The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-11-23
Misfrllaneolls.
From Chambers Journall
AN EVENING WITH JASMIN.

| had heard Of Jasmin, the barber.poet
Of Agen, years ago; and had read his
works TOO, which is more than every one
can say. | had also had always a great
curiosity to see him, and was therefore
very glad to receive an invitation to a
"soiree chez Madame la Marquise de
B." where &" Jasmin s'y Touvera "
twill be there were the magnetic words
which were to attract The great world. He
was 10 lead some of his published poems
his PdpilOtos, or Curl-papers, with
their literal translation in French; for JAS
min writes in the Gascon dialect, the old
Langue doc of the troubadours-whch
is kind Of mixture of French and Italian,
only that it is more sonorous, rich and
masculine, than either; as noble and state.
ly as the Spanish, with more grace and
more tenderness. Accordingly at little
past nine, | presented myself at the hotel
Of Madame Ia Marquise, whose salons,
even at this early hour, | found filled 10
overaowing with many of the old nobility
Of France. As she herself expressed il I;
1T was a 81. Germans night" High.
sounding names were ihere--pages Of his
tory every one Of lhem-and intellect and
beauty; all assembled 10 do honor to the
hairdresser Of a small provincial Town on
the Garronne, who wrote in Patois, and
wore no gloves; practical illustration Of
the honor paid in France To intellect, and
Of the aaectionate kind Of social democra.
cy which is so beautiful there. Indeed,
among very many virtues in French socie'
,y, none is SO delightful, none so cheering
none so mutually improving, and none
more Christian, than The kindly intercourse
almost equality, Of all ranks Of society
and the comparatively little importance at
lachcd 10 wealth or condition where there
is intellect and power.
Athalf.pasl nine, precisely, short, stou
dark-haired man, with large, bright eyes
and mobile, animated facd-his button
hole decorated with the red ribbon of the
Legion Of Honor, and an enormous ring
on the fore.6nger Of not very clear
handmade his way through the rich at
tire and starry wealth Of jewels, to small
table placed in one corner Of the large sa
lon, whereon were books-his own Curl
papers-a caraie of fresh water, two can
dies, and vase Of flowers. The ladie.
ranged themselves in a series Of brillian
semicircles before him the men BLOCKED
up the doOrways, and peered over eacl
others shoulders; he waved his hands
like The leader Of an orchestra indicating {
subdued movement, and general silence
sealed all those fresh, noisy lips, like I
sudden sleep falling on grove of perro
quels. One naughty little brunette, no
long from her convent, giggled audibly
but Jasmin's eye trans6xed her, and the
poor child sat rebuked and dumb. Salts
fed now, the hero Of the evening aguir
waved his hands, gave preliminary
cough, tossed back his hair, suddenly
"sIruck an attitude" and began his poem
The lion roared, aud roared in real earn
est.
He read first a piece which contained
nothing very particular, excepting an ap
peal for help towards the building of !
church. The church had been built and
endowed years ago, but by the manner in
which Jasmin read his poem, you nigh
have believed /, case of the most urgen
present distress. He claspcd bis hands
he looked up to heaven, he half knelI IN
the iervor Of his beseeching application
tears started into his eyes, and his voice
shook with emotion, and then he laughed
invnnslv like n child. lnnkinn rnnnh fnr