Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-03-06
Some Am msrican Col ouists in Paris.
BY Henry James, Jr.

Mrs. Luce had beeu living in
Paris since the days OF Louis
Philippe; she used to say loosely
that she was one Of the generation n
of 1854 joke of which the point
was not always taken. When 1t
failed, Mrs. Luce used always to
explain: "Oh, yes, 1 am one OF the
romantics;" her French had never
become very perfect. She was
always at home on Sunday after
moons, aud surrounded by sym.
pathetic compatriOts, usually the
D, me. In fact, she was at home at
all times, and led, in her we'll.
cushioned little corner of the
brilliant city, as quiet and domestic
y life a. she might have led In her
native Baltimore. The existence
of Mr.. Luce, her worthy
husband, was somewhat more in.
scrutablo. Specifically, indeed,
there was no mystery about 1t; the
mystery lay deeper, and resided in
tpe wonder Of his supporting ex.
istence at all. He was the most
unoccupled man in Europe, for he
not only had nn duties, but he had
no pleasures. Habits certainly he
had, but they were few in number,
and had been worn threadbare by
f)rty years of use. Mr.. Luce was
. tall, leau. giizzled, well.brushed
gentleman, who wore gold eye
glass and carried his hat u little too
much on the back Of his head. He
went every day to the American
bankei's, where there Was q post.
Office, which was almost az So
ciable andtcolloquial an institution
as that Of All American cOun-
try town. He passed an hour Tin
fiue weathes) In u chair in the
Cnsmps Eiy.ess, and he dined un.
commonly we'll at his own table,
seated above u waxed floor which
1t was Mrs. Luce's happiness 10 be.
lieve had a finer polish than any
other In Paris. Occasionally he
dined with a friend or two at the
Caf6 Anglais, where his talent for
ordering q dinner was q source of
felicity to his companions and an
object of admiration even to the
head.waiter OF the establishment.
These were his only known avocs.
tions, but they had beguilsd his
hours for upwards OF halfa centu-
ry, and they doubtless justified his
frequent declaration that there
was no place like Paris. In
no other place, on these
terms, could Mr.. Luce fat.
ter himself that be was en-.
| joying life. There YVES nothing
like Paris, but II must DO confessed
that Mr.. Luce thought less highly
Of the French capital than In earl
tsr days. In the list of of his occu-
pations his political revsrtes should
not be omitted, for they were
doubtless tue animaling principle
Of many hours that superdcially y
seemed vacant. Like many of his
fellow colonists, Mr.. Lnce was .
high-or rather u deep-conserva-
| tive, and gave no counteuauce to
the government recently establish
ed In France. lie had no faith 10
tis duration, and would assure you
from year to year that its end
WAS close at hani. "They
want to he kept down, cir
to be kept down. nothing
but the stroug hand, tue iron heel,
will do for them," he would fire..
quentiy say about tue French peo.
pie; and his Ideal Of y fine govern.
ment was that Of the lately-ahol'
ished Empire. "Paris is much less
attractive than In the days Of the
Emperor; he knew how to make q
city pleasant" Mr.. Luce had often
remarked to Mrs. Touchett, who
was quite of his own way Of think.
ing, and wished to know what one
had crossed that odious Atlantic
for but to get away from republics
"Why, ma!iam, sitting In the
Champs Elys6e, opposite to the
Palace Of Industry, I have ssen tht
court carriages from the Tuilsriei
pass up and down as many as sever
times day. I remember one Oo
casion when they went AS high al
nine times q day. What do you
see now? It's no use talking, the
styles all gone. Napoleon knew
what the French people want, ant
thereill be o cloud over Paris til
they get the Empire back again.
-March Atlantic.