58 Extraordinary Instance of Female Intrepidity. [VOL. 3. tion; but I am certain that people will the ground, writhing in convulsions of find in them sentiments which are just despair. She runs up the child is and natural, even in their exaltation; and still rolling down a precipice above a the expression of an ardent soul, which hundred feet deep: without hesitating discharges itself into the bosom of a friend an instant-without reflecting on the without thinking of the opinions of the dreadful danger which she braves-a great world, for which such letters are young, weak, and delicate woman de not written. The history of these two scends, or rather rushes down, this abyss; ladies, which is connected with the prin- directing herself in her descent by the cipal events of the revolution, would fur- cries of the unfortunate little girl, who is ish an excellent chapter of manners; but hanging to the branches of an old independently of the secrecy which we willow, suspended over the pointed rocks owe to confidential communications, this which line the bottom of the abyss. The narrative would throw me back into the heroic Eleonore, to whom nature, at whirlpool of the capital, which I have this moment, gives a degree of strength quitted for a time. I will confine my- which she will perhaps never feel again, self to relating the travelling adventure disengages the child, seizes with her teeth which gave birth to a friendship of which the collar of her frock, makes her ascend few instances would be found among the before her, and holding by the briars and men of any age or country. thorns, which tear in vain her face and Madame Elenore de Monbrey (this is hands, she succeeds, after an hour's the name of Madame D'Ettivale's friend) supernatural efforts, in restoring the had a mere general acquaintance with her child to her mother, whom the postillion, when they made a journey together, who held her in his arms, had alone some years ago, to Bagneres, where they prevented from throwing herself down were going to take the waters. Madame the precipice. I shall say nothing of the D'Etivale had with her, her daughter, painful and transporting scene which eight years old, whose beauty begins to followed the unhoped-for re-union. I be talked of in the world. A singular was not witness to it; and there are, beconformity of taste, of opinions, (which sides, situations in life, which it is suffiat that time were only sentiments) and cient to indicate in order to describe which the intimacy of a few days devel- them. oped, had already laid the foundation for an union between these two young ladies, which was soon to be cemented by a horrible event. MADAME DESHOULIERES, The French Poetess. A few leagues on the way from Bag- THIS lady was much admired as a neres to Luchon, on seeing a steep road, which made it necessary to put a drag on the wheels of their carriage, Madame de Monbrey proposed to her companion to descend the mountain on foot. The latter fearing the fatigue more than the danger of the road, entrusted her daughter to the care of a maid servant, and remained alone in the carriage. The road passed, for about a hundred toises, between two precipices, the depth of which was concealed by the hedges and brushwood which covered the edge. The little girl holding the servant by the hand, was walking in a path worn on the side of the road. Madame de Monbrey, who had taken the other side of the road, was a few steps before them: suddenly a piercing shriek is heard-she urns, and sees the servant stretched upon poetess by her countrymen, yet except her pastorals, the subjects chosen by her are little interesting; and rather evince strength of mind than harmony of verse, or delicacy of feeling. Indeed they are what might have been expected from a character endued with the selfpossession displayed in the following adventure, in which she conducted herself with an intrepidity and coolness which would have done honour to a hero. Madame Deshoulieres was invited by the Count and Countess de Larneville to pass some time at their chateau, several leagues from Paris. On her arrival she was freely offered the choice of all the bed-chambers in the mansion, except one, which, from the strange noises that had been for some time nocturnally heard within it, was generally believed to be haunted, and as such had been deserted. VOL. 3.] Female Intrepidity.-Madame Deshoulieres. 59 Madame Deshoulieres was no sooner assurance that, if it hoped to frighten her informed of this circumstance by her from her purpose of detecting the imposfriends, than to their great surprise and tor which had created such foolish terror she immediately declared her reso- alarm throughout the castle, it would lution of occupying this dreaded room find itself disappointed in the attempt, in preference to any other. The Count for she was resolutely bent on penetratlooked aghast as she disclosed this de- ing and exposing it at all hazards. This termination, and in a tremulous voice threat she reiterated to no purpose, for entreated her to give up so rash an in- no answer was returned. At length the tention, since, however brave curiosity intruder came in contact with a large might at present make her, it was more screen, which