Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-17
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For tho National Era.
BELL SMITH Alb ROAD.
No. XI.
THE ARcHBIsHoP's COOK.

letters, so that you would have space to breathe,
and time 20 recover from the astonlshment.
know We do not deserve this--it u.s. too good for
us--but when honors are thrust on one, 10 is
not prudent to decline them, for they may never
arrive again. Now, DO not propose to tax
your credulity too far by leaving you under
the impression, that tho !" Emperor has found
ns out, aud invited MS to come and pass little
time with his family, in social transformations
way BY no manner Of means the truth is,
/ have seen his Majesty but once, and then
mere glimpse--we are not on visiting terms, ms
we say at home and, instead Of being invited
in an impressive manner, to drop in and stay y
few days enc day, on attempting to enter the
Tuileries merely TO look ut the upholstery
were informed by tall gentleman in white
stockings, embracing some false calves, that it
was quite impossible, as the Emperor and fam-
ly were then its occupants. 1t was not much
Of q disappointment for you are well aware
have no great taste for upholstery; but as the
royal carriage drove to the entrance, | insisted
upon our party remaining to see France on an
airing We did not have pleasant time while
waiting, for we withdrew to the railing, where
. crowd of oilers were gathered, and peercd
through the bars After little while. Napo-
leon, accompanied by the Empress, made his
appearance.
He is not the brightest specimen Of young
man, appearing decidedly heavy, and suspect
was rather disgusted with our conductive did
not shout much. An Englshman near me
gave some hearty Dipds, very badly pronounc-
ed; indeed, it ID doubtful whether the Govern
ment knew, precisely, whatsentments John Bull
was uttering. The tall man in white stock
ings, assisted by half dozen others, expressed
a strong and loud wish for the long life OF the
Empire presume in a decline Of the En-
pre- his false calves and white stockings
would go down, as all stand upon the same
legs mean no pun. The Empress is not so
lovely as ] expected to see this descendant Of
Gusman the Valiant, but graceful, and dressed
in a snbdued, pleasant style. They dashed
away, surrounded with guards; and that was
my first and last sight Of the royal family.
OF course such slight acquaintance prom
Uses little in the way Of invitations, but we have
a friend at court--a friend oficial--one Of the
household who invites us to come at all hours
and look about ut all leisure-gaze at the beau
tlful pictures and statues, the golden hangings
and the silyery satins as il they were our own
Now, If | had little regard for the truth,
would leave you uuder the impression that this
friend was prime minister, or lord cardinal
or at least an aid de.camp--a favorite at court
with pale, delicate face, youthful grace Of fig
ure, raven curls, and dark moustache But
cannot; however painful to own, our friend at
court ia the cook--one Of the royal cooks--and
jean Baptists is q royal cook in every sense Of
the word
Now, know that this imprudent revelation
will startle some aristocratic friends and when
| return, they will not call upon me--perhaps
cut me dead. Now, protest that, rs living,
plain republicans, we should not set such store
upon posit;on--and not regard the calling, so
that it be honest But il we do consider titles,
am not so sure that there was much Of de.
scent in orr making the acquaintance Of a
royal cook. ! suspect that by the aristocracy Of
Europe, who settle all such things, q royal cook
a head bottle-washor to the Emperor, wonld
be considered as outranking o republican ex-
judge, or colonel, or general, or any other of
the vast army of the titled in our Union. The
royal cook has the advantage of at least fol-
lowing useful pursuit and basing his title
on something--which il more than | can
say for some Of my American friends when
here, who run after and stoop before certain
gentry-such, for instance, az q the Right Hon.
orable Lord 49,, of Castle -, High
Keeper Of the Robes, and Most High Custodian
of the Bootjack to- her Majesty Queen Victoria,
Sovereign Sc, which Office is something of
sinecure "Oh simple republicans as Car
lyle says, eye who condemn the swallow-tail
and make war on the false calves Of the eonrt
costume, bow not down before the high Custo-
dian OF the Bootjack!p But add, let me in.
troduce you 10 good, fat jolly, Jean Baptistc the
royal cook, who asks no lowly homage, but IL
qaite condescending and kind to us
Our acquaintance with Monsieur the Cook
came, ike many other good things in this world
quite unexpectedly, and in this manner. His no.
hnese the good Archbishop Of - had visited
Paris for medical advce, rs the old gentleman.
approaching eighty years ofage, found il difficult
TO carry any disorders whatsoever with that many
winters-from one to thirty we should count
by summer from that until the closing scene,
by winters He, with his family, consisting of
sister almost A. old and much thinner than
his excelency, and a young girl, relative,
ward and exceedingly beautiful, with their do
mesticr, occupied the grand apartments Of mai
son, while we had the petit apartments ON the
same floor Thed,ffcrence, in way Of grandeur.
wasdecidedly in favor of the grand apartments .
the comfort leant towards tho petit. | say this
in extenuation--for, although we had beau.
tifni view from one set Of our salon windows,
OF the Queen OF Sweden's gardens another set
looked into the arc.rbshop's kitchen but they
were very comfortable, nevertheless Lying upon
the sofa two thirds cf my time, with my back
10 the lighter windows for the FAKE of the
French romanccs was reading, every time
paused to r, feet upon the acts Of Dumass ri.
ant killers, or Hngos pocties, my eyes would
naturally fall into the kitchen Of his excellency
the Archbishop where that jolly, royal cook
was pursuing his avoeations | suppose nv
little, pale face, telling % evident illness, smotc
upon The tsnder heart Of Monsieur the Cook.
for he inquired apxiously oi Nennestc, my maid
a. TO my health and from this he, with many
apologies, went 50 far ~ 70 prepare little del
-
Of immense benefit 10 madame's health The
Archbishop's ward. who used 10 be in the kitch-
en- ono half ber time, chatting with Jean, be-
came intensely Interested, and the dclieacics
can,e 10 her name | gave Jean full credit for
al, however, ~ he was never 30 happy ne when
ding good-natured action
picture charity now, not slender maiden
wrapped in sheet and set on a monument,
but aa Cat. merry cook. under paper can.