The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-08-28
A FIN DE Steele INCIDENT.
What All Observer Witnessed In the Gay
French Capital.

What All Observer Witnessed in the Gay
French Capital.
It happened thus: One beautiful
morning in Paris I was sitting on a
bonch in the Cour de Renne think
ing about this yearly sacrament of
spring which nature offers to her
devotees, when my attention was
suddenly attracted to my neighbor
on the opposite end of the bench.
He was an elderly man of striking
appearance. His features all bore
that unmistakable stamp that is
evolved from lines of long descent.
His deep brown eyes were all the
brighter from their setting under
the high pale brow and white eye
brows. There was an atmosphere
about monsieur that set the wheels
in my Imagination going. His clothes
were scrupulously neat, but there
Was a t~elltale shine about the seams
and collar that did not bespeak an
unlimited bank account. Neverthe-
less he bore about him that air OF
good breeding and old school courte-
sy that the wealth Of the Indies can
not buy. Fancy began to weave her
web about him. The "bouton rouge"
in his buttonhole and the Legion OF
Honor cross told their tale as well
as gave a bit of color to the dark
coat. Thrown ~carelessly about his
shoulders was tho c%iroularlike cloak
SO much worn in Paris and Italy,
and at his feet was a good sized trav-
cling bag. Yes, I thought, in spite
of ones talents, one may not be
clever enough to become a Cresus,
and here is evidently q case in point,
for intellect and brilliant thought
had drawn their unmistakable lines
on that fine countenance, and yet
success was not stamped there, but
disappointment rather and regret.
This analysis became so interesting
to me that / longed to know the
mans life history.
In the midst Of my %reveries !
heard tho sound of the trumpet and
roll of the drum. There vas a gen
eral stir about us among the work
men who were repairing the wooden
pavement of the Cour de Renne.
The music came nearer, and the
measured tramp Of marching feet
announced the approach Of The
"Garde Republicaine" down the
} Champs Elysees. Small boys ran,
the workmen flew, and monsieur
and I remained alone in Jul glory,
both wrapped in the depths Of
thought. Suddenly he got up quick
ly, gave me one searching glance
apparently convinced himself that
was far away in the land of Nod
t seized his travelling bag, unlocked
it, walked rapidly to the pile of ole
wooden blocks that the workme1
!, had thrown aside and began to paol
t his bag full of them with method
t and precision. When it was quit
full, he locked it, gave it a shak'
down, Strengthened himself as if il
! command of a regiment, marched
] back to the bench and fell into th'
same pose that had so interested me
Had I dreamed? Had he moved
! Was it possible that sharp n%ecessit.
had reduced my half hour hero t
. this point? Yet there was the ba!
with its suspicious hard angles tina
I. bespoke not a change of fine linen
4 This little chapter of incidents hat
t all been SO rapidly accomplished
telling of that training that develop
( an eye to the main chance even il
the lapse of a few moments. TIL
tramp of the marching feet grey
!, faint; the music died away; work
men, %loiterers, small boys and nurse
4 maids came back to the cool blu
= shadows under the trees. Monsieu
stretched himself, pulled his mai
i tie about him, picked up his heav
travelling bag and walked off brisl
7 ly as if bound for the "Gare st. Ii
. zare'' to take the first train for
summer outing.
For me the curtain had been lift
cd for a moment, and q pathetic pie
" ture revealed Of a brave soul strue
! Cling single handed against thos
. mighty legions, supply and demand
q I never saw monsieur but ono
), again, and then he had his nos
a pressed close against one of the grea
windows filled with books of th
large publishing house Of Hachett
& Gle. He was taking homeopathic
doses of the fin de steele l~iteratur
with q relish that shut out the bu'
tie of the busy world about him.
New York Home Journal.
% When the Negro Was Created.
II. The Mexican Indians, as we'll
those of most of the Central Amer