The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-13
WHOLE NO. 279.

traverse the courtyard 10 the second staircase,
or ssealier de service, reproach TO my con-
science. Sometimes carton, Jauntingly
borne along by miller's girl, proclaims the
arrival Of hat and feathers 10 shine at one OF
the court balls Of the Tuileries. Sometimes
a wooden case, strapped to the shoulders OF a
lusty porter, announces bali-dress for Ma
dame Paul, from the far famed factory OF Ma
dame Oudot- Mahony. On Newyear's Eve
arrive legions ofrocking- horses, wagons, dolls
and play-shops, from the costly afetier Of Gil
roux, with a pretty trinket-case or two, in
mosaic leather, from Fossin's, containing gilt
tering etrennes, from the old gentleman to his
wife, daughter. and daughter-in-law.
II is not cheering to 60 supperless to bed
after Witnessing all this prodigaliiy of luxury;
or 10 reflect, on solitary pillow, upon the
improbability that my literary realizations will
ever enable me to add helpmate TO the do
nestle comforts Of my miserable attic.
But the consolation and delight of my OBJ
servations on the morrow, used formerly to
rest upon a certain third floor overlooking the
courtyard, hitherto undescribed, but affording
me as much amusement as ever derived frem
Witnessing a fashionable farce by Scribe. A
gay little suit of apartments, du troisieme, in
the Hotel Lingot, was at that time inhabited
by the bankers second son, Alphonse; fine
young fellow of twenty-five, gay, spirited
dasher, by whom all the sympathies Of my
nature were kept on the qui piue.
The arrival OF his fencing master, on fine
spring mornings, gave the signal for throwing
open my windows, that might enjoy full
view of his vigorous and graceful attitudes
and when, five minutes after the hour for
closing the clearinghouse, Ito the desk Of
which he was chained by his father like
galley slave to the oar,) used to see him
vault upon his half-bred Arabian, to gallop off
to the Bots de Boulogne, it was an indication
to me that my morning labors were at an end;
and that might betake myself TO the cabinet
de lecture to which | subscribe, for the peru
sal Of the daily papers, previous to repairing
to my soupe and bouilh, at certain fayorite
table dhote a OUNCE sous, without bread
There was something inspiring to my feelings
in the hilarity of Alphonse; freshness in
his person, frankness in his manners,
cordially in his smile, even when address
ing the grooms and helpers by whom some
hack on sale was trotted round the courtyard
for his appreciation He looked so handsome
when mounted on ield-days for his duties as
Capitaine de la Garde Rationale Chepal, that
wondered his father should choose to- make
a banker of him, and did not wonder to find
how little it was his choice to be a banker.
could always detect within six hours, by
the sudden change in Alphonse's demeanor,
the moment of old Lingots periodical COM
mercial visits to Brussels and Frankfort. No
more waiting for the regular hour of shutting
up shop. Offto Tortoni's before it was open
off to the Bots before it was closed and ne
yer home again till half an hour after the ring
ing of the dinner bell If snow were on
the ground, prepared myself for the
jingling of sledge.bells, and the glancing of
Alphonse's handsome fraineau, a gliding sala-
mander, across the courtyard having his
pretty sister-in- law seated between the wings
with Alphonse holding lightly over head the
Morocco reins Of his wildly prancing horse.
1t was a comfort TO me, by the way, to hear
the jingling recur, and ascertain that the little
party were safe home again.
Towards evening, throughout the Carnival
was on the watch TO see his valet de.cham-
ere "a far finer gentleman than the master)
steal up the escalier de service with masque-
rade dress hanging on his arm, Pierrot's
painted beaver in his hand, or brigand's cap.
or some other intimation that Alphonse was
TO spend the night at Musard's, Valentines
or some Of the second-rate bals-masques,
where Partisan dandies, though not ashamed
Of seeing, are ashamed Of being seen. On
Saturday nights, however, apportioned TO the
bals-masques de rOpera (where folly and Ii
centiousness are parading at higher cost
and it is consequently no disgrace TO show
ones face,) | used to observe my young
neighbor making an elaborate toilet at eleven
o'clock, as if preparing for one of Madame
ippony's or Monsieur Rotchscild's fetes
and one mysterious Sunday morning Of the
Carnival, when had sneaked out of the
porte cochere to early service, between seven
and eight o'clock, saw Alphonse step, at The
corner Of the street. from handsome carriage
in which sat a lady in an elegant black domi-
no, closely masked and heard her mingle,
in her adieus TO her handsome cavalier, an
injunction not to follow the carriage. 1t was
evident that he had passed the night at the
bal de fOpera with some fair unknown. /
had half mind TO follow the carriage and de-
tect her. The lady's prohibition did not ex-
tend to me- But, on second thoughts, |
amended my motion, and proceeded decently
to church.
~ was amdLhS tie hummer Ol Triangular
notes and billets on colored paper, that flew
up the escalier de Seruice towards the door Of
Alphonse's antechamber The letters Of the
rest Of the family were left according to Pa
risian custom, at the porter's lodge but these
private and confidential missions were TO be
expressly delivered, by the pages, jockeys, or
comm'ssionaires by whom they were brought
to the hands of either Alphonse or his valet.
An answer was to be waited for, and often
were the shutters of the young mans bed
room thrown open an hour before the usual
time, to enable him to decipher the delicate
handwriting, pate de mouche, which up
braided him with a nromise broken or exact- |