New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-07
A HOLIDAY ADVENTURE.

A DAINTY RTPAsr ST FORT LEE FOLLOWED by
GLIMPSE OF THE FRENCH COMMUNE.
To the EdftOr OF The TFtbune.
SIR: bad made mp my mind to spend the Fourth
onietly ar home. Returning from breakfast, had
donncd linen duster-my Summer morning gown
lighted pipe of genuine French capora placed
within reach bundle of newspapers, and stretched
myself on n sofa by the window as TO enjoy at
the same time the pretty view of Stuy Park.
had read myself to sleep. when two friends bois-
terously rushed into my room and unceremoniously
scizing my ey IS compelled me to abandon my re-
cumbent position. They had made mp their minds
that should 90 with them to Fort Lee, and they
coaxed me in such manner that for the peace of
the house in which live l was Obliged to dress
once moro aud yield to their wish. / shall
not be hard my readers. /
shall spare them a description of the too
often described, many-hued and clamOrous throngs
of people who join every excursion boat sail
ing for that historic and picturesque point of the
Hudson | shall not refer TO the scores Of crying
babes and bursting baskets which those people gem
orally carry with them. shall moi even attempt to
describe e honest Joy that frightened their coun-
tenances One could easily perceive that they had
scarcely athed for seven days in the thick.
healthy atmosphere of factories and tenement
houses and that, the holiday hay Ing come, they had
all rushed out disposed to inhale much of the
fresh air of the woods they possibly could. As
wondered how easily all these people could enjoy
themselves. one of them, baker by trade replied ::
| "Ah! my dear sir. had you lived, as have for a
whole week In baking-room with a constant tenn
perature of 40 degrees. and swallowed as much
-four you would not be astonished that we enjoy so
thoroughly breathing the pure air Of the country
Beside this throng of workmen. there were on the
boat few ladies and gentlemen apparently belong
ing to the sOcalled upper classes. Among them two
foreigners particularly attracted my attention
They spoke French. The French Ian guage has
| always peculiarly tickled my ears mot only list
ened to their conversation but also onged to Join
in it, The man was elegantly dressed and perfumed
HIS hair was trimmed very short, q fact which con-
tributed in no mean way TO bring into bold relief
pair Of ears and collar of extraordinary size He
was by no means an Alonis but his gentlemanly
manners and wit fully atoned for his uncomeness
His partner was woman apparently FIVE and
twenty. very pretty. curly blonde with as small
foot as ever saw squeezed into still smaller low
shoe after the Louis Quipze style. Her Summer
dress had evidently come fresh from Paris The
rosy OF ner arms was visible through the trans
parent texture of her tght-dttng sleeves Her ewes
were full Of mischief She smiled and laughed most
heartily at the jokes of her companion and fire.
quently replied thereto by repartees equally comica
although they occasionally revealed that her eduoa-
| tion was not up to the standard Of her escort.
Acquaintance with French people is easily picked
| up. Speak to them 10 their own language, praise
| Paris above all things la the universe, and the
trick Is done. I commenced by asking the gentle
men du fen. Fifteen minutes later our conversation
| was pretty well established and embraced a wide
range of subjects. The pair had come on pleasure
trip 70 AHsrIca Ca; They were staying at one of the
ever, TO start to-day for Niagara Falls and thence
| by the Lakes proceed TO California. He was the
| Viscount OF -, and the lady-I believe he SAID
! she was his wife.
As We landed at the Park Hotel--a lovely place
| indeed-tbey dec Jared that they were dreadfuilv
hungry. They insisted that my friends and should
quiste lunch of soft-shell crabs, sprinkled with
sauterne, cold asparagus and roast duokhngs with
olaret and champagne. the raspberries were served
the Yiscount and stood on intimate terms / Sis'
covered that we had number OF common friends
and acquaintance In the French metropolis We
had thrown all reserve aside. The cham payne had
probably something to do with the freedom with