The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-31

SFINVS, II kANtE, hNENEt ~
was precisely one month yesterday morn
Ing since we left New York, and the read
ers OF these letters will see how much can
he done aud how much seen In a short
Kuropean tour. Ten OF these days were
spcnt on the ocean, five in London, twelve
I'm Paris, and four at Vichy. This morn
ing we move on, and shall take our dinners
nj Geneva. We have only twenty-five
more days on land to pass through the
lake and mountain regions OF Switzerland,
spend a night on Mount Right, visit
StIassburg, come down the Rhine 10
Cologne, cross over 10 Brussels, in Bel
GUM, and thence 10 Antwerp, from which
point we sail for home on the I'd OF Sep
fcmher. making the whole journey from
Baltimore back 10 Baltimore in less than
seventy days.
yICHY WATER.
We found the Grand-Grille bubbling
and boiling away again yesterday morn
ing nj hali-past ; O'clock. and the four
pretty nymphs Of the spring, with their
white frilled caps, busily bailng up tiim-
blcrs of water for the crowds that were
commencing 10 gather around and start
ing and returning from their promenades.
Between each glass we took scat i'll the
park for half an hour TO watch the promena-
ders and write out accumulated notes.
We are seated there now, and find that
nearly all the men have on their overcoats,
and the ladies their heavy shawls and
wraps. The weather Is clear and the sun
Uniting the tree-tops; still it is decidedly
cool. whilst the cable says you are all SWEET
ering at home. We begin to think that il
was a mistake to have changed heavy
flannel this morning for lighter article.
To bc at all comfortable walking is neceS-
sity, and we must join the promenaders or
&c for our oycrcOat.
BOARDING-SCHOOL FRENCH.
Three OF our companions are professors
OF boarding-school French, and as what
one docs not know the other does, they
manage to prompt each other when one Of
them gets stuck; sometimes when all are at
their wits ends the professor OF the sign
language intcrieres with startling effect
They hnd little or no difficulty in making
themselves understood, but the trouble is
that they cannot always understand the an
swer. There is no doubt that all three of
them have the ground work laid for attain
ing 4 mastery OF the language, provided
they were to spend two or three months
here and had plenty OF shopping to do.
The remark OF French lady in Paris the
other day Is 10 the point: L" IOu Americans
ali say that YOU know very little OF French,
but when we undertake to talk to YOU
find that you know a great deal, and have
probably overheard and understood some
OF or table witticisms." The sign Ian
guagc can generally, however be relied
upon, especially when making purchases re-
requiring them to write the number
Of francs asked for an article, and
then taking the pencil and by setting
down the figures indicating the amount you
are willing to give, both parties understand
each other. II you offer about two thirds
of the price asked there will be shrugs and
motions and signs rs eloquent and express
sive Of their meaning as language could
possibly give. II you start to walk away
another sign OF desperation is given, and
the palm OF the hands is presented to you
with grimace, indicating that the store
ketp per is literally throwing it away, whilst
piece Of paper is seized and the article
rapidly cnveloped. What is the use Of Ian
gllaee in making purchases when the sign
language is understood by all nations?
FRENCH TABLE D'HOTE.
BY the time an American passes through |
England and France he gets homesick for
and hOme-fOOd. The table
dhOte becomes almost Il terror instead OF a
pleasure TO him. Think OF chicken being
served with no vegetables but salads, and |
peas and beans being served rs separate
courses. This afternoon spinach was posi-
lively served alone, and this was too ridicu-
Ions for the French stomach, as we noticed |
that only two persons ont OF thirty ut our /
table partook OF il. The table d'hOte !
breakfast. at 10 O'Clock, is served without |
coffee, everybody being expected to drink |
wine for breakfast. The bread, in |
long rolls about as thick as a mans /
wrist, could be used as a very eflectual |
club in personal encounter, so hard and |
solid is il baked. 1t is nearly all crust, and |
10 one could tell whether it is a week or a
month old, but it must certainly be some
DAYS baked before il reaches the table. |
The time required to eat one of these UNI
satisfactory meals is an hour for dinner
and about iorty-fiyc minutes for breakfast |
Not much complaint can be made as to the
quality OF the food, but much Of ii we can
scarcely decide, after it is eaten, what 1t is
we have taken into our stomachs. The
young folks with lis daily 2roan i'm spirit
for some OF old Aunt CharlOtte's hot rolls, !
corn-cakeS, and griddle-cakcs, and hot
waillcs, as well As her ginger and
sngar-cakes. Her fried and broled chick |
ems would be regarded as posi-
tive luxury, as chicken is always stewed
in France, and often served only half stew
ed. Rare beef Is good, but rare chicken is
something new under The sun. We begin
TO think that cooking is one OF the lost arts
in both France and England. Fruit is
served in homeopathic quantities-a half
dozen cherries, one peach, or two green
cages icing 4 portion, and if any takes
double portion they are liable to mar the
chances Of The rest Of the guests, as noses
IRE nlNNnXS counted when thp dinner l. ,,ro
porcd. The luscious peaches and cream,
the cantal0upCS, wateTmclonS, ce-cream.
green corn, SWect-pOtatocs, icc-Water, and
even good roast potato must be lost for
the season 10 all Americans making a sum-
mcr tour OF Europe. The Young folks cer-
tainly have Alright 10 groan over the loss Of
all their home comforts, as well rs their
cakes and cream.
THEATRICAL.
We spent the evening yesterday at the
Eaden Theatre and witnessed very re-
spectacle and interesting variety perform
ance. The house is an elegant little affair.
and the audience was all that could be de-
sired, except few who only paid for
standing room. There was some cool
singing, very fine dancing by troupe OF
about thirty danseuses, and numerous feat.
OF iugglery by several experts. The main
feature OF the performance was on the ira
peze by young girl about sixteen wears
al age, whom we saw at Florence four /
years ago. Her feat was most remarkable |
She finally walked on the ceiling head
down, sustaining herself by her ankles |
IN the bars OF ladder, suspended hori- |
xontaiiy, aud when she had finished the ,
ieat iei', Intentionally, on her back. to !
me- "S suspended about twenty feet below