The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-19
For he National Era.
BELL SMITH ABROAD.
XXI INSTRUCTION.
PARIs, March, 1855.


WAS so discouraged in our efforts to acquire
aknowledqe Of French, that a proposition to try
chool where French was the only language
spoken. m, with my entire appreciation, and,
after a careful inquiry, in which all the schools
a and about Paris were searched and eXamin-
ed Lucy and selected thatof Madame Dupont,
and in a few DAYS found ourselves safely en-
s.lnccd Ia two little rooms IN a wing of the
huge rStablishment-One side looking over a
gray old court ON to the street. and the other into
the grounds full OF old trees and dense foliage
that made shade everywhere. The old memo
~ Of NV girISh school-days, in the convent of
Notrc Dame came up as | sat at the window
With grammar IN lap, and saw the girls in
groups ar alone upon the smooth, hard gravel
cd walks-Somc chatting, others romping, while
here and there paletaced student bent over
her task. as she slowly paced along, regardless
OF the uproar around. OH blessed school
days $50 little appreciated while passing-so
loved and dwelt upon when gone foreverl The
very AR grew bracing, and in the memory, even,
q sense Of appetite only known to school life
came up.
The house, or rather palace, that had been,
Nth lis grounds. was worthy of note. We were
IN quite a wing, and so rambling was the entire
structure, that | looked over the trees at the
main building. as if it belonged somewhere
else: aud to reach the schoolroom required
such threading of narrow passages, such de-
'ceatilg and ascending of winding stairs.
such cp ming of unexpected doors, that Chris
mrAor Columbus himself would have grown
asaeartened, and broken down before he had
reached the nearest destination. The chateau
had been built when the spot was quite in the
c'Duiry-and still the old trees, or a portion of
iArm, stood guarded by high walls. that shut
ont the busy city; and of course, the foundation
Gated Tar back, dare not say when-and each
"~ner IN his generation had added to the build
NJ as his taste or comfort dictated, without re.
glFd To any idea or plan of construction. In
deed that severe sense of order which makes
H'oHIl!e at home set up a sham pump, with
Ea'e body, green top. and black handles. on
one side to match a real article in like uniform
OF me other, Is unknown in France. The own.
IT oil domcll only knows that he needs a
"'AAahlcaton with some part, and the door,
l"'Ase' or stairway, or all three, find existence,
" 5he most violent opposition to proportion
was soon possessed of a wish to Join the
.g"hs liir below, aud, closing my book, attempt
~ 20 descend. | found this quite a task. /
,Tael' after shutting the door, passage that
u9l'ht looked garden-wise, and followed,
a., Inst one way and then another, until
F oewidered by the continuous route i
me me 70 be following. As is always the case
'.i'N'l encountered no one of whom could
"i'''-2nl at last, fairly puzzled, l paused
lVor from which came the low monot-
>''Ai' 50 common to schoolgirls when
'"Th'Sly at study. After a moments hes
l ekt.I n,,.l -, al 4
- pushed open the door. In a small three
-, Fooln' almost closet, and very plain-
'-'''''lgd' sat little girl, deep in volume
she said: 10y 4o''''
SPEAK very good English, if YOU please"
should say that it was very good English.
s.ol' indeed, that none but one born of seve-
5leDgFalions within the chalky cliffs could
,I'aA; bat the answer was given so ouietly. |
-.' not help smiling while looking at the lit
a. -"'e{ed creature before me. She seem
pST' OF the furniture. so very plain and neat.
Er. H keepmg with the polished floor, the
,'.-, ron bedstead - indeed, with all the sur
e. l2a' that exhibited only neatness and
liz r:! Without adornment, if l may except
te5, nature portrait of n British officer, sus-
N'I 4AitlltCl-DlScC.
r,rTh I'Ie inmate of this petite apartment
L.;. IegTiHlIy started up, and, laying aside her
Ggic.l-%TA, accompanied me, saying rather
;aa,,s mat 1t would he of no use describing
E5:" We soon found ourselves at the door.
irr. 70 be polite, after this act of kindness,
and ~ her to walk with me, but she declined,
slsIa5IInyy pressing said, no, positively-that
nm lgil her door unlocked.
ualo53}' l asked, "what difference can that
IN s la,g'gS was the laconic reply. 1 looked
h,t 'g'o Lon "Oh, you will get used to
tE%. before long," she continued. and some.
49, worse, perhaps" -.
elar,a ran II be possible madame viii permit such
~W.,.1s, IN her h6use?" demanded. ~
was n oU'uh have much of a school otherwise
scbola. comforting response. Teachers lie,
b." steal, and all are French as they can
changoo u3h' this specimen of Immature; SO, to
never ,ra We conversation, asked, "But do you
tie or LIN IN the grounds, to get up an appe
s,arra a'''ea time, and have too much appetite
tie Is II goodbye" and away the curt lit
lno, failure ran. At six O'Clock we were sum-
affair =. y ui1ner. There was no reason why the
lie tin 80 called, should be one minute before
sacb - nAeu, or any time after; it was just
aasc,n, one could have at any hour, without
Ook;n.s e''her appetite or viands and while
neagas lu'o my thin soup, and following the
Sueam OF courses, began to have