Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-29
The STORY OF A GRASSHOPPER

Somewhere about the year 1894 one
might have found half-hidden among
the trees in the magnificent park ut
Versailles. tiny cottage of Swiss archi-
lecture. Had any French peasant been
asked the question as to who owned this
fanciful dwelling, the reply would have
been given, That is the dairy Of Dame
Capetm
And. as the reader may at once sur
mise, this Dame Capet was no less
parsonage than the lovely but unfortu-
nate queen, Marie Antoinette.
Here, one summer afternoon long
ago, was assembled n group OF women,
whom by their rustic attire you would
have called peasant-girls, were it not
for the indescribable high bred air
about their words and actions.
The room in which they were gath
cred was large and sunny, the floor was
OF black. walnut-highly polished-and
here and there were tables covered with
thin slabs of marble, upon which were
placed silver and porcelain pans, con-
tanning creamy white milk from the
sleek cows browsing outside the dwell
ing.
One beautiful young girl. whose fair
complexion showed in fine contrast to
her blue dress, was skimming the cream,
while three other ladics-one. plump
and rosy, the other, tall, thin and angu-
lar, and the third, petite and piquante-
stood, with elbows resting on the mar
bic slabs, watching her.
These four were respectively, Eliza
beth. the kings lister, Madame Campan,
the Duchess de Polignac, and the Prin-
cess am bplla
But in this little dairy cottage all titles
were laid aside.
Another group was gathered Mt the
table by the window. Here the queen,
n graceful woman, with merry face and
rich brown hair, wearing a costume of
blue and russet, was molding the golden
butter into balls, each stamped with n
rose, or some other design OF flower CT
fruit.
Scarcely had she finished the last yell
low pat ere there was q noise OF foot
steps at the vinearched doorway. The
ladies glanced up and welcomed with
silvery laughter and gay words the
party of gentlemen, who now entered
in rustic costume, bearing loose blouses,
and with rustic ribbons upon their
hats.
Welcome ALL" cried the queen,
"All save Monsieur de Lanier,n she
added. in an aside to young girl who
stoon near her.
The person whom she addressed was,
rs we have said, young, and. besides
this, she was extremely beautiful. with
perfect features, delicate pink-and-pearl
complexion, large, soft, blue eyes, and
with masses of shining, bronze-brown
hair, half concealed by a coquettish
little lace-cap adorned with crimson
ribbons. He dress was n black delaine
ooped over quilted, crimson petticoat
so short that il displayed a pair of
dainty feet encased in tiny slippers,
with high heels and gay, crimson
rosettes. Her blue eyes flashed, and
she said, in low tones: ..-
" Yes. your majesty-I mean Dame
Capet-Monsieur de Lanier is never vel
coined by me. Louis d'Argent."
You did right TO refuse him, cherie.
No one could endure such n bear for q
husband" said the queen, glancing
toward n tall, gaunt man, whose thin,
fercely compressed lips, thick, bristling
eyebrows and fierce. deep set eyes made
his face most unprepossing one.
But what strange creature has he
with himm exclaimed the queen, her
brieht eyes widening with astonish-
ment. And then, curiosity overcoming
dislike. she called out: Pray, Monsieur
de Lanier, what rara avis brings you
hitherp"
Advancing with flourish and a
smirk. DE Lanier said:
This is TO bird, your high-Dame
Capet; il is n grasshoppor, Monsieur
Santerelle," :" pointing with mock gravity
toward little creature, scarcely four
feet In height, who. besides being SO
diminutive in stature, was also strangely
deformed, having n large head set on
bumped shoulders, and with long, thin
arms and legs. His face was small,
wien and yellow, with irregular fca-
lures. The only thing not repulsive
were his eyes these were large, brown
and mild, with that look OF dumb en-
treaty about them that one often sees in
the eyes of animals.
His costume consisted of waistcoat and
knee-breeches of pale, pea-green velvet,
longsilk stockings, high-heeled slippers,
together with a jaunty hat and light,
airy cloak of mingled green and brown
tissue, completed his attire.
Truly, from bis entire appearance. he
we'll deserved the French name of grass
hopper--tlIaf is, - le santerelle.n
During the time of Louis XIV, and
even down to other reigns. there was a
rage amongst the nobility for dwarfs.
The ugliest and most delormed creatures
were eagerly sought after and retained
Le Santerelle Is quite n juggler,
continued De Lanior; and II y our ma