The Wilmingtonian., 1824-01-01
ST. PELAGIE.

L
ST. PELAGIE.
Not long since, two of the most distin-
|guished of the French literati, Messrs. Jou
and Jaw, were sent to the prison of st. Pc
tagie, for an obnoxious allusion to certain
proceedings in some Of the French crimi-
nal courts. While in confinement they
wrote essays. which they have since pub
llished, One of these relates the visits OF
the female friends and relatives OF their
fellow prisoners. The following extract
from it furnishes attractive pictures.
The saloon of st Pelagie presents on
the Thursdays and Sundays of every week
a spectacle we'll worthy the observation
of every friend of the sex. These two
days are the only ones on which persons
who are confined for crimes properly de-
serving correction are permitted to re-
ceive the visits of their friends or rela-
II tons.
The first remark which one is compel
led to make, and to which, indeed, the
whole of this chapter may serve as COM
mentary, is, that at these meetings women
are found to be much more numerous than
men. | have often prolonged my stay in
this assembly, more noisy than brilliant,
for the purpose of contemplating its gene
raj appearance, and the particulars which
compose it.
| Education and the various ranks in So
ciety, establish certain distinctions among
men, which are much less strongly mark
ed among women, and which are often en-
ltirely eifaced by two sentiments which
seem to be part of themselves-pity and
love. Among the unhappy persons whom
they are engaged in succouring they are
distinguished by their sex alone /: they al
seem to possess in the same degree the
charming faculty of anticipating the tastes,
Iof supporting the courage, of managing
the self-love of those to whom their affec-
tions link them in a word OF pouring
over the wounds Of the heart that balm
which their ingenious tenderness can alone
Iprepare.-These moral cares are far su-
perior to the physical care and material
attentions which they bestow with no less
Iprofuse generosity.
Among the women with whom | have
occasionally passed some hours on the vi
,|siting day, a young girl was pointed out
J Ito me, who, for the last three years, had
come from Nanterre twice every week or
foot. and in all weathers, to bring her low.
er some small cakes made in that part OF
1.-THE country, and of which he was extreme.
ely fond. To-day he was scolding her for
. coming in such bad weather; and listen
: ed with some emotion to all the little false.
e ehoods which her heart prompted her It
d 1Iinvent for the purpose of diminishing the
: merit of her devotedness. "ltdid not rar
}. when she sat off; when the rain did begin
i she had the good fortune to meet will
Z, Dame Francois, and that good old milk
!; woman had carried her in the little GOV
S |ered cart to the Boulevard de la Made
lene )" and as she spoke she wiped he
IIhrenched clothes, and made sign to ar
: old man, who accompanied her not to con
tradict her story.
'On another bench saw woman, still
e eIpossessing some pretensions to beauty, al
e Though in the decline of life, who press
J. ed her son to her bosom with an expires
e sion of grief and tenderness to which MT
d ddescription can do justice: her husband
: turned away his face, filled with contemp
e and anger, from son for whom he wa
is compelled to blush; and the mother tool
1t advantage of this opportunity to slip int
n the young mans hand ttlepurse, which
,r she drew from her bosom.
W Il know not by what indications ! re
to cognised the delicate and different shade
* of the same sentiments by which the coun
ne tenances of all these women were anima
c. ted: mother. daughter, wife or mistress
ly discovered them, however, all at the frs
ofglance. should not, indeed, have had t
,s- boast much of my perspicacity if it ha
Ilbeen exercised upon subjects so obviousl
~ Iintelligible as pretty young woman. VII
ar, had taken possession, with the man whor
lat she had come to visit, Of the darkest col
is ner of the hall; only observed that
ro- would have been impossible to occupy les
as space than was taken up by this sentimsI
la tai couple.
1il Maternal tenderness, filial piety, low
nd benevolence. and friendship, were the vi
me tues of which the women here present O
to fered me innumerable examples but the
he are others of kind which is more foreia
ill, from the sex-such as patriotism, cou
.ss- age, and honor lin the chivalrous SEN
,iv. which belongs to the word, in which Il
OF souls of some women have been exalt,