The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1837-04-21
l0RlGINAL.l
The Silk PantalOOns.

l0RlGNALl
The Silk PantaIOOns.
Translated om the Memories Feuy Conele
Paulin Coy was of my own age, that is to say the
age OIL a halr Drained youth without experience and
IKE me,he had nice sense of honor with much slncer-
W ana great deal zeal for his profession; indeed he
was rather chvalrous IN his ideas than otherwise. Out
OF the theatre we lived like brothers. nhabtng one
room, and having all thlngsin common. Pauns dis
position was more settled and uniform than mne and
ms character mature which often served to re-
STRAIN the impetuoslty of my temper and give cheek
tony petulance He already stood high in his profess
s,on, and his taleRts much applauded, but the
nobleness OF his character was universally esteemed
and above all, whsre the artist found admirers the
honest man met with friends. l shall without doubt
de before him, for my existence al the theatre has
been more agitated than his and never possessed
that calm philosophy which is 50 well calculated to
support itself under any circumstances, and ward of
the many ills of fe-shoald these few lines therefore
meet his eye hope he will be sensible of this mark
bf the memory and good feeling of an old companions
Our intimacy rlpened into friendship the most
pure and devoted, notwithstanding times our cha
xacters exhibited tho most striking contrast | was
lively and volatile, Paulin calm and rejecting. re-
ceved with impatience his wise counses for my well
fare bat never could surprise him for moment
from the equanlmity of his disposition. One day.
however, we had quarrel odd enough and if the
1enouement had proved tragic, one of us might have
Deen iet IN complete despair. As said before, we
lodged together, and had all things common between
u.s.. know not whether Oreste and Phlade were
the same tunlck, but our vestments answered for
BOTH and were equally at the disposal of each our
toilette was not only decent but we had enough of
the finest articles of dress 10 appear in society with
certain eclat among which were two pair of panta-
LOOMS one of black cloth, the other of silk with the
same color As 1t regards these two articles of dress,
we made an arrangement between ourselves that
each should wear the elegant of the two alter
naely that is TO say, the silk, which were considered
the better; but as l made more professions to the
toilette and paid less attention to the treaty, found
that had worn them three times in succession.
Pauln SAID nothing at the time bat day when we
were invited to dine in town. he claimed the silk pan
falcons as his right. He could not have chosen
worse time for me- as knew that actress of great
reputation, Mademoselle Clermonde was crossing
the country on her return TO Amens, where she had
delighted the inhabitants with her beauty and ia
Tents. feeling that cannot easily define pre-
sentiment without doubt of my Happy lot, urged upon
the necessity of going to meet her. This wished
TO do at the relay, while they were changing the
horses. 1t was thought to be extremely necessary to
be well dressed on that occasion, as could not tell
what might happen, and the silk pantaloons were
more preseniable but stll to take them should be
usnrper; however, could not bring my mind 10 re-
llnqulsh them. Paulin then said to nett is clear
that you refuse me my right, and turning TO 90 out
he added with his accustomed calmness, that since
had forfeited my word, ought ne longer TO have
any thing common between US.
"That may be; but see how am situated-I have
the pantaloons, and keep them"
Thou dost keep them?"
"Ah mol do not keep them but borrow them
be good boy, Paulln, and thou shalt wear them five
times in succession"
81 have been good boy too long now and do
not wish 10 be coed any longer 1t necessary for
me to have the pantaloons; want them"
"Thou dost wish them? it is necessary; this is a
very singular course that you have takenn
sand thou art more singular still to make dandy
OF myself al my expense! take care-if thou dost
steal my turn, will follow thee, and when thou art
introduced will say loud enough for all TO hear that
you dressed in my clothes"
That threat made me tremble. "Paulin," said l.
"do that and we shall have quarrel"
"Of what consequence TO me Is the friendship of an
egotist? And what TO me the proposition of an i'm
pertinent fellowl Monsieur Fleury, you take too
mach the spirit of your theatrical parts"
monsieur Pauln you have the spirit of nobody
will at least take the pantaoons, Monsieur de Mou
cader
Monsieur Mascavc, you will have ,hem bu,
with my llfe!'
THAT may be-yon are man Of honor"
IL understand you."
AT that moment we left the room with our hands
on our swords and without taking any witnesses ran
towards the public road, which gladly would have
avoided. began TO reflect, and suppressed sigh
we turned little to the right and boiling with imra-
tience our rapiers were already drawn as we stood
prepared for the deadly combat, when load shrek
near arrested our attention-i was from beau-
full female pale and dlsordered, rushing in between
us-"slop, STOP" she cried - this the act of gen
fiemen! (Pauln and myself both had the air Of gem
tlemen) must woman teach you sentiments Of ho-
nor! what murder each other alone, without wit
nssses! know you not that # one is killed, the other
Is assassin
That voice, those accents, the exquisite beauty Of
her person. together with her noble and lofty bearing
seemed to hold such complete authority over us that
we stood astonished was in ecstasy but Pauln
recovered his selfpos,esslon, and after gazing
ut the lady, turned 10 me and said, "look, Fleury
look, we understand each other now-nothing is
more natural than to fight for cotiiioni but for
.cuisac oh horridl MADAM, would you believe tive
are fighting for a culottev' That sally droL
that we both fell into each others arms, Laughing.
We were going 10 turn the matter off in Joke with
cur concilIntrIce when some one came to apprze her
that the coach was ready and she turned TO leave
-, had presentiment who she was, and excaim-
ed almost Involuntary "Clcrmendsr "The same"
SAID she, and parted from with gracious shake of
ihe hand but In the hurry Of the moment she let fall
. glove-"pIck Il up, pick il up my boy" s,id Paun,
/" for il can read the eyes of the lady the gaze is
thrown TO you and you will have fight the cotilon
Msdemoscllc Clermonde was afterwards Fleury's
chere annie
8 psul Gave edn