, 1870-05-08


The mans eye travelled elow]y over the
aesolate landscape before us+ There were
sand, verde, and cactus on one side Of us, and
aand verde and cactus On the other.
"Wen: really now, ! couldn't tel: You see'
ind haven't thought Of his grave since I
come. Fact is, I've got to keep my eyes open
for live GreaseTn and Pache Ind,ans, and don't
ret much time to hunt up dead folks graves!"
MONSIEUR comfy.
The scl1-Ap ppo1nte1 Insrectns,os Eu-
ropean Uot1ls..
From Chambers Journal. .. ..
= We always go abroad every year for our
summer holiday, SIMPLY because, We can
stay awBy from homo 30 much Logger
for the s6na SUM Of money foe which we
could t1ayel in England. That Ii the secret
Of the thtongs Of tourists who Leave our shores
many OF them have seen nothing Of their own
land, except. perhaps, o few watering places
but unless people have long putse ut their
command. t Is no use setting OF to Wales, the
Lakes. or Scotland. The railway. companies
do an they can to facilitate tourists transit
lies in the hotels Of our enlightened country.
Suggest two or three months Of hotel hle to
Pdferfamihas ard yiaions Of private sitting
rooms, wax Lights, bad wines, and leEions OF
dissatisfied walters and chambeEuaids, at once
rise before bis experienced eyes. Well, We
we're living ali last sunIper in hotels in Nor
mandy, We had had every comfort, good rooms,
united expenses never once exceeded live
pounds ten shillinga week. OF course, We
have been en- pension-that ie to shy, paying q
Fixed price by the day or week, previously ar
ranged with the master Of tho hotel:
NoT, tell mo at what i'm .yol cauid
ss isr ff sat pes sSss' in and rnsnd Eni9S
if you were content with the "wors. inn's worst
room!" Where first we began our tour, at the
Doteldes 7fois Gouronnes, Granville, we saw
little red book handed round the breakfast
table as novelty, and eagerly discussed By
the Trench people who were staying IN the
hotel and tho nc1s day large sheet was
ellers, in large capitaals, Ne royages pas sans
les Guides Comfy. Comfy was the author OF
tie little red book which has made its appear
ance this summer for the first time, and which
is 10 work wonders Tor French travellers, in
protecting them from all foes, whether
hotelkeeFers or diligence ,propf1etors'
ns so sht s. but aeass 5ss esn G foa. p'?Mts Msa
aieur On bis summer promenade to Normandy
and Brittany I tope my reader will bear with
few explanatory words respecting Comfy and
his system; for 1 believe il sumo Enslishman
would como forward, and be Copty to bis
fellow-suGcrer:5, We might hnvo our English
scenery Of our dear nntivo land, without know
ing, as VIC now, alas! too often do, that it will
take month Of cold mutton and rigid econ
cmy to make M for that weeks hotel axpensca
at Scarborough or South Wales.
Well, II. Comfy is Parislan acocai, and last
winter it came into his head 70 traTcl MI over
the 1outo for which. the Western Railway Of
ri 17t1
mer nontha; he accordingly y1sited ove1S lit
tie town and bathing village wheze tourists
would be likely to deseendre, TO use tho e1-
pressiro French mord, during the ensuing sum-
mcr; he bazgained with al the hoteI-keepera
and drivers q public md pirate nreyances;
mSfable little guide-book, he gives List OF
hotels in eycfy town And village on the
Ioule, an5 all their PRICES; so TINT traveller
cnn, ut glnnce, calculate his expenses. An
other featu1e Of tho Guide Comfy IL the Co.
