River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-04-02

Nightmares, at that period, and were held
in awe by the excited populace.
again repeat this was time OF terror.
Three DAYS were spent on such mental
rack; the fourth came (26th OF Junel.
The news from the conflict reached US
quite regularly, passing from the lips OF
one person to another along the streets.
For example, we already knew that the
Pantheon was captured, and the left side
of the Seine held by the army; that Gen.
eial Breat was shot by the insurgents
and Archbishop Aftras mortally wounded;
that only the Faubourg st. Antoine still
resisted. / remember listening to the
reading Of the proclamation of Cavaignac,
appealing, for the last time, to the patri-
otto feeling, which still remained in the
most hardened hearts. An ordinary, an
huzzar officer, galloped along the boule-
yard and, forming a circle, as big as an
apple, with the fingers Of his right hand,
exclaimed: with such bullets they fire
on us
In the same house where lodged, even
OH the same floor, lived the renowned Ger.
man poet c.. was acquainted with
him. | called on him frequently for the
purpose of unbUdening my thoughts to
him, Of escaping from myself, and the
aching grief Of idleness and isolation.
On the morning after the Goth of June
| was sitting in his room-he had just
finished his lunch, when suddenly the
garcon entered with a disturbed counte-
nance.
"What do you want :"
"a blouse wishes to see you, Monsieur
c."
"A blouse What blouse?'
"A man in a blouse, workingman; an
old man inquiries for citizen c.. viii
you admit him"
c. and exchanged looks. "Show
him in said he, after pause.
The garcon retired, repeating as if to
himself: "A man in a blouse--in a
blouse !" He was Mortified. And was it
long since when, after the days of Febru-
airy, the blouse was the most fashionable,
proper, and safe dress! But other times
other morals; at the epoch of the In
surrection of June, the blouse III Paris be-
came stigma, a seal of Cain, and excited
feeling Of horror and animosity.
The garcon returned and silently beck
oned to man, following his steps, to
enter the apartment; he was indeed a
blouse--a ragged, spotted blouse. His
pantaloons and stockings were patched
and covered with dust, red rag encased
his neck-and his head was covered with
mass Of greyish-black hair, matted and
covering his very eyebrows. From under
his hair projected a long, aqueline nose,
and peeped small, oldish and inhamed,
dim eyes. Sunken cheeks, wrinkles on
his face as deep as scars, large crooked
mouth, unshaven beard, red, dirty bands,
and that peculiar bending of the spine in
dicative of the pressure of prolonged,
overtaxing work.
There was no doubt that in our press
ence stood one Of the numerous laborers,
hungry, and unknown, with whom the
low layers of civilized societies abound.
(which of you is citizen G-?' he
asked, with hoarse voice.
81 am c." answered the German
poet, but not without a certain confu-
sion.
You are expecting your son with
nurse-from Berlin!'
"Yes, indeed, am. But how did you
know it! He left Berlin four days ago,
but presumed -"
"Your boy arrived yesterday; but as
the railroad depot at st. Denis is in the
hands of people-(at these words the
garcon almost jumped from fear), and as
it was impossible to send him here, he
was intrusted to one OF our women--on
this paper is written her address-.-and |
was deputied by our regiment to come
here and tell you about the matter, so
that you would not worry. His nurse is
with him, the lodging is good--.they both
will have sufficient food, and are out of
danger. When the trouble is over you
can obtain him.--this paper contains the
directions. Good bye, citizen"
The old man turRed to the door.
"Wait, wait - exclaimed c., "don't
60 away !"
The old man stopped. but did not turn
his face to us.
SIS it possible" continued c., shat
you came here merely to satisfy me con-
corning my son---me, u person entirely
unknown to youg" The old man raised
his head.
eyes. Our people sent me-"
"FOr this purpose alone e.
"Yes.'
c. threw up his hands. "But for
Gods sake---I---I do not positively know
/ what to say. do not see how in the
world you could reach this house. You
must surely have been stopped on every
crossing"
| eyes"
"They asked you where you were going,
and for what purposes"
"Yes. They examined my hands to
see if they did not see traces Of gunpow-
der. One Of the officers, whom ! met,
threatened TO shoot me-
c. was paralyzed with astonish-
ment, and the garcon also opened his
eyes widely.
"C'est trop fort p unconsciously muir
INJURED his lips, growing pale.
Goodbye, citizen" said the messen-