Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-11-10
A MARROW ESCAPE.


no fear of having my word doubted when
say that in my time have done a great
many, one of which nearly resulted in my
being prevented from errelating the fol-
lowing story.
Paris, as Albert Smith used to say, Is a
rather Jolly place-rather funny" but it
has its serious side There are the grand
Rues and majestic Bouleyards: but there
sac !" the noble palaces, and the ruin0u6
crowded houses, each = perfect warren !:
the acts In the sunshine OF broad day, and
the deeds of darkness
Take care of yourself" was the last
laughing address Of my friends, as l took
my ticket at London Bridge Station--an
address as laughingly replied to; and that
same evening, with a companion, was
strolling down the Boulevard des Italiens,
smoking.a cigar, and enjoying the novel
sights around; the newsvender's kiosk !;
the tall, white stone houses, with their
bright Venetian shutters: the handsome
shops, with their costly contents; the gay
throng of promenaders: the numberless lit
tie handicapped tables land the cool way in
which people sat out Of doors to sip cafe
noir, eau saucrec,' or " win de Bordeaux
Here was couple playing dominoes !;
there quartette, evidently tradesfolk, with
moderator-lamp, seated at table outside
their shop door, happily engaged at q
French version of short whist. Now the
pointed -moustached, tight-cOated, cooked
hated "sergent de-ville," with his long thin
sword, would take one 8 attention: now one
Of the many shabby uniformed, but active,
cat-like sunbrowned soldiers, one and all
carving their arms. Then the white cap
Of Sister of Mercy, or the starch plaits of
bonnie" would diversity the throng.
Everywhere there was something new to
take the attention, while not the least evil
dent was the love Of our neighbor for dis
play, as shown in gilded ratings, bright
hues, and, above all, in flowers clustering
round SO many windows No gas-faming,
heavy-looking public houses here, but ele-
CANT marble and velvet furnished cafes, re-
splendent with mirror, white and gold,
and overlooked by a presiding deity in the
shape of "dame de compton," throned
amidst fruit, flowers. and wine, coffee urns
and confectionery, herself a very model OF
the latest Paris fashion.
slept that night in confusion of ideas,
s.rangcst of which Was belief that Paris
was sort of fairy land, where all was per-
feet and woke the next morning to a
capital hotel breakfast of long bread, cafe
au -lait, 8ufs frais," and string band, re-
calling home outside the window, with
the strains of the Lancers' Quadrilles."
Then came round of sight-seeing-cathe
dral, church, picture gallery, bridge, foun-
tain, palace. opera, theatre and review.
We lunched and dined "a la Franchise, and
pretended to like the French potage and
their wines We played billiards at tho
Cafes" smoked bad cigars, made ourselves
ILL., tired ourselves out, and all the while
avowed that we were in the very height of
enjoyment.
AT the end ola fortnight, Paris did not
seem half 30 bright place and, certainly,
no better than London. One day | spent
upon the sofa reading the Times and Gal
Sgpaai and that same evening my COM
panion actually limited at it being almost
time to think of going back home. But
at the table dhote" we encountered
young fellow-countrymen who put us
through sort of catechism upon our say
ing that we were about tired of the place,
ending by telling us that we had seen moth
ing yet, and promising to initiate us into
little more Partisan life and manners.
We assented to his acting as guide and
he certainly did initiate us-or rather give
us lesson-Parisian life and manners
one which proved quite sufficient to satisfy
me and two days after, was congratula-
ting myself upon being safely at home.
1t was about 10 o'clock at night, that af-
ter spending an hour or two amid the "cafe
chantants" in the Champs Elysees, our new
friend led us up end down several streets,
till he paused at what seemed to be a pri-
vate house.
You ought not to 60 back" he said,
without seeing gambling house"
"Oh! don't know" / said, hesitating:
Il don't much care for that"
You need not either of you play" was
the reply. Well just 60 in for half an
hour, and then have look at something
else"
And then we entered a well lit passage,
a door closed behind us, shutting US i'm like
flies in trap, and well-dressed waiter
ushered us into brilliantly lighted saloon,
wherein were collected some twenty we'll
dressed men, seated and standing round
centre table covered with a green cloth,
while another waiter handed round coffee,
ices and champagne.
Don't refuse the refreshments" whis-
percd our guide ut would look strange.
They are all free-found by the proprietor,
who recoups himself out of his visitors
losses"
nodded and partook of some cham
payne, as did my companions; when,
eager TO see all that was going on, we
walked up 10 the rouge-et-noire table, and
looked on.
The stakes were not very high, because
it was so early in the evening, so our guide
said; men winning and losing various
small sums with the utmost nonchalance.
In effect the game seemed then tame and
and thoroughly wanting in
that excitement of which | had so often
read. There were half cries of cronpier and
tailleur and the faint click and chinck OF
franc and fve-franc pieces as they were
raked together; but there were no fierce
aspect, no knit-brows, or wcat~bedewed
forehead all was calm and gentlemanly
and l was wondering how long IL would
be ere my companions were ready to go,
when our new friend took five-fsanc
piece out Of his pocket. staked it and saw
i melt away. Another shared its fate, and
another. and another
Always my luckf' he said, coolly. as
he turned to me. Lost louisi that's as
Far As I'shall go. All! the disease has
proved infectious; see your friend has
taken it."