The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
From "Summer and Winter in the Pyrenees."
SKETCH OF BORDEAUX,

whose residence is at little distance On our
way TO the house of this gentleman, we had to
cross a large public square, containing about
: five acres of ground. surrounded by avenues of
acacias already budding, as they do with us
) in the months of April and May. On this place
were assembled groups of people apparently
from all countries and clothed in as many va
rieties of costumes. But the climate THE
atmosphere-what words can describe the al
most magical change to that of England. Ii
seemed as if storm and tempest never had been
. there. The most bland and silent summers
evening in our country about the hour of nine,
is not so soft and balmy besides all which,
the sunset glow of the warm south gave 10 the
whole scene brilliancy of effect beyond what
can be imagined in our northern climate.
Before us the broad river was sleeping, blue
clear, without ripple or wave, crowded on
both sides with shipping from all the countries
of Europe, the dark sides and white masts of
vessels reflected in the clear deep water while
every sail and oar remained as motionless as
death. Far away to the left, stretched the
noble quay, curving with the line of the river,
and forming an unbroken crescent more than
three miles in extent, composed of irregular
but handsome buildings, diversified by many
i beautiful spires, which rose behind and all
constructed of that yellow kind of stone which
gives to architecture the richest tints of color
ing, when mixed with the venerable grey of
hoary time. No wonder that this spacious
promenade should be thronged with lettering
visitors, when it offers such a view. 1t is true
the people who sauntcred there were idle, but
they were not desorderly and the attractive
costume of the women, particularly their head
dresses, and their clear, soft and glowing CON-
plexions, made them all look lovely to stran-
gers suddenly transported, as we were, from
the cold and drizze of an English winter, 10
this region of beauty and balm, where it was
perfect luxury TO stand still, and breathe the
soft evening air, without shudder Or chill.
The common people of France, throughout
the whole of our journey, had appeared to us
remarkably good looking. Their long and
well formed noses, dark eyes and hair, neat
mouths white teeth, and more than all their
compilations, not fair but rich, like the fresh
bloom Of a peach,-ncither red nor yellow, but
such q mixture OF both as can only be desert
bed by perfect glow; yet all the while so
delicate, rs the sunset tints ofthe western sky,
though rich in coloring, are delicate in the ex-
trcmc. have seen hundreds Of countrymen
IN France, whose portraits would have graced
picture gallery; and perhaps an equal mum.
Der of women, any of whom painter would
have been glad to place on balcony open to
the setting sun, and wreathc about white roses.
But really interesting facc,such face as car
RIGS the Imagination home with ia face to
remember, and to wish to meet again after ma.
ny days; such face have seldom found in
France. They are pictures al and whether
young or old, the people wear such dresses,
and place themselves in such positions, that
one longs perpctually to transmit them to can.
vaSS.
II was beautiful sight, for example, to see
the women by the side of the road we travelled
tending their little focks of sheep, with their
knitting in their hands, or more frequently
spinning with the old fashioned distaff; often
seated on bank. with two or three goats be-
side them, and large shepherds dog sleeping
at their feet. have said that the head-dres-
ses of the French women are becoming, yet
doubt wheather an exception must not be made
of the caps worn by the old and middlc-aged
women of Bordeaux s the neighborhood, which
are of such enormous dimensions as almost to
battle description and defy belief One would
!, think it impossible to maintain such fabric of
stiff muslin in wet weather, but that in France
neither men nor women are ever separated
: from their umbrellas, especially in the South,
6 where they are used TO keep of the sun as well
as the rain and arc often of bright red color.
The narrow streets of Paris seen as first
beheld them, heavy rain, gave me The idea Off iv-
, ers of umbrellas and was afterwards amused
to see the peasants of the south using these in
separabIe accompaniments onhorseback. Even
the men who break stones by the roadside,
L Al / In dollht
they would hold in one hand, while they used
, the hammer with the other, but that they have
tscreenes. made Of straw and worked in wood
en- frame, which they set up to shelter them
|, from the wind and rain. Besides the CON-
plexions of the people above described, every
person, every objectin Bordeaux seemed to wear
, a coloring entirely new to me; for the effect
= produced by southern climate upon the aspect
+ of nature, is such as no art can initiate, no
, pen can describe. In short, it pust be seen
t and felt to be really understood.
am aware that much of the vvidness of
S an impression is sometimes owing to its being
the first of the kind received; yet believe all
r travellers agree that Bordeaux is one OF the
most splendid cities in the world its public
buildings many of them unrivaled ; while the
J. busy, cheerful aspects of its numerous popula-
]. ton is one that never tires. The GarOnne at
e, Bordeaux is between six and seven hundred
lie yards IN breadth ; and the bridge of seventeen
n arches, by which it is crossed, is one hundred
Re and nine feet longer than Waterloo Bridge.
ri ---
r. FIDELITY. When Lord Rawdon was in
r, South Carolina, during the American war, he
d had to send an express of great importance,
n through country filled with the enemy, which
J. corporal Of the 17th dragons, of known
D courage and intelligence, was selected 10 es
r cort. They Lad mi nrncnnded far when tho,