The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-15
[From Blackwood's Magazine.l
The American Woman.

HER sENsIrIvENEss GAUGED BY AN ENG
LIsH GENTLEMAN IN PARIS.
sWell, sir,I am glad to meet you here"
"Ha, ha thanks, thanks, thanks very
much, thanks" muttered Mr.. Airey in reply.
Mr.. Airey had but lately arrived in Paris
from Bond street, Mr.. Armstead from Bacon
street. The Londoner had run against the
Bostonian at the corner of the rue de la
Paix.
"Are you going my waya" asked Mr.. Airey
lightly. 90 -
"I am at your service, sir said Mr.. Arm.
stead, with courteous motion of the head.
AS hey moved along the broad pavement,
the Englishman entertained his friend with
thousand remarks on men and things, Paris
always loosed his tongue: for while he tasted
with delight the gayety and sparkle of the
place. he found at the same time much solid
food for the moralist. When he was moral
izing he felt that he was doing his duty. And
so, with sense gIatified and conscience in re-
pose, pleasant sun above him, and a good
listener by his side, the sprightly gentleman
would comment for hours on the frivolity of
the Parisians. When had brought to an end
a nimble discourse on the probable haunts
duu CublOMb VI d passing Ictlt-SrdS, ue iOuuQ
that for the moment he was without another
subject on which to dilate. So, turning to
his companion like an amiable social inquisi-
tor, be asked, "Now, what do you find to do
with yourself in Paris ~ en- - ss--r
Mr.. Armstead whose share in the converse
ton had consisted of occasional solemn bows
of acknowledgment, now coughed, meditated
for some moments, and then answered
thoughtfully, swell, come down town and
walk around" tfI~ lIstt F
''But surely,n cried the other, "for man
Of your active habits-why, my dear Colonel
Armstead, I-'
the colonel, if you please"
MIR. Airey was vastly astonished. 81 beg
your pardon-I beg your pardon" he said,
but surely-why, always thought that you
Americans were particularly fond of military
titles"
''Well, sir, we have had some pretty seri-
GUS killing lately, and some Of us don't take
quite SO humorous view OF the profession
as we did when 1t was confined to Indians
and Mexicans." Z1.g
"Bnt still it is the custom in England and
his title. And you, who were distinguished
lyon surprise me, you surprise me very
much. '-'''-'' = p
Mr.. Armstead acknowledged the compile
ment by bending his head and slightly way
ing his right hand. After pause, during
which his companion watched him with
much curiosity, he said, sit was found that
there was certain awkwardness in sending
out your superior officer for bag Of nails or
2-cent stamp" -..s.-. =. -. 9-
Mr.. Airey felt that, like second Column
bus, he had discovered new America. This
novel and interesting specimen must be
drawn out, to be afterward described and
commented upon at all his clubs. he as
sumed an insinuating manner as he asked the
leading question. show do you like Paris ?'
Mr.. Armstead took time to reply. 81 like
It," he said; shut fear there is little too
much of the New Highlander in my compost
tion." a.,5 .e.5 -, 49,
"And capital good thing, too" observed
the other encoaragingly.i 800. .......
"The Pilgrim fathers would not have ap.
peared to advantage on the boulevards."
Certainly not. And yet your country
men are, as a rule-are they notq-devoted
to Paris. You know, Of course, the saying,
Good Am orleans when they die 60 to Paris,
eh2"
The Bostonian bowed gravely at the quota
ton. s'Some like it,'' he said; and added
profoundly, after pause, ''the American in
Paris is too often Partisan hampered by
morality"
The Englishman would doubtless have
commented at some length on this remark,
but his eye was at that moment caught by
something which would serve him even bet
ter for a text. Above a large window, which
was modestly covered by muslin curtains,
appeared the name and title of Madame La
louette ex 1.ere de NJ. Over the name
OF the gentleman who had had the honor OF
employing Madame Lalouette, a piece of
blank paper was carefully pasted. "Look p
cried Mr.. Airey, In great excitement; just
look at the woman's ingenuity. She must
have been threatened with legal proceedings,
don't you see? So she sticks up that paper,
which blots out the cause of offense, while it
catches every eye and appeals 10 every imag-
of whom is this Madame Lalonette the pre-
mierep For me, cannot conceive says
the other; but Madame de Corsaye is sure to
know So they rush off to a third lady, and
the milhner Is advertised all over Paris by a
single square of blank paper. It is mag
nifcent."
Here Mr.. Airey paused for breath, and was
straightway thrilled by the delightful con-
seriousness of having been unusually brilliant.
81 know It," said Mr.. Armstead; 'M
Blank is an excruciating mystery to women,
like the yelled prophet Of Khorassan.'
"Ha, hal capital, capital! and, by Jove!
she is a clever woman. Just look at the
other dodge"
81 have observed it," said the American.
The large window of the Ingenious artistic
was dfaped with muslin, as if the mysteries
OF La Mode were sacred as those of the Bona
Dea; but at one side of the window was
placed tall sheet of looking-glass, some two
feet wide. While the two friends were gaz-
ing ct the temple of fashion, the one bub6led
over with remarks on the ingenuity of French
fbQ ~ hQr 4nov,, 80, c;lo
as they passed that looking-glass. He re-
membered a method of sharing birds by like
means, and smiled grimly. One lady Just
touched her bonnet in front, another her
braids behind. One stopped and deliberately
arranged the lace at the throat, another
glanced hurriedly at the glass and then
darted across the road a mute defiance of the
observer. Even bonnetless work girl caught
a look as she slipped back to her work; and
a large nurse, whose beauty was no more
than health and amiability, shifted her small
fingers on the crisp border of her cap. The
two gentleman were still staring across the
street, when tiny brougham drove quickly
up TO the yelled window.
''Who Is she? who can she be? ' cried Mr..
Airey, and in breath, .'upon my word, re-
markedly pretty. One can see in moment
the French woman of the world-grace, ele-
gance, wit"
sit is my wife," said Mr.. Armstead dryly.
The Engiishman was overwhelmed with con-
fusion; 81 beg your pardon-I beg your par
don; / had no idea, l.,
"Won't you allow me the pleasure of pre-
ssnting you to Mrs. Armstead?''
Thanks, thanks; delighted, Pm sure
But do you think we may 60 in-two men,
yoC knowP"
~ am not afraid for myself" said the Bos-
tonian.
The front room of Madame Lalouette was
tenanted only by gowns erect upon wire
frames. ''Dress-extenders, eh?" said Mr..
Airey. "Average women" observed Mr..
Armstead; but there was twinkle in his eye
which softened the severity of his remark.
From an inner apartment, which was seen
through open foldng-doors, came the rattle
Of two shrill French voices, one voluble in
the language of the country, the other almost
equally effective in mixture of French and
fantastic English. They were the voices of
Madame Laloutte and "Mees," SO called in
the establishment in recognition of her almost
miraculous knowledge Of our barbaTous Ian.
guage. The double stream of persuasion.
defamation and exclamation interrupted bv q
third voice, high but not loud, and with a
very pleasant pronunciation Of French. Ev-
idanfIu fha lady uvaq mt vpt satisfied for bor