The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-10

TRAN Id, French

It is notsof q politician tnat Y
1 wish to tell you, but only OF q common
acrobat. w ny should ! not have KNOWN
htnf AZ Sancho says one should nave
friends everywhere. s. :
This mounteb ank has Just died, and am
coing 10 tell you his story. II y common ne
place enough, when al said; but THIS
In dying, uttered q sublime
word. twas. the grain Of gold In the b heap
Of sand. ~ ~. ttl... Il
J, pierre Boursot was born. at Sonlitre, n
little village near Mans bis father. WINS 9
cooper. At Ave one Is not an aristQcrat,
and have had many q pleasant game With
little Pierre. In time fis became necessary
to 20 to Paris to college, and after that !
could see my former comrnde only during
vacations, We we're no longer together,
hut we we're not lost to each others sight.
As Tor Pierre, be grew big, went to the
common school, became good workman
like his father, aud toward bis niseteenth
Gear nothing would do but he must tall in
love with the cures niece, very pretty
girl. on my word. But It was not Tor MIN
that two bright black eyes beamed, and that
beat q little heart whose futlerings agltated
young bosom diyinely moulded.
An these treasures were reserved LOT the
.yiIlage teacher. When Pierre learned not
only that he was not loved, but that MS
charmer loved another, the unhappy boy
became mad, and two days before the wed
dIng.night be sought quarrel win us
happy rival. A struggle followed, and, the
Door devil Of tutor, cut with a knne, tel
never to rise again.
II was on that occasion that I for the hrst
time gained knowledge OF the quailty OF
French Justice. The case was very simple,
was it not9 The affair occurred IN tne
presence, of ten witnesses, ana, 1of tnat
matter, Pierre avowed all that one couio
ask, even generalization, which was cnttre,
" unnecessary. Well, the magistrate louna
grounds for sending the prisoner to jail ior
six months ! That was astonishing enough
but what was more go was that fleFre, ue-
tended by young lawyer who MADE us
dEbut. as an advocate IN tnls case' "ae az
Quilted on the trial.
Once more free, Pierre did not go back
to Soulitrc. He disappeared without ever
communicating with his relatives. In the
summer, when again saw his father, l
said TO him, =" Have you received letter =,
uNo.U answered POOR Boursot. Afterward
T did not ask him the question, so as not TO
revive grief which time was healing.
Ten wears afterward was walking one
Sunday in the Place de Ia Bastile, when i!
saw about hundred persons gathered
around mountebank, who was dancing on
a rome stretched on two rickety stakes IN
the ground, drew near, and what struck
me most was woman covered with blts OF
tinsel which would have been happy to be
considered spangles. A wooden bowl IN
her hand. this woman made the round OF the
crowd. but the sous seemed few. l never
say such a monster MS that woman. she
was bumped like Punchinello; her enor-
nous head was sunk into her neck; her
short legs and long arms made her look JUST
like spider, She bad gone about half
through the crowd when the mounteDahk
suddenly ceased his gyrations, hesltated an
instant, then bowed, jumped to the ground
and cried out, Ladies and gentlemen, the
performance is ended" General applause
followed, in the midst OF which lett the
place and went on my way. 1 had NOT
gone hundred steps before was ac-
costed by the mountebank; who had trled
TO hide bis costume beneath large cloak.
"Monsieur doesn't recollect me?" he
said
"No," replied:
clam Pierre Boursot, and I would very
much like 10 talk to Monsieur little, but
this spot is not convenient. II monsieur
should be willing to give me bis ADDRESS
would come to see him tomorrow morning.
have laborer's suit"
besitated moment, then made an APP
pointment with him at my residence at
the next morning.
Pierre Boursot was prompt, and, as ne
had told me. bis get-up would not have as
closed to any one the nature OF his calling.
"Ah, sir" lie said on entering, "giye me
some news OF my father and mother. Are
they still living ?" And on my answering
affirmatively he added: "Ah. poor people
How would like to embrace them!"
"Why do you deny yourself that plea
sure?"
ssBecause of the past and also OF the
present." be replied, hanging his head !;
"Jut what could do: After my crime 1t
was impossible for me to return to the vii
lage. I wished to work-to resume my
trade-but whenever applied for employ
ment they asked me who l was and
where I was from. Then, IN place OF
answering, I ran of. feared that;
| by question after question, they would
lead me to avow my crime. One day, Wnen
everybody had refused me aims, dying
OF hunger, I encountered at the gate OF
Limoges family of mountebanks IN the
act OF preparing their evening meal. Inc
chief was in dreadful passion. The as
sistant had fed, carrying of their cash-box:
What would you have, sir? The hope OF
getting some supper, the idea OF earning a
living, fright at the existence when mad
been leading for two months-all this over
came in my mind the disgust which might
| have had for such calling, and offered
myself in place OF the unfaitbful assistant.
"You know nothing Of the trade" said
the illustrious Pharamond, the Terror OF
the South, rs his placardS styled him; "but
you are a very wel-made STRIPPING, and one
| could make something OF you." -
"And upon the spot clothed myself
with the trock Of my predecessor. Bombo-
chou is dead Long live Bombochou I" j.
! 81 will not recount to you the doings of
the two following years. learned to strut
about, thento dance on rope, then to Jug
gle with heavy weights. That is no fun !;
but could eat eyery.d day. One morning,
after five years Of this life, Pharamond said
to me: 'Bombochou, Pm growing old;
rheumatism seizes me; and although call
myself the Terror OF the South, was yes
terday thrown by rascal only sixteen
years old. 1t Is time for me TO retire. J.
have little money laid by. am going to
sell my outfit and settle down for life. One
thing annoys me-my daughter, Dorothee.
Don't you want to relieve me Of her? AS
she has the disadvantage Of being hump,
backed, I will give her dowry OF. 30U
francs. You know, besides, with what sklll
she performs. 1t is, in short, good thing
that offer YOU
81 accepted-yes, sir, / accepted; ana
7 uhn had Killed man IOr lOYe