New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-08
L" DESSEINS."
From The 81. James's Gazette,

Some of the prettcst passages IN Sternes wrlMngs
are associated with Desseins Hotel at Caiais. WIN
that background we see me hR9iesoi s9s 40
say nothing OF the old des0bHgedRh. Evep OF late
years il impossible to look at the Ola Duldhp,
which remained unchanged, without Gaming up
Mr. Sterne In his black smalls, and the curious
airy conyersatlOn-sprinkled with what execIaDio
French both In grammar a1d spelllng!-that TOOK
Tho whole covered great deal OF ground. was of
. deep gambo0ge tint, as Lamb would say, ana was
an interesting sight, ~ well az an important ptce
Of property in a Strengthened little fortified Town no
bigger say than the space comprising Trafalgar
square. Lecester-square and down TO raI MaIl;
Here 12O years ago. came Mr. Stcrne. 81 arrived
bv the night mail from Dover says the author Of
the Roundabout Papers" himself last iad-
ing into the mIsts that enveop Mr.. Sterne OF whom
he - writing. 81 disinclned TO travel fuftber
that uIght on my road to Paris, and knew the CALAIS
hotel OF old of the ccanest one oil the dear
est. Of the most comfortable hotels on the Ioi-
tinent There Is no town more French than Ca'als.
That charming old Hotel Dessen, with ITS court;
lis gardens its loTdly kitchen. IT'S prim!y dressed
They gave me bedroom theTe--a very neat room
on the first floor. looking i1;o garden :.
And / remember old diligences and old POSITIONS
in piCtails and jack boots, whose cracking Whips
have heard in the midnight many and manya time.
Upstairs to the night. Is the little room that used
to be labelled Z" sternes Room" and another, or
Walter 3cotf-." Here had lodged Brummell in
1916; here the Duchess Of Kingston, far biSanlst!
and for a night, George ", on his way 20 Hanover
II is indeed. stated that there was fire 81 the
hotel in 177O-0r. at least, tablet to that effect
used to he on the wall; hut II may he doubted
If the cOnflagration extended to the entire hotel
The SternCs Room No. 81, with Rcynoldss picture
over the chmney-picce. was still shown ana Sill
used. The whole, too, had a most antique ar.
Drsscin however passed away with his son;
and the sons daughter married Qalllacq, who
kept the " SILVER LlOu," 40 cd hotel, also with
court t. be found in the Rue Neuve. Here II WAS
that iIogar.h stayed. SO lately, however, as 1861:
L. ID sseIn, who keeping the old DcSsein,s'
Hotel issued important announcement: " Inc
proprietor has the honor to inform ms numerous
patrons and travellers in general that alter the lSt
of January ms establishment Will be transferred TO
the HOtei Quillacq, which has been entirely newly
done up aud Will take the name of Hotel Dessein.
he premises Of the old hotel having been pur-
chased by the town of Calais, 1t ceases to be a
hOtci.' 20 accordingly II ceased and IN 1871 II
was transformed INTO a museum. with Indian boats,
skeletons OF birds and fishes, arrows, pictures, etc
IL the occasion OF one "t - 80" agreeable Mite
French l6y, which arc IN such harmony with M old
tDTn.
Bat this year Of grace. 1880, am in Old Calais,
coming over By moonlight, and with that not unro-
mantle landing at the station and by one IN the
morning am standing ringing at Qdil&cqs !
went ont betimes to see the O.G
DESSERTS in the Rue LevouX, erst ROyaie. Ii was
polIlnC with rain, and somehow could not ma
Il. ILis set down to fOTgcttuineSs, perhaps %
confusion from the showers. The trial was made
again later. but with the sama result The streets
did not wear the same look. At last the news was
rudcy broken 10 me- In place of De,sein's was to
he seen the she'll of enormous brick building,
1 adv but for Iooiing-a vast communal school, one
of NJ. FoIrys offspring. Dcsseln's far gardens, the
quaint old hotel, the remiSe Sternes rooW-all had
been levelcd and this precious structure reared IN
it, place And so there l. an end OF De5sen5 Hotel!