The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-11-24

hotel de Tours, we would like to have some
butter. don't mean several pounds, such az
Western American is accustomed to, but
sufhcient--sufhcient Monsieur Charles--and
Monsieur Charles, another iowl-say the twin.
sister Of this late unfOrtunate-and Monsieur
Charles, II 1t would not create famine in the
Empire, cause barricaGes b rise, and Gov
eminent 90 down, we would like to have
little more bread, and another beef-steak"
This, translated into French brought forth,
first a stare Of establishment, then the yiauds
The breakfast, with these additions, was ex-
| cellent True, we missed fthe light biscuits,
the hot cakes, corn bread, and the many sub
| stantlal articles of an American breakfast
How these French manage 10 live on the shad-
owy trihes here called food, cannot make ont
it is another mystery of Paris. ! am satisfied,
the want of substance is working degeners-
tor. The French will never be free, or capa-
bic of set-governmens until they suppress
soups and st engthen themselves on beef, corn
cakes, buekwhcats, and a. undsnce of the best
vegetables
After breakfast d. went in search of Robert
NJ, (mOre familiar to us as DR.. Bob,l long
known and much-esteemed friend here, pursu-
ing his medical studies; and Lucy and began
to look around, 20 define, il possible, our posi-
the sound of music, and looking into the court
saw boy playing on tho violin, accompanied
by two girls with harps. They made beautiful
music, this youthful band, and sous showered
down from many An open window. They
were quite young in years, these little musi-
clans, but old, very old in expression. What
hard faces what depth of experience, in the
dark Italian eyes They had looked poverty
and povertys fearful train in the face, without
shrinking they had shaken hands or nestled,
these children, in the arms Of Vice and-the
boy, especially--bad beauty CONCEALED petrifed
as il were, in their faces; while their selfpos-
session, ease, nouchalanoe, were very striking.
This court of the Hotel de Tours seemed ia
vorite resort of the wandering minstrels The
youthful band was followed by hand organ,
graced by two trained dogs, and accompanied
by a tambourine the one turned by woman,
the other beat by "a man, supported on a wooden
leg. The dogs, however, were the stars-one
held a basket in his mouth, while the other,
seated on his hind legs held out his fore paws
| in the most prayerful manner. The animals
we're evidently bored by the whole perform
ance. The moment the faces Of the humans
were turned from them, they would como down,
with congratulatory wag OF their tails, and
| a relieved expression Of countenance, truly
ridiculous Then, how quick the poor things
would jump into position at the slightest
| glanse from their hard taskmasters After
the dogs, We had very gsntlemanly-looking
Youth who, without instrument of any sort
sang variety of songs, IN Italian and French
| The shower of copper was not very abundant
and the poor fellow withdrew looking very sad
After him appeared woman, well dressed and
closely yeiled--so closely yelled, that her face
could not be seen at all-and sung, in sweet,
but very thin voice, like her predecessor, with
out instrumental accompaniment some very
sad airs. There was something in her appear
ance that brought up an eStra hesrt-ache, and
caused ME TO throw her riivor instead of copper.
Indeed, such was the effect, generally from
windows all round came the money-from
windows. in fact that must have been entirely
out Of all hearing Of the v0ce.
Hotel de Tours although pretending to be
built about court, is ycfy rambling concern,
and has wings that lock as if they were dis
posed togo over 10 other buildings and be on
other streets more retired You can look up
and see balconies quite wild and dormer win.
dows seven and eight stories from the ground
inhabited by faces you meet IN the restaurant
or dining-room. Our queer little box OF room
gaily decorated with stained glass, crimson
curtains, and painted bright as rainbow, wa
set quite on the roof of another building, at 9
lowering height from the street. 1t must hav,
taken the occupant the greater part OF his val.
liable time to ascend and return again. would
watch him as an astronomer might very
distant constellation he was a spare old man
quito visible, on clear days to the naked eye, in
dressing gown and crimson cap, smoking a
pipe. By the aid of a powerful lorgnette,
could make out that this heavenly body took
snuff, and had an ennuied appearance, as if
not altogether satisfied with bis sphere
From the court we turned, Lucy and !, to
the street-our windows looked on both. Di-
rectly in front was the merchants beautiful
exchange, here called the Bourse, and before a
long line Of boxy.looking carriages, with the
drivers half asleep sitting above their horses.
They were evidently public hacks, but 30 in
different to the public, 30 little caring whether
they had a fare or not ! could scarcely recog-
Mise them The crowd passed to and fro, but
no driver asked to be employed When one
was engaged, the Indifferent whip kept his
place, simply handing the party something, a
card believe, and driving wherever directed.
Different this from Washington, where stand
ing before the ladies' entrance to the "Nation.
al Hotel" we have been fairly mobbed and
hack.d driven through our very brain, until near
ly crazed. This place de Ia Bourse, presents
the nearest approach to business in all Paris /;
and yet it is as distinctive in its character az
the more idle and merry Boulevards No one
could possibly mistake it for any part Of New
York There is a fuzziness about it, if one may
use such an expression. The men move quick
| w. but have no earnestness in their faces: they
seem TO be pretending to work. They are too
dressy--their moustaches and whiskers are
quite too well trimmed for people who really
have minds, and something on them. You miss
the pale dyspeptic anxiety of New Workers,
where business has the weight of q worldwide
commerce, the destiny OF nations in keeping
and to the individual all the uncertainty of
gambling. Well, the look is q true indication Of
the facts, am told.
France il made up of garden patches, and its
commerce and man ufactures devoted to trifies
French business is a sham; French religion is
a sham; French people are shams, vibrating
between barbados and despotism. While
looking at the trlfiers on the pavement, heard
above the uproar Of voitures stages, street
criers, and hand-organs-a din OF voices sound
ing like the supernumerary huzzas of the stage
| on the entrance Of some royal parsonage. |
could scarcely credit that they came from the
interior of the beautiful edifce before us, yet
such was the fact The Bourse was in full OPP
GRAFTON Of Frcnchmans idea of business. |
was no impressed with it, that insisted upon
inspecting the singular concern closer; and, the
same day, we made the visit Going to the
front we passed two imposing figures, cut in
dark stone, and purporting TO represent the
genius of Commerce and Peace We assembled
a flight of steps, gave our par@ols TO an attend
ant old lady as we entered the door, and pro
ceeded up winding fight to the gallery. The
sight and sounds were startling. We looked
down upon what seemed a mob in black, run
ming, shouting, crowding, and gesticulating. 10
a circular pen near the counter, protected by
an iron. rail, were a few bald patriarchs, whose
chief business seemed to be To receive slips Of
paper, and toss them out again. Dat OF the con.
fusion could make nothing For while !