An Attic Philosopher in Paris

uary

ese shouts and cries? Ah! I recollect: this is the l

rty" announces the ending of the feasts, and the month of fasting which should follow; carn-ival means, literally, "farewell to flesh!" It is a forty days' farewell to the

ort for men to be reasonable, that the weaker ones have need of rest at intervals? The monks of La Trappe, who are condemned to silenc

raint during the Carnival. It is a door opened to the incongruous fancies and wishes that have hitherto been crowded back into a corner of

It is now who can attract the most attention by making a figure for a few hours, or by exciting curiosity

pleasures? Economists have been long inquiring what is the best disposal of the industry of the human race. Ah! if I could only discover the best disposal of its leisure! It is easy enough to find it work; but who will find it relaxation? Work supplies th

make it one for myself, too. So I light the little lamp over which, on grand occasions, I make a cup of the co

inders one's laughter by making one think:-Lesage; let us stop at him. Being profound rather than grave, he preaches virtue while ridiculing vice; if bitterness is sometim

da, the Duke of Lerma, Aurora, Scipio! Ye gay or graceful figures, rise before my eyes, people my

mes home almost every day with a drawing or painting-probably of little value; for I know he lives penuriously, and even the letter that I am to write for him shows his poverty. His only son, who was married in England, is just dead, and his widow-left withou

e that I have not my dictionary. Now, a Parisian who would speak English without a dictionary is like a child without leading-strings; the ground

ellow-lodger. This latter has a violent fever and delirium. Pierre looks at him perplexed and out of humor. I learn

they have sent

e must have money in one's pocket for that, and

ther astonished; "are

aft-horse is friend to the leader-on condition that each will

however, to leave hi

s bed till to-morrow, a

to leave h

this fellow is lightheaded?" asked Pierre, sharply. "I have promised to meet some frien

ich he took the fancy costume of a water

thoughts of his expected pleasure, Pierre would hardly so much as hear me. At last his coarse selfishness provoked me. I began reproaching

with an oath, and stamped his foot. "Am I to spend

our comrade to die wi

to the hos

he by h

ed to make

ed that he was too weak to walk, but the bookbinder would not listen: he made him get up, and half dragged, half supported him to the lodge of the porter, who ran for a hack

mself; and I have given him his letter, finished at last, and directed to

g down in rags, a cold stove, a bed of straw, two broken chairs, composed all the furniture. At the end o

usts of bread, which he was soaking in a glass of 'eau sucree'. He perceiv

you in my supper, neighbo

thought it a very philosop

head, and went on a

p a crust into his glass. "There are several sorts of epicures, and not all feas

to seek for the invisible banquet which

confident in what he is about to do, he rummaged behind several picture frames, drew forth

d singing to the accompaniment of musicians who appeared in the background. At first sight I recognized

e old man, the dress of the young woman, and the accessories. One can count the pencil-strokes of the Hercules of painters

onderful picture. One would have said that the sight of it gave the crusts an unexpected relish, for he chewed them slowly, and emptied his g

d with an air of triumph. "Others may run after dinners and ball

so precious," replied I, "it o

ndifference. "In good times, a good judge might v

rted

ve bought i

mistook this for a student's copy; he let me have it for fifty louis, ready mo

the letter containing the refusal that M. Antoine had made me

ion, and went on contemplating t

ust in delight. "What relief! what fire! Where can one find such t

he mistook my astonishment for admir

u did not expect such a treasure! What

gravely; "but I think yo

e raised

r a man likely to be deceived about

I cannot help thinking that, for the price of th

t th

ily itse

ed myself a barbarian, incapable of understanding the arts, and unworthy of enjoying them. He got up wi

issal; I took leave o

ter boiling over my lamp, and I busy myself in gr

attractive of domestic operations to one who lives al

the same time, upon the senses and the thoughts. Its very fragrance gives a sort of delightful activity to

ire-irons, the sense of smell gently excited by the aroma of the Arabian bean, and my eyes shaded by my cap pulled down over them, it often seems as if each cloud o

a hillside: behind is a garden shut in by a whitethorn hedge, and throug

ir master! Farther on, in a part of the wood which rings with the sound of the axe, I perceive the woodsman's hut, roofed with turf and b

meditations, in order to fill up the coffee-pot. I then remember that I ha

tom of the Savoyards, she has not gone back to it again. She has neither husband nor child, notwithstandi

fe, she makes good her humble place in it by working,

re sitting on the ground. They wear the sooty dress of Savoyard boys, and in their hands they hold large slices

s points th

joy themselves!" said she, putting her

t," puts in one of the

left alone in the streets of Paris, where he c

e yourself a mother to t

of the street, that for once they may have enough to eat. Dear children! their mothers will make up for it in heaven. N

yes filled

recollections for the goo

e laughter of these little ones, sir, is like a bird's

s of bread and cheese, and added some

cried, "put these into your

turnin

lf," added she; "but we m

saying a word: I w

found the happy self-sacrifice of goodness. Pierre, M. Antoine, and Mother Denis had all kept their Carnival; but