Year: 1859

An American Snob in Paris, and what


Befell Him.


Speaking of the elite, reminds me of


what has just befallen young American,


now in Paris, and | will take the liberty Of
giving the details of the affair. He is a


gay, ardent southerner, and left his native
city a few months since, having just arrived


at the age of 2l, and the full enjoyment of


large fortune. He came to Paris with


the intention of getting into the best society.


No new noblesse would suit his refined taste.


His desire was to be on delightful familiar


ity with the denizens Of the Faubourg st.


German; the quarter par excellence of


the hautc noblesse.' Ouce in the gay cap


ital, he set about accomplishing this pur-


pose with decided energy. He perfected


himself in the language, and took lessons


in dancing and music The idea grew up
on him during the lapse of time necessary


to acquire these accomplishments, and fre-
quently he informed the persons whom he
met OF his determination. Unfortunately
for him he made the acquaintance of
young man, fellow pupil at the dancing
academy, TO whom he impaired his desir
brulant.' The new acquaintance praised
the idea, informing the young southerner
that he was enchanted TO hear of this re-
solve, and ended by promising his aid, which
was no small gain, as lie was bona fde
count, not one of the mushroom nobility,
but a person whose ancestors had had the
inesrimable privilege of following the crazy
monk TO Palestine, and knocking off the
heads of sundry infidels. Decidedly he was
of the ancienne nobIesse, and he felt fiat
tered that young republican should cvince
such a rraiseworthy desire to enter the cir
Gle of such class of society as he (the
county belonged to; nay more, he would
assist The young stranger, and at once pro-
posed 10 introduce him to his aunt the Mar
quise. Delighted beyond measure at this
stroke Of good fortune, the American seized
his new acquaintance by the hand and in
the most grateful manner returned his
thanks, and asked the noble count to take
a drink. The acquaintance ripened into
the warmest friendship, so much so, that the
count persuaded the young stranger to take
a larger suit of rooms, to get a fine carriage
and more servants, and proposed to his de-
lighted friend that they should live togeth-
er They did so for several months, du-
ring which time the young man paid all the
bills, il being agreed that he should do so
for the first year and the count the next.
The southerner was duly presented to the
Marquise, whom he found to be most
woman, living in the Quarter.
st. German, and having about her the ey-
licences of wealth and taste.


She was very agreeable and very kind
10 the young stranger, and took him with
her to TIE opera and to see many of her
titled friends. She was very handsome
quiet and young, and soon the fiery
southerner was 'epris' of the marquise.
He even went so far, one night, when un-
der the influence of her witehing waysand
too much champagne. to propose marriage;
she gravely told him she was partial to
him, but that she could not marry a man
without title. He was in despair, and
TO tell his grief to the count, the
confdant of his love. The count was very
sorry, and really did not know what to do
for his young friend, but wouh try to make
Ihe marquise relent. The next day the
count came in radiant with the most joyful
air. He had found out an expedient by
which the young American might overcome
he difficulty. He knew a man, an agent
If the Duke of Tuscany, who had title
or sale 1t was dear; but then the mar
laise wasenormously rich, and loved the
young man SO much, that once he possessed
his title, she would marry the American,
sven if it had cost him all his fortune.


Fired with the idea of espousing a
our young southerDer rushed
o the person indicated. and asked the
,rice of the wished-for title. Alas, il was
lear; almost all the money hc possessed
vas necessary TO buy it. He hesitated
,ut having again seen the marquse that
right at a soiree at her house, he signed a
heck, giving 10 the seller of the title. who.
" wonderful coincidence, happened iobe
1 this party. the amount asked for the
arehment that was to make him the happy
ossessor OF woman, who, although much
lder than himself was marquise de la
aute noblesse.' He returned TO his room
hat night. full af hope and wine, and sark
D sleep murmuring the name of his future
pouse.


He awoke late the next day, TO find the
cunt gone, he having just received letter
hat caused him to at once set off for Italy.
he young man cared but little for the alb
ence of the count he few to meet his
romised wife. Arrived at the house, he
las informed that madame no longer lived
lere; she had left that morning early,
ithout saying where she was going Ligho
svned upon the Yankee; herushed 70 hie