, the going Denys! THE ABBE. And here we are at the door of our prepared and had there duly imfriend the Abbé * *: an excellent pressed upon his own mind the importman he was, and this we said even ance of discretion and self-command. before the excellent dinner he gave Old enough to insure respect, he was us. His age might have been seventy; sufficiently urbane to dispel reserve ; he had seen much of the world, with- his good temper won an easy confiout having become on that account dence, and his unaffected humanity less benevolent or less indulgent to its was such as to lead him to sympathize frailties--all this you saw, or might with all human suffering. He was see in his face-all this you heard, or dressed in full canonicals, the blackmight hear in his every remark, and ribbed cap fitting closely to his skull, all this you learned in his eventful his- the black bands with the narrow white tory. He had been a chaplain in the edge perfectly adjusted, and not one army in early life--an official, for button of that long front row of a whose existence in the French armies priest's walking attire, out of its butwe suppose the English reader is un- ton-hole. While he went to give |