it overturned so near the than probable that in her present situa- bed, that getting entangled in the curtion she would pay for its gratification tains, which played loosely on their rings, with her life. The Countess observing they returned a sound so sharp, that any that all that her husband said failed of one under the influence of fear would intimidating the high spirited Madame have taken for the shrill scream of an unDeshoulieres, now added her persuasions quiet spirit, but Madame was perfectly to divert her friend from an enterprise undismayed, as she afterwards declared. from which the bravest man might shrink On the contrary, she continued to interappalled. "What have we not to fear rogate the nocturnal visitor whom she then," she added, " for a woman on the suspected to be one of the domestics, eve of becoming a mother? Let me but, it still maintained an unbroken siconjure you if not for your own sake, for lence, though nothing could be less quiet that of your unborn infant, give up your in its movements, for it now ran against daring plan." All these arguments re- the stand on which stood the heavy canpeated over and over again were insuffi- die and candlestick, which fell with a cient to shake the determined purpose of thundering noise. In fine, tired of all the adventurer. Her courage rose su- these exertions, it came and rested itself perior to these representations of the dan against the foot of the bed. Madame gers to which she was going to expose Deshoulieres was now more decidedly herself, because she was convinced that called upon to evince all that firmnes of they owed their colouring to superstition mind and intrepidity of spirit of which acting upon weak minds-she entertain- she had boasted-and well did she jused no faith in the "fleshly arm" of a tify the confidence she had placed in her departed spirit, and from an immaterial own courage, for still retaining her selfone her life was safe. Her noble host possession she exclaimed, Ah, now I and hostess pleaded, pitied, blamed, but shall ascertain what thou art," at the at length yielded to her wish of taking same time she extended both her hands possession of the haunted chamber. towards the place against which she felt Madame Deshoulieres found it grand that the intruder was resting. They and spacious-the windows dark from came in contact with two soft velvety the thickness of the walls-the chimney ears, which she firmly grasped, deterantique and of cavernous depth. As mined to retain them till day should lend soon as Madame was undressed, she its light to discover to whom or to what stepped into bed, ordered a large candle they belonged. Madame found her pa 66 to be placed in a bracket which stood tience put to some trial, but not her on a stand near it, and enjoining her strength, for nothing could be more unfemme de chambre to shut the door se- resisting and quiet than the owner of the curely, dismissed her. Having provid- imprisoned ears. Day at length released herself with a book according to cus- ed her from the awkward, painful positom, she calmly read her usual time, then_tion in which she had remained for so sunk to repose-from this she was soon many hours, and discovered her prisonroused by a uoise at her door-it open- er to be Gros-Blanc, a large dog belonged and the sound of footsteps succeeded. ing to the chateau, and as worthy, if faith Madame Deshoulieres immediately de- and honesty deserve the title, as any of cided that this must be the supposed its inhabitants. Far from resenting the ghost, and therefore addressed it with an bondage in which Madame Deshoulieres 60 Jeu d'Esprit on the Alps. [VOL. 3 had so long kept him, he licked the chateau. The Count regarded his wife hands which he believed had been kind-then the dog-and blushed deeply, ly keeping his ears warm all night; not knowing whether it were better to while Madame Deshoulieres enjoyed a laugh or be angry. But Madame, who hearty laugh at this ludicrous end to an possessed a commanding manner, which adventure, for the encounter of which at the same time awed and convinced, she had braced her every nerve. ended this state of irresolution by saying, In the meantime the Count and Coun- "No, no, Monsieur, you shall no lontess, wholly given up to their fears, had ger continue in an illusion which long found it impossible to close their eyes indulgence has endeared to you. I will during the night. The trial to which complete my task and emancipate your their friend had exposed herself, grew mind from the shackles of superstition, more terrible to their imagination the by proving to you that all which has so more they dwelt upon it, till they at long disturbed the peace of your family length persuaded themselves that death has arisen from natural causes. Madwould be the inevitable consequence. ame arose, made her friends examine With these forebodings they proceeded the lock of the door, the wood of which as soon as it was light to the apartment was so decayed as to render the locking of Madame Deshoulieres-scarcely had it useless, against a very moderate degree they courage to enter it, or to speak of strength. This facility of entrance when they had done so. From this had been evidently the cause of Grosstate of