Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-25
CORR ESPOND Z N c 3.
For Tie Spectator.
a Week at EEgEsiesa, MOEasinoreney
and St. penIS
PARIS, July 1852.

A fortnight ago sat by my window, al
most sufocated with heat, endeavoring tc
catch breeze of fresh air; but where in
PARIS, during Ia belle saison, can such q
thing be found looked out upon the sky
there was not single cloud in its deep
vault. For weeks the sun had risen and
set undimmed by shadow and unshorr
of ray. The streets were dry, dusty and
comparatively empty. Every body who pos
sessed or could procure the means had long
since abandoned the capitol. Most ofthose
who remained kept within doors. Those
you saw on the side walks passed about 81
lently, hurriedly and gloomily as if they
trod the streets of some solemn city of the
dead. The few grass plots l saw were
scorched and withered; the flowers in the
window opposite, so carefully watered anc
tended by the fair hand of lovely girl
dropped their languid heads. Raising my
eyes, they were blinded and dazzled by the
heat and light reflected from the huge white
sides of ncighboring building. Quick a:
thought my resolution was made to leave
Paris within the hour, and ringing my bel
| ordered cab.
Hurriedly packing a few Summer clothes
in small carpet bag, leaped into the cal
and ordered the driver to carry me to 336
Rue Fauburg st Honore. Here, withou
stopping to knock, walked into the room
of my friend Mr.. Henry Platte, whom
found lying at full length on his sofa, almos
in the full dress of Georgia gentleman Of
the old School-he only lacked pair o.
spurs and shirt collar. He drew inspi.
ration from cherry cobler manufactured
of rim ordinaire. OF course he was delight
ed to see mean old friend is an admira.
bic adjunct to bottle of old wine, and he
commenced at once dissertation upon the
fascinations of the city. With more impa.
tience than politeness, interrupted his dis.
course to express my opinion about the
weather and to inform him Of my intention
to beat retreat. As / anticipated from c
man of his sense, he said at once in genu
inc Yankee style that he would go my halres
The affair was settled in trice, and les:
than half hour afterwards we were stand
ing in the midst of large crowd Of pant
ing asplrants for the country, at the mag
nifcent station Of the Paris s. Belgium rail
way. Twenty minutes from this time We
weie alone in the middle of the road lead
ing from Enghen to Montmorency. 1t wa:
now dark and we did not know which of the
villages to approach, but concluding thai
either was preferable to the high way, We
set out for the nearest which proved to be
the one we sought-Enghien.
Enghcn. being fashionable place, (Which
is saying more for it, with the large major
ity of persons who attend it, than that it i;
one of the most rural and charming retreat:
in all France was much crowded, and we
wandered about from one Hotel to another
like two stray sheep, in search of rooms nc
where to be found. We started with toler'
ably enlarged views, and wished toprocure
two apartments. When we saw there wa;
a reasonable prospect of having to pass the
night in the streets, we moderated our de-
sires and agreed with Ourselves that we woulc
take one room with two beds; but not sue.
ceedng upon these terms, we fell agair
and consented to take one room with one
bed. Still we were foied, and now ws
came down to the earth at once and made
a high bid for zone room and no bed. p
Yet still we were without lodgings, and as
we found ourselves in front of grand Ho.
tel, brilliantly illuminated, where we un'
derstood there was to be ball during the
evening, we concluded as we could no
spend the night in bed we would pass it III
the dance. We saw this hope however
perish-Swgu animi aliqaid, quod in ips;;
Rribms ongGt-for we were deckcd off in
colored shirts on which the lilies of France
were varlously represented in blue-black
We had no place TO change, and besides
the residue of our linen was of the sar
and stripe order; and then it occurred tc
TO Us that we might not make good our en-
ire, however attired, for every body about
the establishment looked at us as if they
thought we were engaged in the egg ant
butter trade. These things passing througl
our minds at the same time, we found our.
selves retiring simultaneously from the Vi
clnity OF the gas lights.
Betaking ourselves to a restaurant, we
dispellcd the gloom which was in spite o.
ourselves beginning gradually to settle up
on our brows, at little table where, il
imitation Of Paris, the bill Of fare stated tha
we might select mea. from three hundred
and seventy dishes. While we were looking
over the bill the garcon undertook to make
himself agreeable by suggesting q variety
OF supplementary dishes. These attentions