Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-24
NUMBER 1852.
The war OF the windows.

i
| About the best bit of French pen-coquetry that
we have seen in an age. Eds Home journal.
With no intention of undertaking our brave
generals, would assert that the art of strategy is
| not alone contained in "Treatises upon Fortfca-
tions"--the manner Of reducing place Is not ex-
cnsyely learned by the students Of the Polytecl,-
| mic school. The sieges of Troy, Of Rochelle, Of
Sebastopol are not the only heights which IL has
1 tested and tried mathematical science to level.
There are other campaigns, less murderous truly,
but which have their chances of war and their un-
expected successes. L will tell you Of one Of these
in which was the besieger.
/ have, opposite to my window, a window which
was always closed The curtains of snowy muslin,
! lined with light blue, betrayed who was the presd-
ing goddess, and that she was blonde; brunette
would have chosen rose-color or yellow When
| night came. n servant-maid closed the shutters
with jealous care. Il was a woman who lived there
without doubt. A cavalry officer (who had had
the experience Of 1850 would have given no
thought to his shutters; and merchant would
| have had linen shades.
The street Is narrow The houses are immedi-
ately opposite one another, and with scarcely
spectful distance between them. II would seem
as If they wished to chat over the events of their
two hundred years Of neighborhood. One day !,
in my turn, was inspired with the desire to know
more Of my neighbor. Is she ugly thought i;
is she handsome, and a firtY The latter cannot
be. 1t is only the Madonnas who seek to hide
themselves in inches. The Venus Callipiges do
not object to let you gaze on their beauty Iii
| truth, have the leisure, free heart, and an adj
venturous spirit, and / wish, most gracious win
dow, tosce what you conceal so carefully from me,
and to make regular siege tliercto--but loyal
siege and above all, / will wage war sincerely,
! frankly, and courteousy. | will not enter the
home fmy goddess, as did the Greeks, by means
/ Of monstrous toy viii not follow the example
of Louis XIV, before Utrecht, and make the baker
| tipsy so as to take it by famine. / will use all
| honorable means.
| It is an admirable season for campaign--Spring
is in her prime The sky is clear the earth is dot
ted with flowers the air is laden with perfume. 1t
will be but pastme to dig the trenches.
/ Such were my reflections.
And now you shall follow the daily events of my
campaign, for will read to you from the Journal
which kept Of its progress.
/ DRAWING MY PLANS.
| (The following day. 1.-THE weather is most favor
able for the opening Of SIEGE The heat is that
of June; the window is open, although have seen
1 no one but the caretaker of the shutters. | might
bribe her, dare say, at small cost; but that il
| too much like an Italian drama. / seize my opera
glass. y have visited the apartment
and am well satisfied with my first reconnoitrc.
The furniture is simple-a sign of distinction. The
piano is small; q miniature Erard, which bears
testimony to small hands. Upon stand is a piece
brilliant colors. Does my beauty Qike Penelope Of
old destroy the work Of each day, at its close? Is
this embroidery pair of slippers for some Ulysses
who is absent upon an official survey
THE FIRST HosrILITIEs.
| April, all radiant, smiles in the fields the
weather is that of fairy lHld u the enemy has at
last appeared at her cAses,get Thou goddess
armed! The beauty Is tall Essceful, elegant; but
| / have seen only hercyes-two Paixhan guns,
whose fire is incessant. She gave me but single
| glance, and my heart is conquered All, the
glance Of pretty woman will penetrate father than
| Mine-rife.
MORE REcoSSorrERISo.
| After having recovered from this first alarm, I
have more closely examined the besieged. She IL
woman scarcely twenty-five; a blonde with
black eyes She Is graceful, digni6ed without
haunr. She Is evidently not young girl who
has the art of pleasing entirely TO learn She Is
something Of coquette, without being frt she
Is gay, but not hoidcnish she Is selfpossesscd,
without boldness she is not married woman
1 the slippers have as yet no owner
have watched her, myself being concealed
| for, to let her know the pleasure take in so do
/ ing, would have closed the window In my face As
IL Is she has dropped the curtain, (her first par.
allel y she thinks cannot see her; but can dis
tingush her rosy face behind the folds ofthe muslin
The enemy is diaraite-uneasy-preo
the day has not been lost.
THE AMBuscADE.
| They have been busy all the evening they
have lighted candles, many shadows have been
moving in this uncertain light, and have followed
with interest their outlines as they have been
| sketched upon the wall. have distinguished many
plants about the room---not only boqnets, but
plants In pots, in fanciful baskets and flowers
| too of the coming season, rather than this. To
skilful general the least thing Is revelation. This
Il ~ and ltaoa indfcafaa
i Let us see the almanac. IL will tell me her name
| perhaps
II Is the evening Of the ninth of April, the fes.
tival Of St. Jules she is named Julie, without
doubt -- JULKl All well as know how TO
address her, we are no longer strangers. shall
| be able 70 write sonnets TO her, and anagrams.
| Il is night; the moon shines brilliantly. She has
i appeared at her window, cold and disdanful Of my
/ mute admiration; but the moon Immediately above
| her head pities me, and in the reflection upon my
| white wall IL thrown her shadow | have sketch
ed il, and 1t Is the outline Of figure which iiofi-
| man would worship. | may contemplate IL witl-
| out offence and most precious Is this reflection,
which, like friendly divinity, has come to console
my grief and charm my solitude.
Has she noticed my sentimental folyy Tho
shadow has disappeared, the window is closed and
/ the moon in the heavens seems to look at me with
mocking eyes.
1 FALSE RETREAT.
All! see must change my tactics! lnstehd
Of attacking, l must feign Indifference. will drop
| nv curtains; close my windows.
Half the day is passed, and she has given no sign
| of life. At last she is visible il
is her turn TO gaze. She seems astonished.
She Is a woman, and she Is already accustomed TO
| be admired
/ must resume the offensive. What do hear
A wandering musician lie is singing one Of
those plantive and touching airs He is old and
Il nm Iul,a adv IN windoW Wn
each throw penny TO the minstrel both pieces
Of money roll far from the unfortunate one VIC
are obliged to point out TO the poor man the direc
ton they have taken. Julie smiles
Without wishing 1t, perhaps without knowing It,
have part in her life! 1 have been her accom-.
plice in a good action
PLACING THE TROOPS or TnE LINE.
/ had remarked that Julie loved violets. She
had placed them in boxes upon the balcony.
obtained all that could purchase, and completely
carpeted my wudow-siL She had evidently mo-
t;ced n When the wind blew from me- sent