Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-07-11
Hisfrllnofnlls.
STREET R0MANCES.

great writer has said that you cannot walk
the streets without eneountering a romance,
and the remark has more truth in it than is
generally believed. The saddest and gayeSt
volumes, the most dramatic histories, the
most extravagant Yaudevilles, the most singu-
lar tales, pass by You every day under silk and
broadcloth but the volume is closed, the his
tory is mute, yet its presence may be recog-
nized; there may be only rough sketch, but
the sketch is visible.
Shall we take amid thousand Fol-
low US into the labyrinth of streets, and we
have only to choose.
Do you know the Lady of The Hat? She
has never been produced upon the stage, but
she drives every day in the Camps Elysees, or
the Bois de Bonlogne. The frequenters Of these
places have remarked her for long time
She is always alone, half-reclining in her car
riage, with little dog lying upon the chush-
ions opposite to her. No one accosts her,
and she recognizes
Her application is derived from the hats
which she wears, and which she changes every
day. She has seven, one for each day of the
week, and the color OF one day never encroach-
es upon that of the next. Monday is devoted
3 to white. Tuesday to blue, Wednesday to straw
color, Thursday to pink, Friday TO brown,
Saturday to grey, Sunday to green.
What does this regularity amid variety
mean? Why all these hats, and what mystery
Is concealed under their tints2 Is the lady a
Partisan provincial, or foreigner Is she
widow or wife? Does she desire an s' ex-
change of souls,'' as the romances say, and
does she seek in the Camps Elysecs the blue
bird of her dreams or, like the Calypso OF
the fables, is she consolng herself for the dis
appearance of her Illusions.
Seven Illusions; it is quite enough.
II chance had led you to the Rue Pigale, al
the corner of the Lue de la Rugere, a week
or two since, you might have seen coupe
with two horses, standing every day at the
angle of the sidewalk. The coachman was OIL
his seat. reins in hand, footman walked bach
and forth by its side. This empty coupe serv
ed as a clock to all the street. At the frs
sound of its wheels the neighbor's said, '' 1t i
ten O'Clock there is the coupe"
But if il arrived at a fixed moment, it wa
by no means soregular tits departure Some
times it remained but few moments, at 9th
ers it might be seen in the same place at three
or four in the afternoon. If any idler aske'
the coachman what he was doing there, he re
piled invariably ss do not know
The departure of the coupe always coin
cided with the passing of a nursery maid, VIII
trotted along the house in white apron and
little bonnet, with the most innocent air i
the world She held in her hand book or
tmt
flower.
If the little nursery maid, who never spok
either to coachman or footman, came by tn
Rae Pigale, the coupe drove away by the Rs
nc la Bruycre If, on the contrary, she cam
by the Rue de la Bruyere, the coupe departe
by the Rue Pigale.
Eight days since, the coupe did not max
its appearance at its accustomed corner, no
has the little nursery maid since been seem
The neighbors remembered only, that the la
time she appeared, she had neither book, ne
syork-basket, nor flower in her hand.
The romance has broken off at its first vo
ame.
a little mystery, three or four years old
had for its theater the Rae des Trois- Freres.-
This street was bordered on the right by tt
wall of large garden, which communicate
with the street by small door, with poc
fastening. and which appeared very old.
was of the same color the wall, and won
not be readily noticed.
No one had ever seen it open during Il
day, but often at night, betweeutwo and thr
in the morning, it opened suddenly, brig
light was thrown across the street, and m'
ieaped from the garden upon the sidewalk