The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-12


Adapted for the Fan Francisco Argonaut
rrhis story celebrated among Balzac's short
tales, under the name Of ''FrancinO Cane" Ii
dear to Balzac lovers for what Henry Curwen,
in his sorrow and Song, has called "precious
indications" az to his garrett life at the opening
Of his career, and to his one smusementl
When was pennilcss student lived in .
little unknown street called Ia Rue de Iesdi-
guieres." All nigh, worked in my little I'M
known attic: by day read in neighboring
public library. lived frugllly, accepting all
the conditions OF q monastic life, SO essential
to brain workers. Ono single passion drew mo
from my studious habits but even that was
study. l used to so about watching the man
nerr Of the Faubourg, its people, and their
characteristics As i'll clad as the workmen
themselves. and a. cereess of decorum,
they were never on their guard against me,
80 I could mngle in the crowds, watch
their bargins, hear their disputes ~
they came back from work. With me
the power Of observation was already in
tuitive, penetrating the soul without neglect
ing the body. scizing upon outward forms 80
thoroughly that it Instantly went beyond them,
till had the power of living the very life Of
the individual was gaug'ng As listened
seemed welded to their HE ! felt their rags
upon my back, walked with my feet in their
tAttered shoes; their desires, their wants, all
passed into my soul, and my soul passed into
theirs 1t was the dream OF waxing man
10 quit my own belongings, 10 occome announcer
than myself ny excitement Oh the morsl iac"i-
tics, and 10 do this whensOever willed it-such
was INV sole distraction, To what do I owe
~, =. =. -. .;..s.s w.,,,a a..
TINS giit! Ii secono s's"'! "o"'" ''''
abuse Of 1t lead to madness! ] have never
| fathc,ned the cause of the power have: use
:. ....:.u
"-'"~. -" .-,.
Ono day my char-wonnn came 70 nvi'e me
F, to be present at her sisters wedding To give
an ;de. NJ that tho wedding vas likely 10 be I
-. .,.:. a.. 80, .,,;. ,,r,- -or,., Co.
0AP'"A '"
ty sous q month for making my bed every
morning. cleaning my shoes. sweeping my
-. ', ..-,,.r;,,, -. n-..r,.., pevond
aoo"' anu P'op.'"e IN!
this she earned ten sous Day Al some wretch
! ed calling: her husband earned four francs
49,. n.a ,,,roo .h;,aro, anil va, thew CON
my ''"" =.
trived TO DC honest iha' SOFT Oh person III
tercsts me. l readily promised to so to the
wedding 7 lacked forward 10 blending myself
| ... .~o,-,> tl,o
with the JOY OIL hese poor PeoP'e !" '"o wa!
have described.
| All tho merry. making tooL place AT n wine
-......u =, ,.r,,,, 49,, 49,, ~. -
"ercna"' !" arg 'oon' "s"e" y! ia"'P'
with tin renectOrs, hung with garlands OF cut
paper. and furnished With WOO len benches
| IL T.. A., -, 80, ......,
rum" "io "e"'' ." "'. 'oo'' "A' @'e'
people tricked ont IN sunday best, dancing foi
dear life, and all expressing q simple animal
| pleasure that was contagious. There were
three pieces of musc--violn, clarinet and fiage-
olet-all PLAYED by blind men from the asylum
of the Quinze- vingts Naturally, they did moi
play l:ossini nor Beethoven. but the instant
looked at them knew the sought for food OF
my imagination was found aud my curiosity
was stimulated TO the highest degree The
violin aud fageolct players both had common
faces but that of the clarinet PLAYER was one
of thos., phenomenal that rivet the ewes of the
artist and the philosopher.
Imagine plaster castof Dante's face, ght-
ci mn y IN, lie reJ glare OF an arcaui lam
and crowned with a forest Of silver white
hair The bitter and melancholy expression
of this magnificent head was only ennobled BY
blindness. for thought terminated the dead
ewes. ficry CLEANS seemed 10 dart from them
born of some one csnseless desire deepl,
craven ON the rugged forehead, scanned witt
wrinkles like the courses Of an old wall
The old man paid very little attention to hi,
playin9 lint. or the other hand the dancer,
cared very little what was PLAYED l felt tina
tire old Homer cherished within himself Al
Odyssey condemned 10 oblivion. All the VIC
lent passions that govern . man, for good OF
evil, were present in his nobv chisele,l, lividl,
Italian face. His gray eyebrows jnttei ovei