The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-04-13
The Broken Pane.

A question now universally asked in
every society in Paris is, "Have you seen
the broken window?"
This refers to an accident of very ex-
traordinary nature. followed, however. by
very improbable result, which occurred
few days since, in the rue de la Bourse.
M. Moliere, shoemaker in that street,
has had fortune, '.thrust upon him. by a
cart knocking against his shop window.
Rather late st night a restive horse backed
a cart against the iron shutters OF his shop
front with such force that pane Of plate
glass Immediately behind the part struck
was cracked into thousands Of splinters.
NJ. Moliere's first care was to secure the
address of the owner oi the horse and
cart. and in the morning he was about to
send for glazier, whose bill he would
have charged to the person responsible for
the tresspass upon his property; but his
window was cracked in such manner as
no window ever was before, and Nj. Moli,
ere observed that every passer-by in the
street stopped to look at it, and exclaimed
"How curious!'' "How extraordinary. !"
During the whole day crowd was col
lected in front of the house. 1t then oc-
Cured to NJ. Moliere that since his broken
window appeared to possess such altrac-
tions for the public, it might answer to
make the public pay for the qualification
of their curiosity. Accordingly he put up
his outside shutter and charged one franc
a head for admittance to his shop. Visit
ors hocked to the exhibition, and in few
hours the fame of it spread far and wide.
Not single particle Of glass has fallen
out, but the cracks radiating from the GEN.
tire with wonderful regularity are SO nu-
muerous. that the pane presents the ap-
pearance of a gigantic cobweb. Seen from
the interior OF the shop by gaslight, it re.
fleets the prisma,ic colors with extraordi-
nary brilliancy, and may be compared to
peacock's tail.
| A speculator has offered the enormous
sum of 1000 francs for the purchase of the
fragile property. and the offer has been re-
fused. M. Moliere calculates that he shal
receive that sum in francs from the Paris
ians alone, and afterwards the pane may
be removed in its iron frame and carried
round the provinces.
This event has made more sensation
than any other that has occurred in Pari:
since New Years Day. The excitemen
is on the increase. Crowds too poor I,
pay the admission money stand about tn
house to talk over the story, and mathe
matical students in the Quarter Latin ar
working problems, in the confident hop
of finding out how to crack another win
dow in the same way.
II
THE following we suppose to be snoth
, er version of the same story. The pan
: Of glass referred to. is, doubtless, the larg
"plate glass; frequently seen in the shop
in cities, of the full size of the windows
al The following extract from the Par
: correspondence of the Republic, is dec
q dedly French. 1t starts an interestin
u question for lawyers:-"To whom does
J. broken pane of glass belong? II you ca
Q decide. under the circumstances of II
n case am going ie relate, you will set
q vexed question al rest The other night
n carriage. badly guided, dashed upon Il
sidewalk, and the pole passed through Il