The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-06-04

astonished gaze, having Persian carpets
and ceilings beautifully painted, resplen-
dent in gliding, and ornamented withma.
hogany, MARBLE. lace, and velvet. News
papers in abundance lie upon the tables.
The languages of many lands are heard
but uttered in subdued tones, that Others
may not be disturbed. The murmurings
of the entire world enter your ears, but
gently as the waves of the mighty ocean
when their force is spent upon the beach
Before you in the court of honor, under
glass-covered halls, before broad, sandstone
steps, between rows of lofty oleanders roll
stately carriages to and fro Behind you in
magnificent saloon, filled with rows Of
tables, covered with the finest linen and
laden with the most costly porcelain, sill
yer services are being arranged for dinner
How beautifully the labors of the day
are begun in Paris! In every direction
the shutters of the stores and cafes are
thrown open. The first objects which you
see in the show windows are beautiful
maidens, under whose skilful hands arises
with magical celebrity that which we call
etatege, meaning by this the general arrange
ment of the articles to be displayed. 1
have not noticed that they reflect upon the
matter, or bestow any special attention
uponthe subject. 1t all seems to rise spon-
taneously, and yet it is so beautiful. l
have spent hours in wandering from one
window to another, and noticing the beau
tiful arrangements, the variety, the pictur-
sequences of the display. The most ordi-
nary objects, such as hats, rings, shoes, laces
and mantles, arc arranged so charmingly as
to produce wonderful effect. Their beau
f1ri Of OF cto
fist who so well understands how to ar
range bouquets and ribbons that they at
tract my gaze as ,E>pass, and compel me to
pay minutes tribute, is she not thorough
iy French? 1t is the type which sets me
thinking. The show-window How sug-
gcstive of Paris. This art of arrangement
this attractive smile of the exterior, per-
vades every region. l look upon Paris as
a great show-place, to which all the world
resorts to be amused.
The clock now strikes 10. Do not be
surprised, for in Paris the hours pass
swiftly away. The BARRIERS have opened
their shops, and cafes are awaiting their
guests. The walters in white aprons, have
placed newspapers upon the marble tables,
laid, flutes" upon Others, and, seated at a
third;are busily engaged in putting radish-
es in beautiful vases, in such a manner that
the red and green may form proper COM
bination of color. The "hutes" are long,
thin loayes Of delicious bread, whose ac-
quaintance you willmake when you break
fast in Paris cafe. 1t is wonderful how
long the French can fast. As their sol
diers, with crust of bread, have gone in
to battle, and have been shot by thousands
on the great slaughter fields before they
had taken breakfast, so does the true Par
isian see the third part of the day behind
him before'h sits down to his breakfast.
LII the most favored cases he begins his Ia
Dor after cup of black coffee; thus the
journalist writes his articles, the scholar
commences his studies, the banker his cor
respondence. and the idler his promenade.
This idle roaming, is q business in Paris
About 10, these lofty, magnificent halls,
these saloons with pillars and mirrors
with marble tables and plush divans, with
comfortable cabinets and cosy corners, full
of splendor and beauty, which are call.
ed cafes, begin to be filled with people.
Youwill meet these cafes in every direc
ton, especially on the boulevards In
each of them you will find that wonderful
coffee so praised every where, butter like
that of Switzerland, and milk like that of
the Land of Promise. Every seat and di-
van is occupied, and, oh, wonder of Won
ders, newspaper for each. The cafe is to
the true Partisan as great an article of ne
cessity as the streets-"that real Partisan
who is only at home when he is on the
street." Let me here. say a word You
will find coffee in all these cafes, but no
beef-steaks and mutton-hops. In this they
differ from the Berlin, coffee houses, in
which you find everything but coffee. One
who desires breakfast of the English fash
ion, must seek for cafe-restaurant, where
both may be found, as in the Cafe Roche.
1t is, indeed, not permitted to everybody
to go to Corinth, brat least not to go to
Corinth every day. The gold pens of Par
is may unite with the golden youth of
these times in the palaces on the left hand
of the boulevards. You will find the jour
nalists, the chroniclers, and the feuilleton-
lists on the right as you go from the Grand
hotel, in the Cafe Bouvet, the last on the
Boulevard Montmartre. Most of these are
the sonsof the "Latin land" and bear it
| tcnderly in their hearts. To write a feuille.
ton, interesting, piquant and amusing, is
not such an art when one is on boule-
ward, or has Paris, to- write in. You can
make one between your demi-tasse and
cigarette. All you need is an open eye to
see what passes, and an open ear to hear the
utterances of those going on in the streets.
Place Paris upon blank sheet of paper,
and everybody will expect something
grand, something amusing, something in
! structive.