h:kr Rose, little pink book Of four sheets, en-
cie=s1 in : rortiolio, In the the cover Of the
Guide. He1equcsts all petsons travelling with
the Guido to present themselves ut the hotel,
on their arrival NTH tho book in their hauds,
NJ he has maie peesona1 visit to every
hotel named in tho Guide; and therefore every
visitor who presents himself in II. Conty's
name will receive double attention, for rea-
cons presently TO be explained. First, the
re read these words: Important N0iice.-t
lave mJseN visited, and ascertaiuea the tariff
Of al the hotels, restaurnnta, and cafes recon-
mended in the volume which accompanies this
sheet; you may, therefore, present yourself
in my name, certain to find everg confort, and
to be received Is a welcome guest, End
made quite At homo. Il, in spite Of
Eahments do not come up to my report, and
leave anything to be desired IS to service,
cleanliness, and ahove Ill aa to reasonable
charges, I hope you Will oblige me, by sending
me immedinte information OF my short
co1nings. But, please to remember, that In
ordes to estalish the hight of complaint you
must present yourself at IN hotels Guide in
hand Ind in my name; It is particularly re-
oueEted that this Ittle book be sent to my I'd
dress, Rus Hnutefeuille, Paris, with the pages
6ned in according to the experience Of tie
traveller"
So far II. Comfy. The book Contains five
blank pages, headed respectively, Mistakes
in The Guiae.book," "0missions," "Estah-
mcuta which might be better, and NEstaht-
lshments OF which can only complain"
must say that all the hotels wa went to,
Comfy in hand, came under the third head;
and on questioning the landlady Of one Of
the incest Of III the houses we staid in, she
told Us that NJ, Comfy came in the spring
they had no idea OF the object Of his visit so
he bas no private understanding with the lnnd-
lords, which We we're Rt first inclined to think
might be the case As to the estimation in
which he Is held whilst on his travels, he shall
speak for himself, or, rather, I will give tho
peared in one OF tue Paris journals, and which
Is appended to the Guide Comfy. It is aufti-
cicnt!y amusing specimen Of French "puf6ng-"
It is headed:
TIE 1SsPEcyoh-oExEnAI. OF HOTELS.
"There NOW exists means Of protection
from robbery; a man has constituted uu,seK
the defender ct travellers from landlords. I
am going to relate my arat meeting With him;
it is too original to DO lost.
II was travelling in Holland-it was morn
ing! I was breahasting in tho only decent
hotel Ia soWn which snail be uamcless. Ev-
erything had the appearance Of that sc1upu-
lous cleauliness which is tho characteristic Of
Holland, but ! had passed IN awful night:
Bed-fellows OF a most vor1cious nature!iI
Suddenly IN extraordinary coming md going
takes place in the room where / am break
fasting. The 1andlady had seen something
in the street Tho landlord Tan about in aN d.
1cctiohs, giving orders. The servants evinceda
supernatural activity = when = the door
one bows down bsfore i'm ~ :; he s receives 'f fbis
homage with = calm dignity, as shisindisputab1e
right. "A Prince travelling incognito.' I
say to myself; and set I seem to recognize
his face, too, When all tho greetings were
over, he exclaimed: tAh. bow ii this 4
What DO I aees There are bugs here
ssRRSssng dgg Evfons sn2d Looks sona9s@
must bs Instantly put stop to. ahau come
through here again in week. II one single
one remains, ! close your house, Here are
thirty boxes OF I'1secttcs1s give you (he pro-
duced them from d travelling g-bng he garfield;
my Gnide! I will not have my travellers de-
youred.'
Monsieur de Conty, bo assrsed-b begins
the host.
At this name, rise. Comfy was an old
seen hin for @ 'A5it 5iteep Du' yea,s. na' W. we
seated ourselves at the same table.
How is it. said i, shaving left You on tie
road to Judgeahip, that / fud yon .waging
var against tho Little parasites OF the Low
Countr1ca.'
.Loye Of Justice replied he makos me-
as well and have been 60 deyoured and go
to1mented, that I have Bworn to put down
these nuisances all over Europe, and so have
written the Guides bearing my name. Have
s'q!s ha'' guido c'"'y''
Here; there is one-that OF Belgium and
Holland: Present yourself in ny name with
this book in your hand at any house 1ecom-
mend, every one will he hat in hand to you,
md no King will be better treated than yon.
Pay tbe specified p1ice-not q sou moro Of
lesa.'
But how ia it you are 40 powerful7'
AN! see; open the pocket in the thickness !
u the cover, and 500 this little pink book. !
Look Requested TINT at the end of his |
tourney the traveller will send this book filed
n to tme.' When the slightest complaint !
reaches mo Of hotel, warn tho landlord q |
second complaint, and strike bia name out Of !
ny List; third and wsrn my friends off his |
house, by labelling it dangerous
"TheD understood Contv's power Tray
1ucrs you are forewarned. Never travel With |
nut the Guide Comfy"