Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-02

stdItu uItn IN the lace ne turned over
the few shillings he had of change: did
not know what was to become of him
and went to the theatre.
He took his seat in the pit, listened At.
tentively to tragedy, which seemed
made up Of fighting, and stabbing, and
scene-shifting, and began to feel his
spirits sinking within him; when, cast
ing his eyes into the orchestra, what was
his surprise to recognise an old friend
and near neighbor in the very act of ex.
tortlng music from huge ylolincello.
AS soon as the evenings performance
was over, he tapped his friend on the
shoulder; they kissed each other on the
cheek, and the musician took him home,
and shared his lodgings with him. He
learned music as an accomplishment by
his friends advice he now turned il as
means of support. lie procured a,iolin,
offered himself for the orchestra, was re-
ceived, and again considered himself one
OF the most fortunate men upon earth.
Here, therefore, he lived for MANY
years during the ascendency of Napo-
leon. lie found several emigrants living
like himself, by the exercise of their tai.
ents. They associated together, talked
OF France and of old times, and endeay
ored to keep up semblance of Partisan
life IN the centre of London.
They dined at miserable cheap French
restaurant in the neighborhood Of Leices.
te- Square, where they were served with
carlcature Of French cookery. They
took their promenade in St. James's Park.
and endeavored to fancy it the Tuilleries;
in short, they made shift to accommodate
themselves to everything but an English
Sunday. Indeed, the old gentleman
seemed to have nothing to say against
the English, whom he affirmed to be
braUe' gems; and he mingled so much
among them that at the end of twenty
years he could speak their language al
most well enough to be understood.
The downfall Of Napoleon was another
epoch In bis life. He had considered
himself fortunate man to make his es
cape pennllesS out of France, and be
considered himself fortunate to be able
to return pennileSs into 1t. 1t is true
that he found his Partisan hotel had
passed through several hands during the
vlclssltudes OF the times so as to be be-
yond the reach Of recovery; but then he
had been noticed benignantly by govern
ment, and hard pension of several hun.
dred francs, upon which, with careful
management, he lived independently, and
as far as could judge happily.
AS his once splendid hotel was now
occupied as hotGl garni, he hired a small
chamber In the attic; cit was but" as
ne said, " changing his bedroom up two
pair OF stalrS-hs was still in his own
house, His room was decorated with
pictures OF several beauties Of former
times with whom he professed to have
been on favorable terms among them
was a favorite opera dancer, who had
been the admiration of Paris at the
breaking out Of the revolution. She had
been prOtegs Of my friend, and one of
the few Of his youthful favorites who had
survived the lapse of time and its yari)us
ViciSSitudcs. They had renewed their
acquaintance, and she now and then yis-
tied him: but the beautiful Psyche, once
the fashion of the day and the idol of the
partsrre, was now a shriveled, little old
woman, warped in the back, and with
hooked nose.
The old gentleman was devout atten-
dant upon the leveeS he was most zeal
Gus IN his loyalty, and could not speak of
the royal family without burst of en-
thusiaSm, for he still felt toward them as
his companions in exile. AS to his pov-
erty, he made light Of it, and, indeed had
a good humored way of consoling himself
fer every cross and privation. If he had
lost his chateau in the country, hs had
hall dozen royal palaces, as it were, at
his command. He had Versailles and
st. Cloud for his country resorts, and the
shady alleys of the Tuilleries and the
Luxembourg for his own recreation.
Thus all his promenades and relaxations
were magnificent, yet costing nothing.
:" When walk through these fine gar
dens, said he. 81 have only to fancy
myself the owner of them, and they are
mine. All these gay crowds are nv Wis
itors, and defy the grand seignior him
SELF to display greater variety of beau
ty. Nay, what is better, have not the
trouble of entertaining them. My estate
is perfect Sans Souci, where every one
does as he plesses, and no one troubles
the owner. All Paris is my theatre and
presents with continued spectacle. L
have q table spread for me in every
street, and thousands of walters ready to
fly at my bidding. When my servants
have waited upon me, pay them, dis
charge them, and there's an end have
no fears Of them wronging or pilfering
me when my back is turned. Upon the
whole" continued the old gentleman,
with smile of infinite good humor,
"when | think upon the various risks /
have run, and the manner in which
have escaped them; when l recollect all
that have suffered, and consider oil
that at present enjoy, cannot but
look upon myself as a man of singular
good fortune" F"
Such was The brief history of this prac-
tical philosopher, and is the picture of