Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-04-20
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era.
BELL SMITH ABROAD.
No. XVIII.
JARDIN DIES PLANTEs.

JARDIN DIES PLANTES.
DEAR FRIESD: Spring comes, warm and
sunny, full OF soft reproaches upon the late Sc
we're winter, and the clear atmosphere OF Paris
seems buoyant with life. had been standing
in the warm sunlight at tho window, looking
upon Place Sc. Sulpice for almost the last time
as d resident, for 10 u few days we were to
leave our winter quarters, or home, Tor over
three months; and soon the huge fountain
would splash, and the crowd jostle the little
dwarf pound his little table, and shout "exhi
bitiou extraordinarily for other eyes, Tor other
ears. We may remove from our temporary
homes and vet we seem to leave part Of our
selves behind The chambers wherein we have
been glad, or Suffered, the doors which have
opened for ns or friends, the windows that
have given us light, the fire, places that have
smiled upon us, seem to have become part Of
ourselves; and, after long ABSENCE when We
return, they seem to smile reproach, and
have unspoken Welcomes. | think all the while
Of my successors az intorl0pers, having no
rights, and finding things very strange.
sunny morning, and ST. Sulplcc as merry
as II suffering had never existed All is noise,
and apparent confusion From and into the
ancient and narrow street Of Vieux Colombier,
at my right, the crowds jostle and throng.
Here comes an institution az Mr.. Breslin
would say, peculiar to France--a cart drawn
by miniature donkey. How the shafts rest
upon the back Of the diminutive crcature-h0w
the body Of the vehicle towers up two or three
stories high, with an old lady ut top who
seems to be exhibiting dexterons balancing
to keep her place, are points painter alone
can do Justice to. But there are times-criti-
cal periods-when the balancing comes to an
end, and the ancient lady makes the same dis
covery in herself that Sir Isaac Newton did
with the apple. This in M instance: The
streets are slippery, and donkey fatigued-he
stumblcs, he falls. The miscellaneous load OF
straw, boxes, coops, and old lady, tumble upon
him--the last, rs the French say, somewhat
bouleversed" The ancient dame picks her.
self up-she picks up her assortment of wares,
she tries to pick up tho donkey; but that ami
NAL deaf to the chick like persuasion to an
effort administered in kick, is evidently dis
gusted with the whole affair, and declines
moving. As D. says, he is conservatives
specimen of mastery inactivity "-in fact,
donkey. He is evidently "a donkey wot won't
go;n aud in the meanwhile an omnibus, which
nearly runs over them, cannot get by--a stone
cart has wound five horses tandem round the
omnibus, carriage follows the stone wagon,
and far down the street farther than we
can see-vehicles are crowding into the diff
Guilty. All the drivers, passengers, and even
spectators, scold, swear, and shout, at the
donkey; but he refuses to bulge; like many
other donkcys in this world he suddenly finds
himself famous by the force Of position alone
and rather likes it. The thing is getting to be
serious and may end in barricade yet. But
here comes two Of q body who solve oil
troubles in Paris--two policemen. They seize
Mr.. Donkey, and fairly lift him to his feet but
he refuses the proffered aid, and tumbles again.
The police deliberate--they procure q board,
and, putting it under the refractory animal,
carry him to the sidewalk the cart is pulled
away, and the street is cleared Fifteen min
utes after, | saw donkey trot away, pulling the
little old woman and her wares--the world Of
Vieux Col0mbier went on--the donkey had
lost his position.
The day was too beautiful, after our long
winter Of fogs and cold, to think of remaining
indoors and | readily accepted an invitation
from Madame l., to visit with her the Jardin
des Plantes. stipulated that we should 90 in
an omnibus. | felt some curiosity to know the
interior Of these huge, numbering affairs, that
seem forever, night and day, to be rolling along
the streets. Madame L. telegraphed one that
she designated as the proper line to carry us
to our journeys end. The conductor in uni
form, standing upon the steps, politely help to
ssah, Madame L., Lucy, myself and the dog
for my friend, hike true French woman never
10 seen separated from Pierre We were COM
tortably placed omnibus fashion, but with each
seat separated by iron arms, for which we
paid M sous apiece, and received in return
slip of paper called correspondence, which
entities us 10 places in the next omnibus when
this one left tho dir ct line. In this way, one
csn ride quite over Paris ii you understand the
correspondence, and don't 90 on a rainy day.
Iwss In my habitude, looking at my fellow
passengers ipquiringIy and making up ia my
own mind each ones pursuit and immediate
business, when comedy. dame Of thirty or
Whereabouts, suddenly bursting into tears, seiz.
cd Pierre, and pressed him 10 her heart
Madame l.. considered Pierre quite attractive
enough 30 cause this burst Of feeling look
cd ct it AZ French demonstration but Lucy
opened her large eyes like a startled fawn.
After few sob- kirses, and convulsive hugs,
tho lady recovered sufficiently to say that she
too onco had Pierre-now, alaa, no more Bot,
TO understand her story it is necessary TO 90
back tWo years in the history OF canine life in
Paris and record few facts.
At the period mention, dogs were. if posi-
ble, more the rage than now--to be without a
dog wa to be without luxury. Well, in the
midst Of this, one summer afternoon a gentle
man, with his family, walking in the Bots do
Boulogne, saw covering under some bushes n
beautiful little white lap dog. He seized the
wanderer as q prze, not however, until after
bite in the hand, which he attributed TO
spirit, and liked the little fellow all the better.
The strange pet with some difficulty was taken
homo aud snugly housed, with collar and
string to hold HIM secure. But be made an i'll
return for such kindncss-he was sullen, un-
easy, BIT every ono who attempted to carcss
him. and altogether was bad subject In a
few dAys, he became worsc--refased TO eat, his
eyss looked infamed, and were at times glar-
ing and frightfaI, while his howls and cries
were terrible to hear. One morning, the chill
dren found the cord gnawed asunder, and their
pet gone The beautiful pet was gone, but his
evil remained In short time, the horrible
symptoms Of hydrophobia manifested them