Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-05
LITERARY MESSENGER.

The April number of the Southern Literary
Messenger has been laid upon our table and we
have been much interested in looking over its
agreeable contents. The poetry is graceful and
pleasing and the prose articles for the most part
entertaining and instructive. We regret that
our limited space compels to- do such scant JUS
tice to the talent and literary taste exhibited in
every page of this excellent monthly Journal
The following is list of the more important arti-
Giles ..Notes and Commentaries Voyage to
China" History of Richmond" "Poetry and
Religion" '.Scenes beyond the Western Bor
der;" "Michel Bonham; or the Fall of Bexar;"
albert, Prince Consort of England Ralph
Waldo Emersons History" and part of an eo
quent address on the opening of the Richmond
Athenaum by Judge John Robertson" In the
letter from Mr.. Thompson's Paris correspondent,
which lends another charm to the number, we
find very lively description of the amusements of
the Parisians during the season of the Carnival,
from which we take the liberty of making the
following extract. But before doing this and in
justice to its industrious and talented Editor, we
commend the Messenger to all persons who de-
light in elegant literature.
AS general rule Paris is quiet after midnight
country town. fIOue rom London ana even from New
York and New Orleans, complain of this being behind
the age The conservation of the whole night olics
is interesting in Paris therefore, both novelty and
furnishing young France and to certain extent, young
England and young America, opportunity of devel
opment Be sure the opportunity is embraced and
everyquarer OF Paris, within and without the Barriers
presents and unaccustomed aspect. During the
early part the evening the shops Of the Costwes
crowdedwith impatient customers trying every article of
disguise which they can lay hands and tormentng
the poor undisguised Snowman and the fussy little wife,
who has rushed to his assistance until they wish them
selves into the middle OF Lent From ten O'Clock till
midnight groups of masquers found rocking through
the principal streets blowing penny tumpets and making
all kinds of hideous NOISES in imitation of birds and
beasts; dancing lmprovsed polkas and waltzes the
pavemens; clustering together in friendly wine shops
rushing again salute if not embrace the fist passer
by; $50 that he be Gendarme and finally charter
lot of cabs and coaches, and some of the creatures
inside and out driving through the fmi
rate, and making night hideous with their gh tu
Glamour.
No part of Paris contributes more literally this ram
pant reckless of dissipation than the Quarter La
tnhe quarter of the students These incipient savans
into the with enthusiasm all their own
Carnival is their red letter that their studies
such violent reaction but rather because the
tendance Prado during the winter and the Chauaert
and Closer des Lla during the summer and the Cafes
and concerts at all seasons becomes at last weari
and ennngant-in fact, becomes too much like work. Con
trivng then, to have his quarterly remittance arrive the
right moment to prepare for the numerous expenses
the olic, the student fogets for the tme his law his
medicine and his philosophy, and gives himself entire
y what he calls the "soemnities of the season. Ac
companied by his petite whom he tricks usually
gdrcoa with pink blue satin trowsers and appleworS
Of embroidered musin he flies about from ball to bail
night after night until the very rather the very
dawn of Lent, when you may find him sti supported by
his petite standing upright in open carriage, his ha
streaming in the wind the poeng at his and
he the driver whose eyes like those of the day
but half opento make all haste to be in time for the
Descent from Cou,tHe