The American in Paris, during the summer - being a companion to the "Winter in Paris;", or Heath's picturesque annual for 1844 (1844) (14801750073)

Identifier: americaninparisd00jani (find matches)

Title: The American in Paris, during the summer : being a companion to the "Winter in Paris;", or Heath's picturesque annual for 1844

Year: 1844 (1840s)

Authors: Janin, Jules Gabriel, 1804-1874

Subjects:

Publisher: London : Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans

Contributing Library: The Centre for 19th Century French Studies - University of Toronto

Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

Text Appearing Before Image:

ree days of idleness, of relaxation, ofilluminations, of wrestlings and plays, in the vast space of theChamps Elysees. It is a sight worth witnessing, a whole peopleabandoned to joy. The Mat de Cocagne entices, with its bait,the most terrible and the most active ambitions ; the difficulty is,to seek, at the top of a greasy pole, the presents of the city ofParis; a gold watch,—a silver plate,—a bracelet. The pole issurrounded by vast numbers from Paris, and, above all, from thefaubourgs, who are eager for the prize. They push, they jostle, theyattack each other; they cry, they look, they blame, they approve.The crowd, with extended necks, endeavour to find out who willbe the victor in the game. Bets are laid, at the very foot of thetree; partnership societies are formed.— If 1 have the watch,you shall have your share of it!—If you get the silver plate, wewill melt it, and what is better, we will drink it together ! it isagreed! So that, no sooner is it gained, than the national

Text Appearing After Image:

^ THE PARISIAN ON THE SEINE. 183 recompense is carried in great triumph, to the silversmith of thecity, a true Florentine chaser of the best ages,—a great artistlearned in the art of the sculptors.—Of him it may be said, Ma-teriam superebat opus, the manner is yet more excellent than thematter; in a word, it is Froment Meurice, the admirable gold-smith, of whom I speak.— I have won ! I have won ! cry thejoyous bandits, bringing the appearance of the watch or thecasket of the plate, I have won! buy my watch !—And FromentMeurice buys the watch, the same watch which has been usednearly thirteen years, which is sold and gained, at least twice perannum, to the great joy of the Parisians. Good people! howsmall a thing is sufficient to amuse them ! Another delight of these three days is the joust upon the water.The Parisian loves his river, he knows it by heart; his greatenjoyment is to keep, on the borders of the Seine, a little canoepainted green, which goes by oar and sail, until

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1844

University of Toronto

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