The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-17

interior neighborhood are discussed, The court
yard, also, Is an assembling place in the even
ngs for the servants of the different families,
and slsterhood OF sewing girls from the entire
soils and the attics, TO play al various games, and
dance 10 the music of their own songs and the
echoes Of their feet at which assemblages the
porter's daughter takes the lead, fresh, pretty,
buxom girl generally called La Petite though
almost as tall as grenadier. These little even
ing gatherings, 50 characteristic Of this gay
country, are countenanced by the various fami-
lies OF the mansion who often look down from
their windows and balconies, on moonlight
evenings, and enjoy the simple revels of their
domestics. must observe, however, that the
hotel am describing is rather quiet retired
one, where most OF the inmates are permanent
residents from year 10 year, so that there is more
OF the spirit OF neighborhood, than in the bust
ling, fashionable hotels in the gay parts Of Paris,
winch are continually changing their inhabitants.
MY FRENCH NEIqHBoR.
! often amuse myself by watching from my
window (Which blythe by is tolerably elevated)
the movements Of the teeming lttle world he
low me and as am on sociable terms with the
porter and his wife, gather from them, as they
light my fire, or serve my breakfast, anecdotes
Of all my acknowledges. | have been some
what curious in studying little antique French
man, who occupies one Of the joHe chambers a
gdrcon already mentioned. He is one Of those
superanuated veterans who aonrished before the
revolution, and has weathered all the storms OF
Paris, IN consequence, very probably, OF being
fortunately too insignificant to attract attention
He has small income, which he manages with
the skill OF French economist; appropriating
so much for his lodgings, so much for meals, so
much for his seat at the theatre. He has resided
in the hotel for years, and always in the same
chamber, which he furnishes at his own expense
The decorations OF the room mark his various
ages. There are some gallant pictures, which
he hung up in his younger days; with portrait
of lady OF rank, whom he speaks tenderly of,
dressed in the old French taste; and pretty
opera dancer, plrouetting in hoop petticoat
who lately died at good old age. In corner
OF this picture is stuck prescription for rheu
matism, and below il stands an easy chair He
has a small parrot at the window to amuse him
when within doors, and pugdog to accompany
him in his daily peregrnations.
While | am writing, he Is crossing the court
to go out. He is attired in his best coat, of sky
blue, and is doubtless bound for the Tuilleries
His hair is dressed in the old style, with pow
dered ear-locks and a pig-tall, His little dog
trips after him, sometimes on four legs, some
times on three, and looking as if his leather
old gentleman stops to have word with an old
crony who lives in the entire sol, and Is Just re-
turning from his promenade Now they take
pinch Of snuff together; now they pull out huge
red cotton handkerchiets, Chose flags of abomi-
nation, as they have well been called y and blow
their noses most sonorously. Now they turn to
make remarks upon their two little dogs, who
are exchanging the mornings salutation; now
they part, and my old gentleman stops to have
passing word with the porter's wife and now
he salies forth, and is fairly launched upon the
town for the day.
No man is so methodical as complete idler,
and no one so scrupulous in measuring and por-
tioning out his time, as he whose time Is worth
nothing The old gentleman in question has
his exact hour for rising and for shaving himself
by small mirror hung against his easement
He sallies forth at certain hour every morn
ing to take his cup of coffee and his roll at a
certain cafe, where he reads the papers He
has been a regular admirer Of the lady who pre-
sides at the bar, and always stops to have little
bddinage with her, en- PEASANT He has his
regular walks on the Boulevards and in the Pa
lais Royal, where he sets his watch by the
petard fred off by the sun at mid day He has
his daily resort in the garden of the Tuleries,
to meet with a knot Of veteran idlers like him
self, who talk on pretty much the same subjects
whenever they meet. He has been present at
all the sights and shows and rejoicings of Paris
for the last fifty years has witnessed the great
events of the Revolution; guotining of the King
and Queen the coronation of Bonaparte; the
capture of Paris, and the restoration Of the Bour-
bons All these he speaks of with the GOODNESS
of a theatrical criuc and question whether he
has moi been gratifcd by each in its turn-not
from any inherent love of tumult, but from that
Unsuitable appetite for spectacle which prevails
among the inhabitants of this metropolis. have
been amused with farce in which one of these
systematic old trlfers is represented. He sings
a song detailing his whole days's round of insig-
nificant occupations, and goes to bed delighted
with the idea that the next day will be an exact
repetition of the same routine:
"Je me couche lie sor,
Enchante de pouvoir
Recommencer mon train
LIE lendemain
Matn