Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-04
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era.
BELL SMITH ABROAD.
THE POOR OF PARIS.
\ No. XII.

THE POOR OF PARIS
In no place is poverty more strictly regula-
ted, or in itself better behaved, than 10 Paris
The same trait which makes it cleanly causes
it to shrink from public gaze, and ashamed OF
its great sin, il hides in cellars or starves in
garrets, and never can be looked ON with i'm
punity, until the fearful morgue has opened its
marble jaws to expose q specimen, dead from
deprivation Poverty is here, | say, clearly
and retiring, and, but for the portended music
Of street organs, one, after quite residence,
might bear Paris as did innocent old Sir Fran
cis Head with the belief that the dense popu-
lation had no lower class, when gaunt hunger
and biting cold makes life miserable But il
is here police regulations, aided by shame
drive it from palace doors and public ways, yet
in spite of laws it is all about III. shivering in
hunger and pain with complaint until driven
wild, and all Europe is astounded by q revolt
which destroys Governments and threatens 30
Oiety itself
This disposition to shrink from exposure, or
appear we'll when discovered, ia very striking.
When subjects, victims Of sudden accidents,
are carried to the hospitals, it makes no differ
enoe how poor they may be, their persons are
clearly, and their few clothes exhibit scrupu-
lous care The professor, making his rounds
with the students, finds each patient prepared
to receive them - by a proper arrangement
of the little dress, the smoothing the hair, and
washing face and hands. Doctor B. related TO
us an instance Of this sort which struck me
very forcibly. In u female ward OF hospital,
about daylight the hour at which Dubois with
class visits the place, while they were pass
ing slowly from bed to bed upon one side Of
the long hall, our friend observed q girl sitting
on the little couch, carefully combing her hair
and arranging her dress. He observed this,
because the girl was 90 i'll he had not expected
the day before again to see her alive, and the
preparation abe made was evidently accompa-
MED with great effort, for she paused frequent
~, and continued with sad exhaustion. The
teacher and pupils passed ON, and in less then
an hour returned upon the side where b had
observed the poor girl preparing to receive
them. She had made preparation to receive
greater visitor than they--she had smoothed
her hair and folded her dress for death.
This winter 50 far has been severe upon
the poor. Bread is dear fuel scarce, and the
weather unusually cold For the first time in
many years, the Seine has been frozen solid,
and enough snow is upon the ground for sleigh
ing During the holydays was confined to
my room by i'll health, not severe enough for
the bed, yet shutting me mp; and as looked
from my window upon Place ST. Sulpice, and
saw the white fakes rudely shaken down by
the bitter north winds, said God help the
poor The Place continually suggests the
prayer as it appears in its wintry garb--an ap-
p0arance its architect made no preparation for
in fact never dreamed Of The immense foun.
tain in the centre, with its four colossal figures
Of church dignitaries sheeted in ice, has gro
tesque, chilling appearance; while the huge
lions at the base seem growing in stffened
rage as they freeze to death The naiads and
naked gods Of fountains and squares look dis
malIy out Of place through the falling snow.
The boys are not accustomed TO it--they play
in asubdued, quiet way, a. il this rough visaged
Winter were serious affair, and not 10 be
triAed with.
The voituress, in long line, seem frozen to
the ground; the drivers, very fat men, general
", are shiyering upon their boxes or walk
slowly about, beating their breasts as If on.
gagged in an insane attempt to be lively, while
the bony horses humble and snore in their
nose bags The winds roar about the great
towers Of st. Snlpice, and over the many GEN.
fury shaded walls; the bright snow dances
down from heights which made Sc. Sulpice
seem mole-hilI The fountain of STONY d.
vines and couchant lions, coated in ice, Is daz-
zIng white. The broad square IL white. The
tops Of ancient voitnres look like sheets. The
old church Is tipped with light at thousand
points Omnibuses run noiselessly, while tho
smoking horses slip and fall upon their noses,
then mp and. stagger on again. IL is winter
everywhere, but not our hearty, wholesome,
merry winter, greeted by wild shouts Of boys,
and set TO the music Of sleigh bells; but miser.
able dull shivering winter. Way up in
ssventh-story window, an old Frenchman in
red niehtcap has poked out his head and said
"saore!D He goes in and HOSTS an umbrella,
for the roof leaks in numerous places, and sug
gesfs rheumatism. The withercd old woman
ct the corner, watching her hand.cart OF or.
anges says "sacre" and she, too, sets up an
ancient umbrella which rather makes things
worse Tor while il SHOWS above ID rains be-
meath her deceptive shade. All Paris saws
"sncrc "--all France says "sacre,r 10 this vile.
stupid winter, which comes 20 uncaiIed for and
brings such misery.
All say sacsev but the little bow ON the
pavement below, and he 10 too busy trying TO
sell hrs few APPLE, 10 notice even his own SUI.
ferings Bells pommss, messiers bellies
p0mM<S D1ssdames, AN sou seniemenf un sou ~
COMES up through the cold air, thin, tremulous,
and incessant had watched that lad three
days. cannot tell Why but I had 10 look at
him. fascinated, although my heart ached as
gased ~ the suffering little figure. He was
young, quite young yet had an earnest,
thoughifnI expression, premature In the large
eyes - sadly out Of place vas the starved look
about the thin lips, blue with cold, tho sunken
cheeks and slender neck Poor little fellow,
the miserable, thin blouse hung wet about his
shivering form, while the old cap had an ugly
hole in the top, and as ! looked down could
- the sDow fall and melt And he never
sold an apple--a dozen withered, decayed
things certainly not tempting; yet he never
csassd IN bis earnest efforts Al daylight
awakened, hearing that appeal as the freezing
winter evening swept down the streets, il was
the last cry 70 csass.
MY imagination pictured some sick father,
some widowed mother or sister, depending upon
this feeble effort for daily bread. could not
look - the lIttlo sufferer any more in quiet.
and % sent Nannette with orders 10 purchase
the entire stock Of the little street merchant.
wsfched them from tho window--the glad