The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-12


wait on light digestion, and all things 60 merry
as a dinner bell"
The young gentleman paused for breath, and,
as there was no reply called for, he continued,
turning to the inmates Of the barred mansion,
who were now pouring out along the shaded
walks.
Here they come for exercise. Have you
ever noticed, the less one eats, the more he ex-
ercises? Let me give you some idea of our
companions. You see that handsome speci-
men of humanity in decayed vestments? That
is AZ, an American, landed proprietor-large
estates in Georgia. He came to Paris-igno-
rant of the French, he astonished the natives
by the tallest specimens of speculations in cor
ner lots. Property, which had passed soberly
from generation to generation, from the days
of Charlemagne, found itself whirling from
hand to hand, and increasing in value until it
scarcely knew itself He was successful-had
apartments at Misunderstanding and SER
wants without number But he grew careless,
a smash came, the wealth disappeared, and
here he is 42-but good fellow. He walks
the shsdes with a philosophic indifference
worthy q. Frenchman. Having, he says, lived
half his life drinking snake water from swamps,
and sleeping between two roots, he finds this
very comfortable morning, Colonel"
The individual thus addressed responded
cheerfnlly, and begging cigar, which he did
not receive passed on. The merry informant
continued
"Yonder old gentleman was an English
manufacturer, who tried his hand at the bust
ness in France. He expended twenty thousand
pounds, and failed. Here he is, for life, prob
ably. His old gray-haired wife, and some thin
daughters, call on him, with scanty supply of
linen, now and then. Their visit don't add to
the cheerfulness of our retreat, l assure you.
That young gentleman with him is English,
ALSO swell-was taken from his home in his
jockey rig at Long Champ. The next is an old
French Count, so eccentric that he is little
insane. Bless you, we have quantities of the
aristocracy here, and they stand by. Others
come and CO. but gentty is permanent. We
have another fellow-citizen, young merchant,
with a devilish pretty little wife, who comes
here and cries by the hour. Hang me, if
don't believe that she has washed her eyes from
q dark hazel to light blue"
"Who is he?" asked Drayton.
ooh! Is, nothing more. In fact 1 don't
know. He is very glum; and as for his wife,
she weeps too much. l can't stand that; nay
health is not sufficiently robust. The tears
wash off pounds of fat, and one wants all of
that article in this place."
The acquaintance soon grew into an intima-
cy between the young gentlemen. Drayton had
an indistinct remembrance Of having seen the
laxative youth before, and, by the help of va
rious hints, and some efforts of memory, he was
able to place him. He was medical student
from Louisiana-of course, reckless and extrav-
agant. A remittance missing mail, and then
miscarrying, embarrassed the votary of Escu.
lapius so much, that he was thrown into Clichy.
81 was little prejudiced against the insti-
tuition when first entered, but, bless your soul,
/ ind L nd
with the nobility of Europe. My apartment is
quite as good as one l occupied in the Latin
Quarter. With little addition to our table, it
is excellent; and the internal harpies, who
used to annoy me outside, can't get in here
without my permission, and that they never get.
Instead of my paying them, they have to con-
tribute twenty cents a day to my support. My
remittance is now at hand, but, / tell you, l
prefer remaining here. ] tell you, it's all in the
way we look at things. This is nice retreat
from the cares of lle-a blessed institution. 1
intend setting up little one of my own in
Louisiana, when | return to the Union"
Dungeson and Drayton were introduced to
the mess, over which the medical student, Tom
Martin, presided. 1t consisted of the Georgian,
the old French Count, who acted as cook-a
profane, dirty, fat, old fellow, whom Martin
called his tutor-a gentleman of profound cru
dition, and some absence of mind, as well az
total absence of morals, who professed to be
teaching Tom the French language, together
with physic and the small sword. The old
Count would cook the dinner in the most deli.
cate and artistic style, then whipping off his
white apron and paper cap, smooth up his per-
sonal, and, with immense formality, sit down
to eat and talk-for at this he rivalled his host,
Monsieur Martin. Our two friends could not
help but be amused at the old Frenchman's
style. as Tom would draw him out.
"You say my dinner is good? All, Mon
sieur you do me honor. l cannot pretend to
the great art. / have studied, have prac-
ticed; but what avails that without genius. 1
cannot invent But the art degenerates. The
days of the old regime are no more. The revo-
luton DISCREPANCIES; and excellence, refine
ment human dignity of cultivation, are tram
Piled under foot. Permit me, monsieur, to shed
a tear?"
"Oh certainly, shed tear. Don't be en-
barrassed on our account. BY the bye, Dray-
ton, you don't probably know what a devil of a
time they once had, upsetting Gig-society here.
Monsieur lie Count can tell you. How was it,
Count, before the revolutions?"
Beautiful beautiful, my young friend.
Brave men were honored, learned men con-
and chaste women loved, before the revolu-
tons, messieurs, before the revolutions. Now,
ignorance and rudeness reign. The old noblesse
are, where? Do what2 Cook, sew, starve
Permit me, monsieur, to shed tear 2"
"Oh, certainly, shed two while you are at it."
"Ahl messieurs, what are we to think of
State where the ornaments of its society are in
generated in a debtors prison, and ignorance
and ignoble rascality are in power! The last
representative of noble houses are cooks"
And this noble representative, at least all
that was left of him, for the noble representa-
tive was attenuated to the last extent, with one
hand brushed away an imaginary tear, while
with the other he disposed of quantity of
delicate asparagus. For the "ancient regime"
found, from experience, that, while he was in
dulging in melancholy emotions the Georgia
Colonel made fearful havoc among the viands.
Some days after our friends entrance to this
retreat, Tom Martin took them, one afternoon,
mysteriously aside, and said
Gentlemen, the greatest genius of his age,
Monsieur Dumas has written twenty volumes
to show what individual energy may accom-.
plish, and forty volumes to exhibit the won
dertul results of union. Alone, / was Monte
Christie; now we will be Athos, Porthos, and
Aramis. What say you? Shall we be all for
one, and one for all p"
" fear," responded Drayton, "that we will
find some difference in the times. A prison
for debt is not precisely such as the Guards
men you mention were introduced to; and when
we are being set upon by small creditors with
out bowels of mercy, or one show of generosi-
ty, we have no willy, intriguing statesman, no
fascinating Queen in distress, to look after our
interest, and bring US relief"
"That is all true. We cannot kill twenty
dexterous men-at-arms before breakfast. and
end every volume with an army annihilated. The
pen takes the place of the sword, and intellect
triumphs over muscles. have not been idle
and you see the results. Have we not an ex.
cellent table, wine, cigars, SOAP and clean linenY