petrifaction they werevived by their friend undrawing her curtains, and paying them the compliments of the morning with a triumphant look. She then related all that had passed with an impressive solemnity, and having roused intense curiosity to know the catastrophe, she smilingly pointed to Gros-Blanc, as night, and he would have taken possesshe said to the Count, "There is the nocturnal visitor whom you have so long taken for the ghost of your mother;" for such he had concluded it from having been the last person who had died in the Blanc, who liked not sleeping out of doors, making choice of this room. The rest is easily accounted for, Gros-Blanc smelt, and wished to possess himself of the candle, in attempting which he committed all the blunders and caused all the noises which has annoyed me this sion of my bed also if he had not given me an opportunity of seizing his ears. Thus are the most simple events magnified into omens of fearful and supernatural augury. THE MONT CERVIN TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE VOSGES : A JEU D'ESPRIT, WRITTEN IN THE Alps, for the BENEFIT OF SWISS TRAVELLERS. HAVE heard, O Vosges, that you called from her always wearing a white envy us, your relations in the south. turban of a silvery lustre. I suspect she I will state to you briefly our condition, is the reigning favourite, for it is certain political, social, and moral; and will that to be coëffée à l'Argentière is a leave you to judge whether you have sure passport of recommendation at his good grounds for envy or not. court. Like most sovereigns, he bas Know, then, that our state is a king- some dwarfs in attendance; among them dom. Our King Blanco,* of gigantic is a negro boy, who goes by the name of stature, domineers over all of us. He Tête-noire. He has also a porter conmay be easily recognized, for he wears stantly in waiting, emphatically styled more powder than all his attendants. He le Géant. His mistresses are famous for keeps numerous mistresses;-some say their needle-work, which is handed that La Charmoz is the favourite; some, about to the courtiers, and admired. la piquante Dru; some, la Montanvert; some again, Mademoiselle Argentière, so Le Mont Blanc. When they speak of their work, it is usual for them to say, "Ah! c'est l' aiguille de la Dru! de la Charmoz !” VOL. 3.] Jeu d'esprit on the Names and Peculiarities of the Alps. 61 meaning their work. Our monarch is one of our most respectable individuals; breaks out in great swellings in his he is always seen lifting his head to lower parts, which are always increasing heaven, expressive of fervent devotion: in size. He suffers too from goitres and he is only known by that best of all about the neck. He is noted for his titles, the Good Man.§ One day, as he gourmandise. Never was he known to was superintending his business at the pass a day without his goûter. A bake-house, a violent wind, no uncomparticular butler always attends him at mon thing in our territory, arose; his these repasts, who goes by the name of white hat, which he had put carelessly Bionassey, and for this reason:-one on, was blown off, and hurried to a conday, as his majesty was entering his siderable distance; the spot where it superb rotunda, called Le Dóme du fell, has ever since been called Chapiu,|| Goûter, he saw this butler busily em- corrupted, I imagine, from chapeau. ployed in arranging a profusion of ices Beyond the bake-house, is an elevated on the side-board. The king, eyeing walk, where the ladies of our court take him archly, said, "Mais nous en avons the air; it commands a noble view, and bien assez, j'espère; c'est une mer!‡ goes by the name of the Ladies' Terrace,* bien assez !" repeating his words with I must not omit to inform you, that his emphasis. "Oui, Sire, bien assez," majesty has a smaller saloon, where he replied the butler, who from that hour exhibits himself with less pomp. It is has been always called Bien assez, called Chamouny, and for this reason: gradually corrupted into Bionassey.§ you must know that several porters are Beyond the rotunda is a superb saloon, here in constant attendance, to show where his majesty holds his greater court.* strangers the curiosities of the palace, It is here that he presents himself in all and, like others, are always fee'd. It his magnificence; and no foreigner is happened that a poor fellow, who was introduced to him without being struck shown the palace, only had one piece by his imposing appearance. There is of coin in his pocket, which proved to a spacious corridor, leading to this be base metal. The porter demanded saloon, called the Veni; and for this another with a menacing tone. reason; you must know, O Vosges, poor fellow took to his heels and escaped, that some years since, there was a violent all the porters following him with their contention in our state, respecting the sticks, and vociferating loudly, "Sham right to the throne. Blanco's right, money! Sham money! !" and from this however, was, after long doubt, clearly incident, the saloon has always been ascertained; neither do I think it likely called Sham money, gradually altered it will ever again be called in question. into Chamouny. So true it is, Ó Vosges, As soon as our political