The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-09-29

withdraw from the bustling scenes of
life than Deille. lie seemed from
thence to draw a new source Of joy and
fresh Inspiration for his muse.
elf | ammo longer permitted" said
he, one day, "to contemplate the azure
vault where / discovered my dithyram-
bic on the immortality of the soul if
can no longer enjoy the imposing aspect
of nature, may yet listen to the accents
of friendship, | may yet mingle in the
society, hear around me the joyful ac-
CARNATIONS of this people, and thus
endeavor for moment to forget the in
frmities of age. Oh, my friends" con-
tinued he, "consent once more, before
my death, to dine with me at "Cadran
Hleu."
In vain did they represent to him
that he would be known, and assailed
on all sides by the crowd, and that at
his age it was imprudcnt to expose HIM
self to the fatigue Of appearing in public.
He replied to their objections only by
repeating in the supplicating voice of Il
child, "Let us once more dine at the
Cadran Bleu." How could these re-
iterated cntrcaties be resisted? A faith
called his Antigone, formed a plan to
satisfy the ardent desire Of the poet
without exposing him to the danger of
mingling in public. Occupying large
and spacious house in the suburb St.
Germain, he resolved so to prepare it
that Delillc, when there, might suppose
his wishes had been executed.
The appointed day arrived, to the
great joy of Dcille. lie was dressed,
and seemed to count the hours that
must elapse ere he should mingle with
| the numerous visitors on the ramparts.
At length the carriage arrived and pro-
ceeded to the suburb st. Germain, with
his three friends and Madame Delille.
Several members of the French Acadc-
my were already there men of letters,
celebrated artists, and the elite of the
first theatres in the capital, standing in
different groups, to amusc the venerable
old man, and induce him to believe
himself in hemidst of that good people
whose gayety he so much loved.
As soon as Delille had alightcd from
the carriage, the porter, who was in the
secret, salutcd him with the cry, " DO
you want any oysters, fresh oysters ~
Certainly, certainly" cried the poet,
in the joy of the moment, l refuse
nothing to-day"
He assembled the staircase, and after
having, by the aid of his friends arm,
crossed Il vast saloon in which more
than sixty persons We're assembled, who
all appeared engaged in animated con-
vcrsation, the blind poet called out tc
his friends: "Oh this is the confusion
the noise that pa3Sionate!y love; what
a feast for me! what new field of
pleasure is yet open to my mind! But
give me seat, boy" lie had no soon
cr pronounced the last words than one
of the first actors of the French theatre
advanced: "What can l do, sir, tC
please you?"
"Can you procure me q table Will
three covers, in little corner remote
from the crowd but place it so that
may hear all which is passing around
me in the sal0On?"
Here is the place which will suit
the gentleman, in the corner near the
chimney"
"That is just what l wished; but tel
me your name"
Paul, the head servant, and ready
: to receive your orders"
"WcIl, well, my good Paul, be atten
tive, and you shall have no cause Il
repent it, Bring me the bill OF fare
then bottle of Sauterne; let it be gen
uine, for you must know that | am ;
conOisseur in Wine"
"The best that can be found, sir"
They eat the oysters, then follows TIN
first course, which Dclille had sclecte,
from the list his friend had read
In the meanwhile Il kind of disput
arose at the next table; Dcllle was ut
tentive, but could gather only thcs
words, "priority," "cu5tom," "secu
| rity." 81 see" said the poet, smiling
f "that we have courtierS and banker
: near us there must be 4 rise in tn
funds this morning"
: From another table was heard tn
loud talking OF three women, who's
: immoderatc laughter led the poet to be
lieVe them the wives Of rich merchant,
. from the Isle Of Lanviers, who, in tn
: absence of their husbands, We're feast
j. ing together.
r "Oh," cried Delillo, "if l were
= young man, what pleasure should l ~
pericnce in provoking those three ladil
f and discussing matters for half an houl
: | never heard more original obserys
n tions, nor more divcrting remarks"
q When the first course was remove,
/. the friend Of Delille arose and said en-
q phatically, "Weu, my dear Delille, {
J. you feel at your case?"
"Do not pronounce my name {
q loudly; shall be known and obiige
IS to retire"
r. This conversation was scarcely fl
,o ished when Il member Of the Acadcn
pt came up, and in the dialect of an i
IN habitant Of the port OF st. Bernar,
10 cried:
is "Ah, what do [ hear; you are doul
n less the great wine merchant of Ma
~ mouset street,"
n "No, sir, no; am not Il wine mo
~ L..