New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-03-29
DISCIPLINE

DISCIP LINE;
OR, THE FATAL DISCRETION.
Early in the spring of the eventful year 1880,
found myself wanderer on the banks of the
Loire, just at the period when the harsh laws ON
the conscription were put in operation for the
purpose of augmenting the ranks of the French
army, previous to the expedition against Algiers.
Its stern DEGREES carried anguish and dismav
into the bosom of many happy family, and
every village mourned for the prime of its youth
dragged from their homes and their families to
take part in q quarrel wherein they felt not the
slightest interest. The rigid enforcement of
this obnoxious law added fuel to the smouldering
flame Of popular discomfort. The conscripts de-
serted by hundreds, or were in many instances
rescued from the parties who had charge of them,
and severe measures were resorted to by Gov
ernment to check this growing spirit of opposi-
ton to its authority.
I had left Blois in the morning, and enjoyed
so far as the confinement in the diligence would
admit, that succession of interesting scenery
which greets the eye of the traveller down the
Loire. But as | approached the entrance of
that lonely valley which forms the eastern ap-
proach to Tours, | found that even the sluggish
pace Of the diligence conveyed me far too rapidly
past scenes on which the eye could gaze with
delight forever therefore, as | was in no hurry
| to reach Tours before evening, determined to
prosecute the rest of my journey on foot, leaving
my baggage to precede me to the place of my
destination | escaped from the confinement of
the diligence ust as the brilliant rays of set
ting sun were shedding their unveiled splendor
over the smiling face of nature, gliding the
placid waters of the Loire with their gorgeous
hue, and adding to the beauty of this romantic
| spot that brig ghtness Of coloring with which the
departing sun in southern climes often enrches
the landscape before it comes shaded in evening
darkness. The sky was clear and serene, save
where solitary cloud glided across the
| heavens, like a winged messenger pursuing the
god of day to his estern couch, while the even
ing breeze, which had now commenced, cooled the
air, and afforded an agreeable relief after the
heat Of sultry day. All nature seemed in
vigorated at the approach of evening-the lazy
goatherd, who before lay basking in the suns
rays, now reused from his slumbers, began to
| collect and drive home his scattered flock The
| active fisherman now turned his little skitf and
| impelled it swiftly over the rppling stream, as
he bent his course homewards with his tinny
spoil. The husbandman. released from his toll
some occupation in the field, might now be seen
busily engaged in the lighter task of dressing the
vines and fruit trees which clustered around his
cottage The villagers whom business or pleasure
had led into the neighboring town were now re-
| turning in merry groups, counting their gains
purchased by the sale of their farm produce
Their gaudy dress and animated figures as they
emerged from the shade of the trees which
skirted the road, gave life and energy to the
landscape, while the noisy laugh, the harmless
| raillery, with which their conversation abounded
bespoke that happiness and contentment, which
were quite in unison with the mild and tranquil
scenes around them.
In the midst of this interesting picture might
ha ,n1tins Of Wiz 1-ol
out in all their country fnery, fastening along
the road to join in the diversions of the evening
at the neighboring villages, or to pay visits to
their town acquaintance. As | now became
tired Of my solitary ramble. thought I could
not do better than enliven the rest of my Jour-
ney by entering into conversation with party
OF these damsels, to whom, by way of introduce
tion offered my escort to Tours An English
| girl would have blushed, held down her head
in silence, and taken to her heels on the first
opportunity, had she received such an offer
from a stranger; but fortunately, French girls
| are not so timid high or low, they all think
| themselves entitled to attention; whether his
services are accepted or not, one can never 90
wrong in making tender of them. The party
accordingly accepted my offer, with the remark
that they felt much indebted to me for my COM
| plaisance. lmag inc me then escortng along
the high road to Tours four laughing damsels,
whose sparkling dark eyes and handsome fig
urcs made amends for the swarthy hue which Il
constant exposure to the sun had bestowed upon
their compilations. A dress of white cotton,
with scarlet sleeves and silk sash, set off their
light slender forms to the best advantage, above
which lowered lofty head dress of stiff mus
lin, covered with protusion Of glossy ribbons,
while pair Of long gilt ear rings, reaching to
the shoeldur, and Il silver crucifix or trinket
suspended by row Of glass beads from the
neck, served to complete their simple decora-
| tiOns.
We soon became the best friends in the world,
and with great gayety pursued our way for up
wards of IA mile along the margin of the river,
whose thickly wooded banks, clothed in the gay
verdure of spring and chequered with the gaudy
tints Of blossoming fruit trees, displayed to the
view every variety of brilliant coloring which
tages and villages, surrounded bysgardens and
orchards in the highest state of cultivation,
covered the slope Of the bank, whose cragey
summit was almost hid under the thick masses
of green ivy and party -colorcd moss with which
the vegetation of centuries had clothed its rug
ged 'front.' while the curling smoke, which might
be seen issuing from the crevices of the rock
showed where the daring vine dresser had hewn
for himself residence even in front of the pre-
cipice which frowned and tottered over the road
below Nature and art seemed here to have
| combined their utmost efforts to increase the
beauty of the scene. Each succeeding turn Of
the road varied without diminishing the rich
ness of the prospect, till at length the view was
terminated by the magnificent cathedral and
bridge of Tours, which could now be seen dimly
on the horizon. The sight was so interesting
that it had quite distracted my attention from
my fair companions, till renewed our eonver-
sation by inquiring the object of their journey.
"Why," said one of them, we are going tC
pay visit to young girl, whose intended hus-
band has just been taken away as a conscript
She is one of the prettiest girls in the whole dis
trict, and perhaps you shall see her too as re-
ward for your gallantry in escorting us.
Of course bowed my thanks, and at the same
time expressed wish olearn some further par
ticulars regarding the youth who had thus beer
so unfortunately baulked when on the high road
to happiness.
"His name was Jean Baptiste," continued my
informer. ''He was quite the delight Of oul
neighborhood, he was so kind, so good -humored