broils had ceased, that trifling causes give rise to great and the result in favour of Blanco was names; for note well that the origin of confirmed, our monarch thundered Chamouny is only a forgery. Our king through the corridor these emphatic has also a garden,t which he keeps words: "Veni, vidi, vici !" and from much to himself. It is very difficult of that hour, this passage, leading to the access, and he often puts his courtiers greater court, has been always called out of breath, who go to pay their rethe Veni, the first of the three memora- spects to him there. Round it are many ble words which the king used to ex- ice-houses. "Faire le voyage du jardin" press his triumph. Westward of the has almost passed into a proverb, at our palace, is his majesty's bakehouse, well court, and is applied to persons who unfurnished with ovens ; || the chief baker dertake any thing difficult. The king is very childish and wanton in his sports, often throwing great stones and snow + Le Glacier des Bossons. La Grande Mer de Glace. The § Le Bonhomme, overlooking the Col des Fours. + Le Jardin, an almost inaccessible spot, so called, surrounded by glaciers. 62 The Mont Cervin to the Republic of the Vosges : [VOL. 3 I do not balls for his amusement. When re- another profligate; he too keeps a proached with his wantonness in injur- mistress, whom he plagues much; she ing the trees, he answers, frowning, goes by the name of La Tourmentée.* "Is there, then, any crime in playing at Report, however, says, that she is atnine-pins?" Forgive me, O Vosges, for tached to him. After him, comes your dwelling on these trifles; but no doubt humble servant, and his wife Rosa.+ She you are aware that the least things about is a full-blown rose indeed. a court become matters of importance, mean to praise myself, or my wife; but Near our monarch, resides the two the truth is, we do all we can to counBernards, strict methodists, and we call teract the depravity of the neighbourhood them the Saints. The younger brother by our example. We live, in short, as is a good little fellow enough, and we man and wife should do, always together. nick-name him Le Petit Saint. The Next door to us, lives Madame Fee.t elder is very kind to sick or distressed As she keeps much to herself, the travellers. They are often seen with neighbours accuse her of witchcraft. their powdered heads at a great bow- Perhaps, after all, it is only a Conte de window, admiring the prospect which Fée. Close to her is a morose § old gentleman, who lives very retired, and their house commands. An old maiden lady lives near them, is hardly ever visited.-Beyond him, who passes most of her time in weeping resides a stripling, who is so simple as to over the miseries of this sinful world, suffer the children to play at leap-frog Her name is La Dolente; she is inti- over his back; we call him Simplon, mately connected with the Bernards, but which is short for Simpleton. He is no one ever entertained the slightest universally cut. I should like to see suspicion of any thing wrong. The tears the brats make me stoop my back. One she sheds are incessant. She always snow-ball filliped at them by my little finger, should soon bring them to their carries a fans in her hand; and she is much looked up to. senses. Not far from the Bernards, resides my I am glad at last to be able to name friend Combin. He is a fine personable that real ornament of our society, my fellow enough; but wastes his manhood venerable friend Gothard. He and the in ogling with his mistress, Mademoiselle two Bernards are the only saints we Chermontane. It is always his chère have among us. He is an excellent Chermontane, and nothing else. He is creature; and never fails to show the often seen combing his head for his greatest hospitality to strangers, who Chermontane. The quantity of powder frequently go both to see him, and the which falls from this operation, is pro- noble view which his house commands. digious. He has a barber, a hardAt the opposite side of our street, is a breathing fellow, whom he nick-names school of mischievous brats, who are Boreas, and who never fails to apply often seen to pelt people with stones fresh powder with his puff. They both and snow-balls. We call them the live very retired: report says that his little devils. I We want a new system concubine is very pale and beautiful, but of education for these refractory imps. with a heart as cold as ice. Near him Gothard, the Bernards, and myself, resides one of our worst characters; un- are much hurt when we reflect on the fortunately for the reputation of our state of our morals. The truth is, very neighbourhood, his notoriety is great: we call him Le Vilain, or in our dialect, Le Velan. Beyond my friend Combin, lives Le Grand et le Petit Saint Bernard. Le Glacier Tourmentee, attached to the Col d' Oren. + Le Mont Rosa. Le Mont Fee. Le Montemoro. Cervin, however, brags a little too hastily; for + Le Col des Fenetres, near the Grand Saint Ber- the Col du Ceroin is occasionally passed by merchants nard. who transport wine from Chatillon, on the Dora; us above the sea. Les Diablerets, lesser mountains, N. E. of the Valais. Some of these imps, however, rise not less than 8000 feet above the sea. |