The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-02-17
A TRIP TO PARIS.
ny JAMES X. PAULDING.
0Le Grand nuyre. r."

~ ny JAMES X. PAULDING. Al
"Le grand Guure."
II 10 worth while for an American to q
TO Paris, if it be only to see the mud in Ii,
streets, hear the boys with their baskets o
pears crying "CnqMe .4ngiais pour ~,
sous" and be henpecked by knowing
valet, who leagues with the tailor, the bar
her, the chambermaid, the shbpkeeper, ant
the washerwoman, to cheat his master ant
divide his spoil.
Harry Cuthbert was young fellow oi
easy fortune, easy temper, easy TO be per.
suaded, and easy to be led either right OF
wrong. He was without a profession, and
free from tho necessity ofs,udying or prac
tising one. He was moreover we'll look
ing, and not altogether unworthy the a l.
tention or yonng ladies as we'll as their
mammns. To the former, his good looks
and agreeable qualities were subjects ol
frequent commentator; and to the latter
his fortune made him an object of interest
Hs accordingly found il. so easy 10 please,
thai. pleasing soon ceased to be worth his
while in his own opinion. He persuaded
himself he had so many sources Of pleasure
within his reach, that IL would be the
height Of folly to marry until all these were
exhausted. He went the rounds of all. and
got heartily tired Of each in its turn.
'What a confounded dull place is this
city of ours,' said no one night 10 himself,
after spending three hours mentally die
cussing the question whether he should 20
TO party, where he was cure Of meeting
the same company, the same everlasting
confectionery, and the same fat sleepy Hd.
dler be had seen at every melee during
the season.
Il won't 60, shoot me ifI do cried he
aloud. II won't go-I'll go-I'l go-to
Parisv " st ~. .ss ~
The idea Of performing this grand feat
dlated his Imagination into something like
sublimity, and he strutted about the room
like the conqueror Of a world. All that he
had read, all that he had heard. from his
youth upwards, had united to iustil into his
mind settled faith in the amazing superi.
ority Of the earth, the air, the water, the
skies, the houses, the hotels, the men, wo-
men, children, and above all, the cookery
Of Paris. No Wolchman ever more de-.
youtly believed the moon was made Of
green cheese, than our hero did that Paris
was mis- spelling of Paradise. Accor-
dinghy he sold his horses, his little wagon,
his pointer dogs, his seat in the private box,
and every thing he could sell; purchased
bills on La Fitte, embarked in a Havre
packet, was ses.sick all the passage, and
at length put his foot down in Havre de
Grace, q city without grace and without
beauty. Every body wanted to show him
the curiositiss; but he was altogether as.
sured that there was nothing in France, or
indeed in the whole universe, worth seeing
but Paris. Accordingly he turned himself
round three times at Havre, picked up
pin, and went up to Paris in the steamboat,
that padded about three miles an hour, and
every time she fetched her breath, puffad |
cut whole volume Of scalding steam.
She's no more to be compared to the
North America, than an oyster boat is to a
Havfc packet thought our hero; but nev.
Or mind, wait till get to Paris.'
As they sailed up the river they passed
q succession Of old worm eaten, weather. |
beaten towns, gray with age, and decrepid
with decay. There was not soul to be
seen in the streets. except now and then
bare headed friar Or g ragged beggar.
New. York js worth hundred such old
rusty mausoleums, quoth Harry Cuthbert;
'but wait till / get to Paris, |
The steamboat broke down, and il was
necessary to stop at village, in the midst
Of. extensive !. vineyards. .Cuthbert had
heard and read the most touching descrip.
tons Of the Vineyards of France, and of the |
beautiful women that assisted in gath ering |
the vintage, which was just now commenc.
Jog. He ran into the country like chick.
en- let out Of coop, and after scare hing Q |
great while, At last managed to make
clumsy looking peasant comprehend that
he wanted 10 see vineyard. lfs,l
y.Ciel /! answered the peasant in coarse
voice; Monsieur has got ono right in bis
nose! = sg.ttstTT /. ..ff-s
The peasant spoke rather bad English.
Ous hero put his hand to his nose, but in. 4
stead of a vineyard Oily found his whis
kers. The good.natured peasant, under.
standing his perplexity, pointed out the \
precise location. 70 i fru4la
,Zounds,' cried Cuthbert, Il mistook il
for a great field OF csbbagesr He then
made q slight bow to the peasant, and
thanked monsieur for his politesess. /
'Eh Monsieur exclaimed the other,
in . passionate tone-sEb bieu monsieur !
fEfE fN Ghf.t