The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-20
For the National Era.
BELL SMITH ABROAD.
LE CHIFFoNNIER DE PARIS.

DEAR FRIEND: During Lucy's last illness
as was counting by the window the weary
hours as they 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 as if in anxious
search. Each had his light and stick, and as
this light shone below, the back seemed round
ed into huge deformity, as if hump-backed.
But, on looking closer, saw that hump was a
basket, and into this basket whatever thoy
|, searched was dexterously thrown. hadrev-
er 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 chifonniers or rag-pickers OF
Paris, of which Paris has over twenty thou
sand-a respectable town that would be out
West-indeed, q city--and would have minis
ters, councilmep, merchants andlawyers; would
have its arstocracy its exclusive circes, and CIV
il wars Twenty thousand inhabitants would
own destiny; be represented in Congress, per-
haps furnish President or q Hawthorne. Cap
italists, looking at the round figures 90 600
would invest, and railroads stretch out their
iron lengths to it from unknown districts. Yet
twenty Thousand chiifonniers are twenty thou.
sand Inhabitants, except in Paris. They too
have their history, perhaps their destiny--these
busy providers of the night, for at night only
are they abroad, silently following their strange
pursuit But they have their history, written
in blood. When the great State trembles,
they come thronging cut fierce and active, with
no apparent purpose, but with astonishing
unanimity. They batter down palaces and
erect barricades, and Kings fly; and word gees
out to the world that Paris has revolution.
The chiHonnier is lord then.
have watched them many time since
first remarked the strange creatures, knowing
their character and singular life. II seemed
to me, in thinking of their weird existence, as
if, while the great city was lost in sleep, they
were ghouls darting here and there, searching
in eager silence for their aIiment, and disap-
pearing as day approached. | have left my
bed many time to soc them, and remarked
with others their uniform activity. In all other
occupations we find great variety of charac-
ter, but with the chiffonnier one always notices
the 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 unequailed even in Paris.
by the name of Felix Pyst, its author, | made
it nv text book in studying French for some
months. have wondered greatly at its not
being translated and performed in America
The character Of Jean, given by Murdoch OF
Anderson, would be very effective. Twenty
thousand people must have instances of indi-
vidusl romance, and the chiffonniers have
theirs An eminent physician at one time in
Paris il now rag picker, and may be seen,
when not prescribing to his brother chiffonniers
passing from heap to heap Of gathered rub
bish, lantern in hand, like another Diogenes
One can almost read a strange history in his
countenance As he takes closer view al
some doubtful substance, and the light CLEANS
over his wrinkled face enc 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 Q
blind ft 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 ne asked. The beautiful
Diane was as talented as beautiful, and the
gentleman found at length that he had brought
TO his house being far superior in spirit and
intellect to himself Vain and jealous as be
was. the discovery became a terrible annoy
ancc. His gorgeous house was rendered the
most attractive in the city, and his dashine
wife the centre of wide circle, made up o.
wits. poets, statesmen, and artists; and no one
could claim any position in the fashionable
world. unless recognised by Madame the
Countess. This was bad enough, at best; but
the lord and master was awkard and silly, and
cood-naturcd friends soon taught him the fact
that while one half of the establishment was
courted and admired, the other was avoided
and laughed at-the old story of Beauty and
The Beass-only this beast was an ugly beast
and permitted some very bad feelings to grow
| h his sour nature. The old love gradually
| CHANGED into bitter hate. In our country
whore this little drama is often acted, as vel
| ne eIsewherc-thc husband finds relief In dis
sipation and the poor wife, for daring to have
brillianey, il punished BY seeing her better nal
a terrible animal indeed. But Frenchner
| have French nature, differing decidedly from
our old.fashioned human nature; and the
| Count Rodolph did not drink strong drinks, MOI
| did he gamble; but the Count betook himsel
to hard thinking, not for the purpose OF I'M
proving his weak head, but to discover, pos
sible, some means by which TO dispose OF al
| beautiful superior She was 30 very prudent
| in her conduct 80 general in her attentions tina
| Hrht winged Islander, so delicate and indlfter
| ant q thing in Paris, could find no spot on which
"a rest. The Count was sorely perplexed. L
abe would only love some one--f she woult
| onIv rive him reasonable pretext for abuse
What happy man he proposed to be. Thu
came at last-the pretext, mean for at thu
day the Countess is regarded as saint u