The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-24


general character of this aud his merchandise
was that OF half pedlar and half beggar such was
evidently his own conception OF himself and his
trade; aud certainly, if he had been prepared by
the costumer Of theatre, or by an artist who
wished to take his picture. nothing could have
been better imagined. nothing better designed,
than his dress and the disposition Of his various
wares for pictorial effect
who but a Frenchman could conceive of pic
turcsque woodpile believe the American idea
Of IA woodpe involves as complete a negation OF
pictorial effect as words can express. Yet can
show you pile of wood cut for fuel. which excites
admiration. from its architectural effect. 1t pre-
sents "a perpendicular surface two hundred feet
long. and sixty high, supported by a projecting
base. or bultress, running along its whole length
The face OF this edce is formed of the ends Of the
sticks, but chequered by diamond. work through
out the whole space, formed OF logs laterally die
posed SO nicely is this sort OF rude mosaic laid on,
that il 10 impossible, on fret looking at the whole
fabric, not TO experience an emotion OF admiration
at that taste which transforms the most shapeless
materials into objects which crafty the eye. II
would be easy to extend this train of observation
almost. into a volume. The shops Of the silver
smith, the dealer in robes and shaws, the jewel
fancier. the confectoner, the clock and watch
maker, and the milliner. beautiful beyond all
comparison they are, by no rDeans furnish the
most striking examples OF that pervading and
universal love Of art which predominates in the
eve of the Parisian. Even the butchers stall,
the green grocer's open window, the pouterer's
bench, present every object to the passcr-by
ia tho most imposing form and distribution.
The fruit seller treats his apples and his pears al
most with the attention which fond mothers bestow
on their rosy babies. The golden fruit is polished
and laid ia hcaps-each apple or pear ia bedded in
fresh green moss, looking like fringe of lace,
through which the sunny and crimson check peeps
forth, and seems to invite kiss, if not bite,
from the passer-by.
The windows of the charcutier, the seller OF
cooked meats are among the most scducing objects
of trading art to be found in this city. The win
dow on one side of the door presents you with
hams, sausages from the size of pipe stem up to
that OF a we'll fed boa constructor; meat jellles,
boncd capons, nut-brown cartridges and grouse !;
the opposite window exhibits a fountain through
which water is playing in crystal jets. Beneath is
n reservoir filled with live tortoisas, eels, pike,
carp, tench and other members of the family Of
fins Around the margin is an entabature COM
posed of living HOLSTERS; and hares, pheasants,
black cock and other game, often 30 disposed as to
have the semblance Of life. The admirable effect
of oil this is evinced by the fact that the shops OF
which, am speaking are usually thronged
with a crowd of admiring spectators.
II will be remembered that am not here speak
ing of the unrvalled treasures Of art in the Louvre
and the Luxembourg, in the gardens of the Tuils
ries, and the Place de la Concorde; say nothing
of the Arch Of Triumph, the Madeleine, or the col
unln in the Place vendome. These arc the works
Of kings and cmperors. Paris, indeed, is full Of
monuments of art, executed as much to glorify
IT,. Al. -
the nation. am speaking of that artistic talent
which seems inherent in the French organization,
and which manifests itself especially in every
thing that appeals to the sight. Itmakcs the lower
classes all artists where the rest Of the world
nothing but slovenly toll or graceess utility.
1t is this taent-this dominion Of a fine suscepti-
bity-which makes them the great civzers and
rehners OF the world which extends their in
tiuence-often and unacknowledged-
throughout every town. city, and village in chris
tendon. FRANCO.