The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-19
VOL. TX.

| Sented me with ratner q starting fact. Ihls
was more serious than / cared to undergo. My
delicate state of health called for generous
diet, and, taking the dinner ofthe first day as a
specimen, one could indeed befrightened. But
our troubles did not terminate with the loss Of
dinner. Our rooms seemed to me damp and
chilly, so l ordered fire. 1t created<anetsas|
/ constituent, and some confusion -
consulted the butler, the butler Coz
anne, and, after nearly two hour
poor woman appeared with two ct ~
sticks, handful of kindling, and
| terrible efforts with diminutive and &heezy
! little old pair of bellows filled our rooms with
smoke. The sticks would not burn, only smo-
| ked and into the room; so begged the domes-
| tic to cease her efforts, remove the refractory
sticks, and, chilled through, Lucy and l crept
/ into our several beds.
The next morning, we awaited breakfast with
a feeling of weakness and hunger quite beyond
description. The meal itself was of such a
! character, that after leaving the table felt as
unsatis6ed and i'll as before. We sent the bonnie
/ forth. however, with some money, and she
returned with a bottle of ale, some bread and
butter, and on this we breakfasted. / hurried
over this impromptu, under the impression that
we were to be summoned to class, or receive
some notification of the order of study. But we
were mistaken; hour after hour went by, with.
out the slightest notice from any one. at last
addressed note to Madame Dupont, asking
some information as to the hours of study, and
begging that, in consideration of my i'll health,
she would favor me with few extra dishes, for
which would very cheerfully pay. The answer
was very kind and polite-referring me to the
under-teachers for information as to recitations,
and promising me the food | demanded without
charge. To my utter astonishment, l found
that there was no order or fixed regulations
whatever but that the teachers, as well as a
very active and authorized war between them
and the scholars would permit, carried on the
establishment in very skirmishy and uncertain
manner. The pupils picked at knowledge be-
tween battles.
For my dinner, brought in some ale on my
own account, and the dishes prepared for me
were all / could wish. But to sit among such a
crowd of eager, hungry-looking faces, eating
choice articles, was a task beyond my power OF
/ endurance. | compromised by sending bot
tie of ale down the tablet did not return, and
forwarded a second, and then third. 1t was
repast in itself-the unrestrained pleasure
with which small and large received the unex-
pected donation. After dinner / was surprised
at the appearance of my little round-eyed friend,
who actually found time for friendly visit.
She came in with her quiet matter-ofcourse
manner, and congratulated us upon our dinner.
! ~ thought you would find long walks quite
unnecessary to secure an appetite here. We
/ had mustard to-day-always have an extra sup
ply when the meat is tainted. Do you propose
/ to supply the table with ale?"
/ certainly did not, and so replied; but the
1 thought struck me, and was evidectly in her
mind, that my extra dinners would be looked
upon as very selfish, and of course be exceeding
/ ly unpopular l turned to my little friend for
I l.. II L Al.
out beauty, unless her sparkling eyes could
claim portion, she had such solemn, old
way, | was puzzled in attempting to fix her
age. 1t varied in my mind from fourteen to
thirty.
/ "You have been in the school a long while :? "
/ asked.
/ ''Yes, over ten years"
| "Indeed; and remained here all the while?"
ayes, ] have no home-have no remembrance
of one came here child, and they tell me
/ am an old woman"
"Your education must be nearly completed
Won will soon leave"
"DOn't know 1 never learnt anything until
| took it up of myself. Can't say when | will
be taken away-don't know any one to take me.
But let me tell you of this eating. 1 have a
tea-kettle, gridiron, and a pan. | will fetch
them, and you can buy and cook for YOURSELF
palatable and we sent little sprite for her Gull
nary utensils, and invited her to take part in
the enterprise. At least assured her that her
advice was necessary to secure us the supplies.
Madame Howard the English teacher, helps
me to mine. don't like her, however, and do
not believe she will help you. But you can go
out and get things for YOURSELF
! There was something SO very school-girlish
in this proposition that / at once acceded to it;
and we had some very amusing adventures in
stocking our larder and cooking our meals.
Under the pretence of walking in the morning
for the benefit of health, we made grand excur-
sions outside the barrier, and returned ladened
with newly-laid eggs, fresh butter, ripe fruit,
and at intervals a dressed fowl. We had no
wish whatever to smuggle the taxable articles
through the gates, where guard was stationed
to see that the city of Paris was not defrauded
of its Just revenue; but it seemed so far beneath
the dignity of such party to make an exhibit,
that we passed very demurely the watchful guard
ians of the barriers The trouble was not so
much in procuring our eatables, as preparing
them for the table. Such proceedings were ex-
pressly forbidden, and it was astonishing what
sharp noses our friends, the teachers, had. We
had taught the fire to burn, and in the cool
evenings of early spring, we drew the curtains
close, lighted our lamp, and heard the kettle
sing low, soft music, as we partook, in smother
ed laughs, of our dear, precious, forbidden
meals.
But Tmust not take up my entire letter with
discussions on the subject of eating; although
consider it most important feature in a board
ingschool From neglect in this respect, more
diseases are grown than parents are aware off
At time of life when the food should be plain,
in plenty, and wholesome, tits generally at board
ing schools of the vilest description. Madame
Dupont's was a fair specimen, and, as | have
said, it was scarcely possible to have more
abominable fare.
We soon remarked the want of system in the
establishment, and, next, the low estimate "
which the under-teachers were held.
| things, / must say theD6AKere not of
command higher Itt bls
conducted for the sole ~
ey, in a French way. d.
wish when it is mafiae46
sense and honesty. An Amer
will attemptstouRee1lsEh handle
ing reputahon NR fz
make axpretence
immedia3e sousi9t
| from the countf< @td1< Il H.
victims may BED 5llI Il q z i III -
| and bitterswar b1ecn lie 11]o
| ers. The last wefeR r1i3h = 49,
| bic and dishonorable, ~ Hull o 4 IS what
| they needed as instruction. 81 not blame
| them. They were the best to be had for the
salaries paid, and did their utmost to earn their
miserable stipends.. The scholars were disobe-
dent, treacherous, and cruel. AS Johnson has
| said, the greater part of our cruelty originates