The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-13
in Tho GARDENS.

young then and I was studying law.
prone to sadness, a little of dreamer,
:rrlpregnatel with q melancholy philos-
only. did not care for the noisy cafes,
the FOSTERING students or the grisettes
Of the Quarter. always rose early,
and one Of my favorite pastimes was to
wander alone, about s o'clock in the
morning, in the nursery gardens OF the
Luxembourg.
ssYou others did not know these gar
aens. They were like an enchanted
garden of a past century, garden as
pretty us the sweet smile of an old lady.
Boxwood hedges separated the straight
and mai row alleys, silent and deserted
alleys, between two walls of method
ically clipped foliage. The gardeners
scissors relentlessly clipped these divid-
ing bushes, and here and there you came
upon a parterre of flowers and planta-
tions of young trees, set out like col
legians on parade, magnificent groups
of rose pushes and whole regiment of
fruit trees.
Gone corner of this enchanted garden
was given over to the bees. Their straw
houses set at certain spaces apart, on
benches, admitted the sunlight by doors
about rs large as a thimble, and all
along the path the gilded and buzzing
bees, true denizens of these silent alleys
and corridors, real mistresses of this
peaceful spot, flew in every direction.
ST used to go there nearly every
morning, and seating myself on a bench
would read; sometimes I let my book
fall on my knees dreamily, family hear.
ing the sounds of living Paris all around
me, and enjoyed to its utmost the in
finite repose of this remnant Of ancient
regime.
"But I found that was not the only
frequenter Of this spot after the OPEN
ing Of the barrieres; I sometimes en-
countered, face to face, in the corner Of
a grove strange little old man.
ssHe wore shoes with silver buckles,
knee breaches, snuff colored redingote,
fall of lace instead of cravat and an
indescribabls gray hat, with immense
brim and long hairs, which looked as if
it might have been the fashion before
the deluge.
ssHe was thin almost to attenuation,
angular, puckered and smiling. His
quick glancing eyes were never still,
and his lids were contracted by a nerv-
GUS twitching. He always carried a
superb gold headed cane, which must
have been from the careful way in which
he handled it a souvenir of priceless
value.
'.This good man astonished me at
first, and then he interested me beyond
measure. I watched him across the
leafy wall; followed him from affair.
stopping near the fowerbeds SO as not
to be seen.
"And now strange thing happened.
One morning, thinking himself unseen,
he commenced to make the most singu-
lar movements; first few little bounds;
then a bow; then he threw out his slen.
der leg and cut light caper; then ha
commenced to pivot gracefully, jump.
ing, futtering in queer fashion, snlil.
ing as though to an audience, bowling.
throwing out his arms, twisting his poox
puppet of a body, throwing to empty
space tender and ridiculous kisses. Hs
was dancing.
II remained petrifed with astonish.
ment, asking myself which was crazy,
he or I?
ssHe stepped suddenly, as though to
the footlights, then bowed, backing
away with gracious smiles and airy
kisses, which he threw to the two rows
Of clipped trees.
"Then he gravely continued his prom,
enade.
"From that day watched him each
morning go through with his indescrib-
| able gymnastics.
ga foolish desire came over me to
| sneak to him. | risked it, and one morn
| ing, meeting him face to face, l bowed
to him, saying:
est is a beautiful dry, SIR
"He bowed.
"sYes, monsieur, it is verify day Of
| the Nolden times
Eight days later we were fast friends
and knew his story. He had been bal
let master at the opera during the reign
of Louis XIV. His beautiful cane was a
present from Clermont. When once
started on the subject of dancing there
was no stopping him.
"One day he told Inc the following.
ss'T married La Castris, monsieur.
will present my wife to you if you wish
but she does not come out until later i'll
the day. This garden is our JOY and
our life. 1t is all that remains to us Of
our past. 1t seems to us as though we
could not live without it. 1t is old and
distinguished, is it not? Here seem to
breathe an atmosphere which has not
changed since the days of my youth.
Ny wife and I pass all our afternoons
here. But / come alone in the morn
ngs, rise SO early
Gas soon as I had finished my break
fast I returned to the Luxembourg
gardens. Presently perceived my old
friend, who tremendously rendered his
arm to very small old lady dressed in
black. This was La Castris, the great
dancer, beloved of the king, the favorite
If princes, the adored of that gallant