The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Chambers Edinburgh Journal
THE DEAD-HOUSE OF PARIS.

/ La Morgue Tor the Dead House) Of Paris,
is retired gloomy building, situated on that
part OF the left bank Of the Seine, which lies
between the city quay and that of Orlevres.
The object Of the establishment, as its name
partly implies, is to receive the bodies Of all
those who have come to violent end, by land
or water, and either to retain them till they
are claimed by friends, or TO bury them il
they remain unknown. Ii is strange how the
existence of this building influences the dis
trict in its immediate vicinity. La Morgue is
the centre-poim Of attraction, the source Of
news and novelty. The neighbors there talk
not Of politics or revolutions. q A fine CORPSE
was that brought in this morning" He was
fair, WASN'T he 70. "Did' you see the girl to-
day 7" "What long black hair. she had II
trailed on the ground as she passed on the
hurdle ~ Such is the general nature Of the
gossip in the neighborhood Of the Dead
House. :.
visited La Mdrgue twice.. On the first
occasion, Francois, the receiver Of the bodies,
could not show the establishment TO me in the
absence Of the recorder, M. Perrin. These
two persons dwell with their families in the.
upper floor Of this house of death, and have
the sole charge of it. Francois, with whom
| became somewhat familiar, desired me to
return at certain time, and should see the
whole. Accordingly, | went again to La
Morgue.
'Ah, you are there I" said Francois, rising
to receive me, and introducing me to his wife
and another person who was present. This
is neighbour" continued Francois, abiding
| to the latter individual, "who comes, out Of
sheer friendship, to help me when require
assistance, and on this morning his services
have been much required. Your visit has been
timed most luckily, sir. We have to-day
woman who hanged herself with her garters
and third, little female child, an infant,
stage coach. They mistook her for packet,
and crushed her. Poor thing how lovely
she is ~
"Ah" said the wife Of Francois, per
haps she had a mother, who waited anxiously
for her return from tine country! By the bye,
Francois, where did you lay her? On the dis
section table 7"
mo no; why, what use could there be in
opening her! Who could think Of that dear
little child having been poisoned! Go and
look at her she is as clean as if she had come
out of bath. And then the young nurse,
who brought her here in her apron, wept as if
the little one had been her own. She told me
that she had been returning from her native
village in Normandy, whittier she had gone to
nurse the child, and that the stage coach, in
which she was, was SO full Of people that she
was compelled to put her little nursing be-
tween her knees. She was then much
fatgued, having slept none for two days
When night came, she fell asleep. The child
slipped from her grasp; she slept still The
child moved and perhaps cried, but the rattle
OF the coach stifled the sound and the nurse
slept on. In the morning when she a~nke.
she found that she had but the body Of her
babe !" :: Is this all, Francois 7" said his
wife. ..... .... .a. ....
| The rest may be conceived. On reach
ing Paris where the mother lives, the nurse
burst not go to the house, and thus she thought
of bringing the body here for interment. But
she would scarcely part with the child She
kissed its cold brow, she kissed its hands,
she kissed its shoulders, its feet. saying all the
while, 'Oh! can it be true that she is dead,
STRIP Then she gave the body to me, took it
back again, shook it, called it by its name, and
strove with her fingers to open its eyes. oh
DO you know no way to open its eyes for me
All !! they were such pretty eyes, so round,
so blue Its eyes! My girl had blue eyes
like her mother-oh, she will kill me, that
mother! | will tell her the child died from its
teething; but all our village will say it is not
true. will say they took her from me in the
coach; but the coachman will say it is not
true. No, no will tell nothing. | will 60
back to my village, and wait till her parents
come to see the child. Perhaps they may not
come for three-for six months-perhaps not
for whole year! But ah! can never 60
back to my village-never more, if have not
my infant, my little Leonore.'"
Here Francois interrupted his account of
the poor nurses EXPLANATIONS, to tell his wife
to note the name Of Leonore Remember,
wife, to repeat it to Monsieur Perrin, that he
may inscribe it in his register" Francois then
resumed the nurses soliloquisng.
"Ah, cannot return to my village in
Normandy. Every body there was SO fond
of my Leonore. Sugar plums and cakes
were showercd upon her. Monsieur the Gu
rate was distracted about my girl Oh sir,
could we not bleed her, and bring her back 7
Or put her feet into warm water! All, you
know many cases Of children being restored
don't you now! All, you do! Mo- Oh,
tell me-te me what to do Her mother
will kill me, yes, certainly she will kill me
Or if go home to my village, they will stone
me-they will throw dirt upon me like a toad!
Oh, sir, bring my Leonore back to me, and
will-yes, II will give her to you y"
Francois paused, and then continued in his
own words, when it was absolutely ncces-
sary to depart, the nurse again kissed the in
fan,'s cheeks, and besought leave from me to
take away with her the cap and kerchief that
ia ppf m ~ Sfp In no mi
this, but | was always too soft-hearted.