Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1862-05-21
COUNCIL. BLUFFs IOWA WEDNESDAY, MAY 81, 1864 t.. -

L had returned hoGae, one svening, afse
another weary sTaMp. As fooked srors
aay iafty attic, and saw Paris gifsserins
@lth her millioR lights, | said 10 myself
7 Must perish Of hunger In these sfrestsI
Aasa ssarve In the midst of that abnpd,
aace which might be mine bat for th.
fact that | am ssosaaw7 No! shall
abSara my sex, aud, in tfe senblance oi
themselves, win from men that subsistence
which they deny to woman.'' @s
The thought was no sooner conceived
than executed. Tearing OF a part OF ny
woman's attire, shrew around me an old
cloak OF my fathers, WHICH now served
AS eoyerlet to my iowiY bed, and de-.
seended 10 the street. Determined ID
have legal sansion for what was abouI
TO do, | went straight to the Prefecture
Of Police. 1t was not very late, and ths
Prsfect was still in bis bAFsaa. | enter.
ed his presence, told him my story, and
demanded permission TO put on male al.
tire and assume d masculine name, In
order to obtain the means Of subsistence.
Hs heard me respectfully, and treated
me kindly, and advised me 70 ponder well
before took step SO unusual and un-
seemly. But | was arm. Seeing ny
determination, he gaTe me q written
permission. s..--
Eariy next morning took what re-
msined Of my feminine wardrobe and
fastened to tbs Maxehe de Visux Linge,
(old clothes market) which was not far
distant from my place of abode. Built
on the site of the ancient Temple, the
princely residence Of the knights Temple
Of old, and in later times the pgison OF
Louis XVI previous to bis execution
With its eighteen hundred and eighty
eight stalls hung with the east OF gar
ments Of both SEXES and of every age,
condition and cline, presents the appear
ance OF a miniature city. Mems apparel
EomeE's apparel, garments for children
Of all aizss. boots and shoes, hats and
bouneas, tawdry fnsEy of every deserip-
ton, saeets and blankets, carpets, latter
Ell and stained, military aoceatermenta,
swords aud belts, harness, old pots and
kettles, and innumesable other articles,
attract attention in the different stalls
There, on every aide, sharp faced and
shrill-voieed dealers haggls with timid
Customers over garments more or less
decayee. There the sdroit thief finds q
ready market for the various articles be
has procured from chamber aud entry. or
purloinsd from the pocket Of the unwary.
There tie petted lady's maid dispesas Of
the rick robe her careless mistress had
given her, and the Parisiaa grisette, With
the money her nimbls fingers have earned ,
purchases it to adorn her neat and pretty
form at the Bal para el Eaas9us, to which
her Iovg takes her, at Belleville or Mont
martrs. In yondeF stall hangs a tattered
coat which once belonged to marquis,
but has gone Through 50 many hands since
then, and accumulated so much dirt and
grease in the process, THAI one wonders
how the dealer wauld venture the few
soas which its last wretchsd owner had
raised upon it.
In this place | exchanged, without much
difficulty, my female habiliments for a
suit of respectable masculine attire.
took iE home, and with feeling of shame
which could not get rid of, bat yet With
unainching resolution, aEraysd myself in
it. As i woman know am not band
some my mouth is large and my skin is
dirk; buE this rather favored my dis
guise for had been very pretty, my
baardiess face and weak voice might haya q
awakened supicion. i cut my hair oa
short, parted il at Que side, brushed il
with great care, and crowned it with a
juuntv cap, which must say, was very
b ,eoming TO me. In this dress appear
al d to4crabie well-iaoking ysHth ei
nineteen or thereabout, for tha ehangs
Of garment made me look younger than
was.
As surveyed myself in the little crack
ed looking glass which served me as 1
mirror, | could not foEbear laughing a
the transformation. Certainly no ont
would have recognized me, for coult
scarcely recognise myself
Folding the cid cloak around me,
sailed forth. With the long, thick brais
of hair had cut from nay head, | pur'
chased breakfast, the best had eateg
IN = long timo.
Then | went direct to the residence o.
tha gentleman who had said | would sui
him exactly if / were young man
.TEarp had been something in the tone 0!
sLis gentIeman's letter that attracted ms
| could not tell why. To M great JOY
be had not yet found the person be want
ed and after q, shoEt conversation be en.
gagged me, at what seemed to me prince
ly salary.
He tod me laughingly that a youpg
woman had applied for the situation !
short time previous; and seemed Iaucl
amused at tAs circumstance.
Nv employer was man already pas
his prime. His hair was slightly sprinkl
ed xith gray, and his form showed thal
tendency to fullness so frequently foant
In parsons Of sedentary habits. Bat il
his fne, thoughtful eyes, and expsnsiy,
brow, one saw evidences Of that noble in
teileet for which be was distinguished
while his beaming smile and pteasan
voice showed a genial and benevolen
heart. The kindness Of bis voice ant
manner went straight to my lone and des
oiata heart, and affected me so Inuei
that almost disgraced my manhood b.
bursting into tears. ........
lie occupied modest but eOmmodiou
house in the Quarter Latin. His domes
tic affairs were administered by q re
specsabIe locking elderly man who per
formed the part Of cook, 10 bis own homo
and the entire satisfaction Of his master
while. saaTt but mischieYous imp of
boz ran on errands. tended the fires, swep
the rooms and kept old Dominiqaa in
continual fret BY his tricks and hia ahort
Somings. So a. .
Here, in the well-furuishsd library 0
my new master, with every eonvenienc
for snnotation and eluaidation, the srana
lasion Of the Nedas was commenced. Lik
my father, my employer was possesasd Q
vast arudation; bug unlike him be va
also man Of the wosld, high in favor 8
| court, wealthy, honored, and enjoyed sh
Friendship OF all she most noted salyar
and other celebrities of the metropolis
During the progress Ok the work some /
these would occasionally entar the ssad