Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-15
f EVENING STAR.
THE WAR OF THs WINDOWS.
The Journal Of the se!ge Of a Pretty Girl.
[Transfated from the French.

THE THEORY OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Not to offend our brave officers, the art
of strategy is not entirely confined to the
Treatise on Fortifications. Besieging
doesn't exclusively belong to the spec.
tacled young gents Of the Polytechnic
School. The sieges of Troy, Rochelle,
Belgrade, and Sebastopol are not the only
great feats on record. There are other
wars less bloody, but which have never
theless their details of interest.
In front of my window is a window al
ways shut. The curtains are of en-
broidcred muslin, lined with sky blue
| silk. 1t can't be doctor or broker who
lives there. The veil has betrayed the
goddess. The festooned muslin betrays
woman. The blue lining shows she's
blonde. A brunette would have chosen
red or yellow. When night comes. s fe-
male servant closes the shutters herract-
really, with the air of convent keeper.
Evidently cavalry officer wouldn't take
such pains to preserve his charms. No!
tits woman.
The street is narrow. The houses are
huddled together, one opposite the other.
without respectful distance, as if they
were anxious to cause what would be
pardonable after two hundred years of
neighborhOed. 1would like to know f
my nelgh5or IS insensibie. Is she de.
formed! Or, is she no better than she
should be? Oh, that can't be. ONLY
the Madonna stays in her niche. The
Cyiherean Venus with flowing cirdle
hops on one leg around the garden.
Well, | have time, free heart, a war
like spirit, and, gentle window, | will
commence Siegc-but siege loyal, dis
Greet, courteous, frank and sincere war.
| Won enter her heuse, concealed in an
immense bCnbon, as the Greeks did in
the siege of Trey; l won't cabbage her
bread II take aer by famine as Louis
XIV took. | would rather throw sweet
meats and almonds or her balcony like
Henri Quatre. Loves strategy has its
own laws; TO morrow | will attack the
place.
+; \ fae season fer campaign-spring
is two months and half old, summer is
F; coming, her dress wrcathad with flowers,
| the sky clear, the air full of aroma; the
i work will be decidedly exciting.
THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE.
! The lime is propitiou5. It's as hot as
June. Her windows open, out I have
seen only the servant. could corrupt
her at small price, but that's too much
like the Italian comedies. Besides, il
won't do to encourage venality; in time
of war they shoot spies and deserters.
have seized my first weapon, my
lorgnettc. Through it I have visited
her apartment. | like it. The furniture
is simple, sign Of distinction. The
piano is small, miniature Erard. A
little piano is sign Of small hands.
can see piece of lace work commenced.
Does my beautiful work o. nights like
Penelope? Is she making pair of slip
perS for some Ulysses? F.?
FIRST HosrILITIEs.
| The weather is fairy-like, and the
enemy has appeared at her window.
Her eyes, what artillery! and how the
place is armed She is elegant, gra-
cious, but have only seen her eyes, two
Palxhan mortars, whose fire is incesSant.
She has only thrown on me one coup
dali, and my heart has blown up like a
powder magazine. A pretty woman's
look has more power than MIME rife.
j ACCOMMODATING.
After recovering from the first shock,
examined the besieged. She is hardly
twenty, blonde with black eyes, type
Of Spain regenerated. She is graceful
without gGuchsrie, dignifed without stiff.
ness. She is a coquette sub-rosa, gay
without rcmping, and she's not mar.
ried woman The slippers have no pro-
prietor Ah she has Shut the window
but can see her fascinating nose behinc
the curtain. The enemy is on the alert
the day is not lost.
AMBUsCADE.
There has been a movement all this
afternoon. They have brought in can.
dies. plants, bouquets. These roses and
lilies indicate fete. Quick, the almanac!
| must know her name, and how they
call her Paradise.
1t is the 9th Of April, Saint Jules day
Her name is then Julie, a name hal
Jewish and half modern. One of those
vulgar names ladies of distinction like sc
| well. Since | know her name, | am nc
longer stranger can write chansons
and anograms on her, my nymph Egeris
has come out of her wood. 1t is night
and the moon has silvered the houses
with its shining rays. She has appeared
at her window, cold, imposing, severe
disdainful of my mute alteration. ST.
thinks herself free in her disdain; but
, Cynthia, shining just over her head, give:
her wholly to me. Thanks to he refec
ton, her shadow has been thrown on my
wall. Charming shadow, W hich Hoffman,
has idololized have seen her fine fig
ure, her well-formed neck, her empires:
arm her little hands. All has she re-
marked my sentimental folly Tn,
, shadow has disappeared, the window ha,
: closed again, and the moon looks at me
with mocking eyes.