Jasmin: Barber, Poet, Philanthropist

ted at the corner of Lamoureux Street and the alley of the Prefecture. There Jasmin learnt the art of cutting, curling, and dressing hair, and of deftly using the comb and the ra

s. There he spent his evenings, and there he slept at night. Though the garret was

his love of reading. The solitariness of his life did him good, by throwing his mind in upon himself, and sho

the conversation of the bright, cheerful, dark-eyed lad, and some of them lent him books to read. What joy possessed him when he took refuge in his g

ulsion from the Seminary, and his mother's sale of her wedding-ring to buy bread for her children. He had now left the p

ent him the 'Fables of Florian,' and afterwards Florian's pastoral romance of 'Estelle'-perhaps his best work. The singer of the Gardon entirely bewitched Jasmin. 'Estelle' allured him into the rosy-fingered r

f a poet. Some think that the poetical gift begins at some fixed hour, just as one

he said, "but I have never yet found the

will and work, if God has not put the seed of them into

not arrest its development. The life and career of Jasmin amply illustrates this truth. Here was a young man born in the depths of poverty. In his early life he suffered the mos

everything that we wish to know. From that slight beginning most men may raise themselves to the

possible to tell what unforeseen and forgotten circumstances may have given the initial impulse to a p

ales singing overhead, or from his chanting in the choir when a child. Perhaps the 'Fables of Florian' kindled the poetic fire within him; at all events they may hav

a barber, as well as the still more celebrated Burchiello, of Florence, whose sonnets are still admired because of the purit

a shrewd, meddling, inquisitive fellow. In Spain and Italy the barber is often the one brilliant man in

rs with the barber of Pezenas. Figaro, the famous barber of Seville, was one of the most perfect prototypes of his trade. Jasmin was of the same cal

ve badge of gentility. In short, the barber was regarded as an artist. Besides, barbers were in ancient times surgeons; they were the only persons who could scientifically "let blood." The B

e. It was situated near at hand, by the ancient palace of the Bishop. After his day's work was over-his shaving,

nd tenderly they speak!' I had eyes for nothing else: I was quite beside myself with joy. 'It is Cinderella,' I cried aloud in my exciteme

at poetry!' he thought: 'it is more than a dream! It's magic. O Cinderella, Cinderella! tho

the Comedy," answered Jasmin sleepily; "it was so beautiful!" "You have been there then, and lost your head. During the day you make such an uproar, singing and declaiming. You, who have worn the cassock,

il ne pleut, il bruine (If it does not rain, it drizzles). When I suffered least, time passed all the quicker. It was then that, dreaming and happy, I found two lives within me-one in my daily work, another in my garret. I was like a bird; I warbled and sang. What happiness I enjoyed in my little bed

extent successful. While shaving his customers, he often recited to them his verses. They were amazed at the boy's cleverness, and expressed their delight. He had already a remarkable talent for recitation; and in course of time he became eloq

on becomes known. "You can see me," he said to a customer, "with a comb in my hand, and a verse in my

rter of the Augustins, where the spinning-women assembled, surrounded by their boys and

r addressed him as "Moussu,"-the master who had t

s who offered to patronize him. M. Boyer d'Agen, who has recently published the works of Jasmin, with a short preface and a bibliography,{4} says that he first began business as a hairdresser in the Cour Saint-Antoine, now the Cour Voltaire. When the author of this memoir w

ce, with Jasmin's signboard over the entrance door: "Jasmin, coiffeur des Jeunes Gens," with the barber's sud-dish hanging from a pendant in front. The shop is very small, with a little sitting-room behind, and several b

the sanctuary of the Muses. It was visited by some of the most distinguished people in France, a

to Chap

sin des

ouveaux S

rbury Cathedral. Sugden, afterwards Lord Chancellor, was opposed by a noble lord while engaged in a parliamentary contest. Replying to the allegation that he was only the son of a country barber, Sugden said: "His Lordship has told you that I am nothing bu

d'orthographe gasconne d'apres les langues Romane et d'Oc, et collat