Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-11
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era.
BELL SMITH ABROAD.
No. Xxx.



hours as thoy wore slowly away, between mid
night and morning, | saw some figures with
lanterns passing from side to side IN the dark
street, and frequently pausing rs i in anxious
search. Each had his light and stick, and ~
this light shone below, tho back seemed round
cd into a huge deformty, as if hump backed
But. ON locking closer, saw that hump was q
basket, and into this basket whatever they
seaI chcd was dexterously thrown hadnev-
or heard of such beings as these and looked
with intense interest upon them as they glided
about mysteriously and earnestly in the black,
still life, Just before dawn.
These were the ahiffonnicrs or ragpickers Of
Paris, Of which Paris has over twenty thou
sand--a respectable town that would be out
West--indeed, a city--and would have minis
ters, counoilmen, merchants and lawyers; would
have its aristocracy its exclusive circles and CIV
il wars. Twenty thousand inhabitants would
own destiny; be represented in Congress, per-
haps furnish a President or Hawthorne. Cap
italists looking at the round figures 10000,
would invest and railroads stretch ont their
iron lengths to it from unknown districts Yet
twenty thousand chitfonnicrs are twenty thou
sand inhabitants, except In Paris They too
have their history perhaps their destIny--thcse
busy providers Of the night, for at night only
pursuit. But they have their history, written
in blood When tho great State tremblcs,
they come thronging out fierce and active, with
no apparent purpose, bnt with astonishing
nnanimity. They batter down palaces and
erect barbados, and Kings fly; and word goes
out to the world that Paris has revolution.
The chiffonnier is lord then.
have watched them many a time since /
first remarked the strange creatures, knowing
their character and singular life IL seemed
70 me, in thinking Of their weird existence, as
If, while tho great city was lost in sleep, they
were ghonls darling here and there, searching
In eager silence for their aliment and disap-
pearing as day approached. have left my
bed many time to see them, and remarked
with others their uniform activity. In all other
occupations we find great variety of charac-
ter, but with the chifionnier one always notices
tho same stealthy, quick tread, the same ear
nest industry
Some time since, French author, as distin-
guished in political life as in literature, made
this character the subject Of drama, that, in
the hands Of Frederic Lemaitre, the famous
actor had run unequalled even in Paris.
never saw the piece performed, but attracted
by the name Of Felix Pyat, its author, | made
it my text book in studying French for some
months | have wondered greatly at it's not
being translated and performed in America.
The character Of Jean, given BY Murdoch or
Anderson, would be very effective. Twenty
thousand people must have instances of indi-
vidnal romance and the chifonniers have
theirs. An eminent physician at one time in
Paris is now rag picker, and may be scen
when not prescribing to his brother chiffonniers
passing from heap to heap Of gathered rub
Dish, lantern in hand, like another Diogenes.
One can almost read q strange history in his
countenance. AS he takes q closer view at
some doubtful substance, and the light CLEANS
over his wrinkled face, une is startled at the
stern impression Of settled discomfort, indeed
of hatred But for the history.
The Count Rodolph Vesey was the husband
of one of the most beautiful and fascinating
women in Paris. The Count married her in a
blind is OF love, greatly to the Indignation Of
his family; for she was neither rich nor Of
noble position. He married for the beauty,
and was too stupid to discover that he was
taking more than he asked. The beautiful
Diane was as talented rs beautiful, and the
gentleman found at length that he had brought
20 his house being far superior in spirit and
intellect to himself Vain and Jealous as he
war, the discovery became a terrible annoy
ancc His gorgeous house was rendered the
most attractive 10 the city, and his dashing
wife the centre Of q wide circle, made up OF
wits, poets, stateewen, aud artists; and no ono
could claim any position in the fashionable
world, uniess recognised by Madame the
Countess. This was bad enough, at best but
the lord and master was awkard and silly, and
good-natured friends soon taught him the fact
that, while one half a tho establishment was
courted and admired, the other was avoided
and. laughed at--the old story OF Beauty and
the Beast---only this bcnHt was an ugly beast
and permitted some very bad feelings to grow
in his four nsture. The old lovo gradually
changed into bitter hate In our country
where this little drama 10 often acted as we'll
AZ eIeew here--thc husband finds relief in d.s-
epation and the poor wife, for daring to have
brilliancy, is punished by seeing her better half
a terrible animal indeed. But Frenchmen
have French nature, differing decidedly from
our old fashioned human nature; and the
Count Rodolth did not drink strong drinks, nor
did he gamble, bot tho Count helook himself
10 hard thinking, not for tho purpose Of i'm
proving his weak bead, but 10 discover, If pos
sible, some means by which TO dispose Of his
beautiful superior. She was 30 very prudent
in her conduct SO general in her attentions, that
light winged slandcr, 30 delicate and indiffer.
emit q thing in Paris, could find no spot on which
to rest The Count was sorely perplexed. lf
she would only love some one--if she would
only give him reasonable prcfcxt for abuse
what happy man he proposed TO be. This
Dame at last--tho pretext, mean for at this
day tho Countess " regarded a. n saint in
iace-a purity IN white kids. hut the occasion
Tor a rupture appeared
Well, you ask, what has All this to do with
our Doctor, the chiffonner? Be patient we
will come 70 that directly. Among the admi-
fers who surrounded the Countess was round
shouldered, hcoked-nosed, bsdIy-dressed indi.
udual, that one might call positively hou,oly
But this gentleman was witty, eloquent, and
withaI generous and sincere not generally 80
regarded, but 10 in fact. After ono passed il
one could, the outer line Of breakers and spray.
they found sunny fields and quiet dslls full Of
nature's richest stores. He appeared wealthy,
held high cficial position, and had TO the
world IN unknown history. But he was known
historically 10 our brilliant Countess
When the Countess was no Countess, but