Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-07-06
From Chdm5ers' EdisbarsA Josrnal
THE LAUNDRESS OF PARIS.

our coun,fymen, and freely ms they have awaited
themselves OF the facilities for visiting il, some OF
our readers may not be aware of the minuier fea-
ture Of Partisan humble life among others, of
the difference Of our own plan for the puri6csion
Of linen and that pursued by our continental neigh.
bors. Ia the frs, place--,he Joint consequence
probably, Of fine climate and the scarcity Of fuel
the operation, instead Of being carried on, MS with
us, under cover with the aid Of hot water and gen.
orally in boats or RATS moorcd 10 a river side
where the running stream is made 10 perform the
office OF SOAP and the rubbing praciised by ourl
iaupsrerxi q ycpiar<d ~ Y xfisk y i'll ! wooden
snaIIti--s pyokss no, very conducive in the opin.
ION Of our travellers, to the durability Of the ari.
cles
Few Of our countrymen who have visited Paris
can have failed 10 observe one Of its mos, sngu-
lar objects, these amphibious communities Of wash
er women, plying from morning TILL night their
laborlous vocation, perpeiually ascending and de-
scendng under heavy loads of wet linen the steep
stairs leading to their floating laundry enduring
in winter the seventies of the weather, inhaling in
summer the unwholesome cxhalations OF the river
and exposed at all seasons 10 perpetual damp,
which saturaes their garments and prematurely
silfiens their limbs; yet preserving throughout
national cheerfulness finding vent in many a song
sharing with each other cordial fellowship, the
goods and ills of life; in short forming, in the
midst Of Paris peculiar colony whose habits,
morals, aid above all, strong spirit Of communi-
ty, require only 10 be known TO inspire good will,
nay, TO command respect.
Earning at an average little more than two
francs per day, out of which they are expected to
provide their own mallct and the large leather
apron which their dripping vocation renders ne
cessary they nevertheless agree 10 deduction of
five sous each from their daily wages, towards
fund FOR unforeseen calamities, and above all, to
prevent any of their number who may be laid
aside by illness from being reduced 10 seek other
relief The greater part Of them are married wo-
men with families.
1t is also their custom to elect every year, at the
season OF Mid. Lent, a head, whom they style
queen to preside over little festivities, and decide
disputed points among the community, the slight
est misconduct want of strict integrity in any Of
whose members is deemed sufficient reason Tor her
expulsion. This fundamental law of the aquatic
corporation is the more necessary and strictly en-
forced, that the linen entrusted to each (oen of
grea. value) being, as it WERE in keeping Of all,
the least individual dishonesty would bring suspi
cion on the whole sisterhood
Few things can be more curious and interesting
10 the observer of popular manners than the moral
aspect OF perhaps hundred women, carrying on,
elbow to elbow, their wholesale vocation, without
theft or even blunder being ever so much as
heard of among them; their immense bark, some
times equal in length to the hull of man ofwar,
becoming thus huge depot rendered secure by
mutual confidence, and guaranteed by the striccst
honor.
One of the vast machines, moored at the foo, OF
the Quay de la Cite alongside Of the beautiful
Pont de la Gree, was frequented BY numbers Of
women from that popuous quarter, who were so
famous for whitening without destroying linen,
that their washing-boat was styled the normal
! school for Paris laundresses. One OF the best
work-women was girl twenty-three, named
Blanche Raymond endowed with fine open
smiling countenance, great strength OF body, and
uncommon cleverness Of hand She had lost her
mother some time before, and being now the only
stay Of her old blind father, a superanuated labor
or on the quay, she had to work doubletides for
their joint support; though the old man, by earn
ing few pence daily by weaving nets, was saved
the feeling of being altogether burden on his
child
Blanche, after preparing her fathers breakfast,
at his lodgings just opposite the stairs leading to
her boat, went down to it at seven every morning,
came home at noon to give the poor blind man his
dinner and then back 10 work for the rest OF the
day Returning al its close TO her humble hearth,
where cleanliness and comfort reigned, she would
take out her old father for an hours walk on the
quay. and keep him merry by recounting all the
gossip OF the boat; not forgetting the attempts at
Irritation carried on with herself by certain work
men in a merino mandatory, whose pressing ma
chine Immediately adjoining the aundresss bark,
and who never failed, 10 going 10 and fro twenty
times day to fling passing compliments at the
belle blanehissens (prc,iy laundress.) The cheer
full old man would re-echo the lightheared laugh
with which those tales were told; but following
them up with the soberer counsels of experience
over the closing meal Of the day then fell gently
asleep amid the cares and caresses Of the most do
tful Of daughters
Three years had rolled away since her moth
ers death and Blanche, happily engrossed be
tween her occupation abroad aud her flisl duties
a, home. had found no leisure to listen to tales o.
love There was, however, among the young
aerino dressers, a tall fine handsome fellow, nam
ed Victor, on whose open eountennnce were writ
ten dispositions corresponding TO those OF his fan
neighbor, whom, instead Of annoying with famii
iarIiies, he gradually won upon, by respectable
civlny towards herself, and stll more kind inqut
r'es after her good old father
|, By degrees he took upon him to watch the rin'
when she nigh, be toiling, heavily laden, up ID,
: steep slippery steps and BY coming Just behind
her, would slyly ease her Of more than half hel
burden Do parting al the door OF the great pub
lie laundry establishments (where the work began
on the ryer Is afterwards completely be wouid
: leave her with the hopeful ssutalion. in which
! more was meant than met her car, Good bye