The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-05-19
From Ms National Era.
RELL SMITH ABROAD.
THE poor OF PARIS.


Paris. The same trait that makes II clean.
ly causes il 10 shrink from public gaze, and,
ashamed Of its great sin, il hides IN cellars,
or siarves in garrels, and never eau be looked
OH with impunily, until the fearful moreue
has opened its marble jaws 10 expose spec.
linen, dead from deprivation. Poverty is
here, | say, cleanly and retiring, and, but
for the portended music ofs,reet organs, one
after a quie, residence, might bear Paris, Us
did innocent old Sir Francis Head, with the
belief that The dense population had no low
or class, when gaunt hunger and biting cold
makes life miserable. But il Is here police
regulations, aided by shame, drive il from
palace doors and public ways, yet in spite
OF laws il is all about Us, shivering in hun
ger and pain with complaint until driven
wild, and all Europe is as,ounded fly "A rev.
Olulion which destroys Governments and
threaten society ITSELF
This disposition 10 shrink from exposure,
or appear well when discovered, is very
striking. When subjects, victims Of sudden
accidents, are carried 10 the hospitals, il
makes no difference how poor they may be,
their persons are cleanly, and their few
clothes exhibit scrupulous care. The pro-
iessor making his rounds with The students,
finds each patient prepared 10 receive them
by proper arrangement OF the 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 a female ward OF hospital, about day.
light, the hour al which Dubois with class
visits the place, while they were passing
slowly from bed 10 bed upon one side OF the
long hall, our friend observed girl sitting
OH the little couch, carefully combing her
hair and arranging her dress. He observed
this because the girl was so i'll he had not
expected the day before again 10 see her
alive, and the preparation she made was
eyideuily accompanied with great effort,
for she paused frequently, and continued
with sad exhaustion. The teacher and pu.
pills passed on, and in less than an hour, re-.
turned upon the side where B. had observed
the poor girl preparing 10 receive greater
visitor than ihey-she had smOothed her
hair and folded her dress for death.
This winter, SO 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 fro
zen solid, and enough snow is upon the
ground for sleighing. During the holidays
was confined 10 my room BY i'll health,
not severe enough Tor the bed, yet shutting
me up; aud as looked from my window
on Place ST. Sulpce, and saw the white
flakes rudely shaken down by the bitter
north winds, I said, God help the poor! The
Place continually suggests the prayer as ii
appears in its wntry garb-an appearance
its architect made no preparations for, in
fact, never dreamed Of. The immense
fountain in The centre, with its four colossal
figures Of church digniiaries sheeted in ice,
has grotesque and chilling appearance |;
wi lie The huge lions at the base seem growl-
ing in slifIened rage as they freeze 10 dealh
The naiads and naked gods of fountains and
squares look di,mally out Of place through
the falling snow the boys are not accus.
toned 10 it-lhey play in a subdued, quiet
way, as ifihis rough.visaged Winter were
serious affair, and no, 10 beirifled with.
The voi,ures, in long line seem frozen
10 the ground the drivers, very fat men,
generally, are shivering upon their boxes,
or walk slowly about, beating their beasts,
as il engaged in an insane attempt 10 be
lively, while the bony horses humble and
snore in ,her nosebags. The winds roar
abont,he great towers OF ST. Sulpce, aud
over the many cen,urs shaded walls the
bright snow dances down from heights,
which make ST. Sulpice seem mole.hill.
The fountain OF stony diyines and ccuchant
lions, coated in ice, is dazzling whlto. The
broad square is white. The tops OF ancient
yoilures look like sheets. The old church
is tipped with white at thousand points.
Omnibnsses run noisely, while the smoking
horses slip and fall upon their noses, then
up and siagger on again. II iswinter every.
where, bui no, our hearty, wholesome, mer.
ry winter, greeted with wild shouts Of boys,
and set 10 the music OF sleigh.bells; bui
miserable, dull, shivering winisr. Way
up in seventh story window, all old French
man in red nighlcap, has poked out his
head and said sacre!" He goes In and
hos,s an umbrella, for the rool leaks in nu-
merous places, and suggests rheumatism.
The wilhered old woman al the corner,
watching her hand-cart Of oranges, says
sacre,n and she too, sets up an ancient
umbrella, which rather makes things
worse; for while ], SHOWS above, il rains
beneath her deceptive shade. All Paris
says "sacre "-all France says "sacre T"
10 this vile, stupid winter, which comes SO
rncalled for and brings such misery.
All say "sacre" but the little boy on Tho
pavement below, and he is Too busy Trying
10 sell his few apples, TO notice even his
own sufTerings. a Bellies pommes ,rnsssie,srs; ;
bellies pommc, mesdame, un sou, ssuiemenf un
sox comes up through Tho cold air, thin,
tremulou,, and inccssant. i had watched
iha, lad three days. cannot tell why, bul
I had 10 look al him. fascinated, although my
heart ached as gazed ai the suffering little
figure. He was young, quite young, yet
had an earnest, thoughtful expression, pre-.
mature in the large eyes; as sadly out Of
MACE was the starved look about the thin
iins. blue with cold, the sunken cheeks, and
slender neck. Poor little fellow the mis-.
erabIe, Thin blouse hung we, about his shiy.
ering form, while the old cap had an ugly
hole in the top, and, as ! looked down, ]
could see the snow TALL and melt. And he
never sold an apple-a dozen wilhered, de-
cayed things, certainly not tempting yet
he never ceased in his earnest efforts. All
daylight, awakened, hearing that appeal
rs the freezing winter evening swept down
the streets, il was The last cry 10 cease.
Ny imagination pictured some sick faith.
err, some widowed mother or sister. depend.
ing upon this feeble effort for daily bread.
could not look at the little sufferer any
more in quiet, and so sent Nanneiie with
orders 10 purchase the entire stock Of the lit.
,le street merchant. watched them from
the window-lhe glad light which Ii, up|
his thin, pale face, Us she i,ok his apples
tho eagerness with which he brought ou,
an old piece Of brown paper, and insisted in
an attempt to tie them up, are beyond my