The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-12
ANCIENT ARIsroCRACY.

The Remnant of a Proud French Family
Stranded in "a Commonplace American
City.
Detroit Times.
Have we a Bourbon among usl Something
IKE 1t IN an ancient PAR, the last representatives
OF an old French family in a goodly but common
place city. There is no fear that they will recog-
nlze themselves in this sketch: they are proudly
and scornfully ignorant of the existence of the
COSBY newspaper of to-day. Long ago there
was wealth and influence and inordinate pride in
the family: but the race was not prolific or pros
porous, and very little survives now but the
PRIDE; Houses and lands melted away, and
the line has dwindled to two old people, an
uncle and niece, both unmarried. who dwell
alone IN proud and aristocratic seclusion in a
house as old and quaint as themselves. Like
the Bonrbons, they have forgotten nothing,
and have learned nothing. They have forgotten
nothing of their former grandeur, and learned
nothing of their present insigniicance. They
are anaehronisms. They know about as much
about the theory of the equality and brotherhood
of man as French c~ourtiers of the reign of Louis
lie Grand. They are noble, like the king, by the
grace of God They have the personal habits
OF the grand seigneur. At II o'clock they break
fast In bed, their own slip-shod maid presidingas
best she can in the separated apartments. Moth
ing coarse and heavy for the repast; only a cup
of chocolate servedm ancient china ON an antique
silver tray. Lunch at l. when both appear in
demi-tollet and exchange stately compliments,
talk over their accounts perhaps, and, it may
be-, condescend to the weather. Dinner
at s, the lady in full evening dress of forty years
ago, the gentlemen in swallow-tail coat and
patent-leather pumps, white vest and high
starched cloth. He gives her his arm and with
courtly ga~llantry conducts her from the faded
parlor into the faded dining-room, seats her at
the head of the table and the stately dinner of
several meager courses proceeds under the
clumsy superintendent of the maid. All de-
hciencies are ignored, there is a ~pretense Of
abundant service and the omewhat Barmecide-
like feast passes on to a stately conclusion.
On rare occasions, an ancient %rockaway con
veys the pair out for an airing, and as she gets
into the vehicle the curious vulgar indulge in
a stare at the ~pantalets of white muslin
tIllled with valuable. old lace which
drape her aristocratic old ankles. The lady had
a brother once. Some thirty years ago he fell a
victim to the charms Of a noted enchantress of
no blueness of blood whatever, and threatened
to bestow himself on her, to the horror and dis
may of his relatives. But she Tilted him, a pro-
ceeding which was so utterly incomprehensibls
that he drowned himself in the blue waters OF
the river to get at the heart Of the mystery
His relatives, being the last surviving lady aud
gentleman in a nation Of shop-Eeepers, GsO
closely allied by blood for marriage. their loag,
blue, useless pedigree will terminate with them
Like the aristocratic Old fowl with the fsil
around her neck in Water Babies their pisie
forces them to be the last Of their line.