How to Enjoy Paris in 1842 | Page 4

offence,"
added Discontent in a somewhat softened tone.
A fine looking old man, with a profusion of white hair, who was
standing at a cottage door, attracted the notice of Good Humour, who
bid us observe how benevolent was his expression, and what a fine
venerable head he presented.
"As hoary headed an old sinner as ever existed, I'll be bound," said
Discontent, with a sarcastic smile, as he looked scornfully at his

brother.
In this manner we continued to the end of our journey, Discontent
viewing all he encountered with an air of disgust and contempt,
appearing restless, miserable, unhappy and disagreeable, a burthen to
himself and an annoyance to others, whilst Good Humour saw every
thing en couleur de rose, was lively, amused, looking the picture of
kindness, and although pleased with a trifle, 'tis true, yet how much
wiser was his course, as it promoted his own happiness and was
calculated to cheer his fellow travellers.
At length we arrived at Abbeville, and I soon perceived the effect that
the knitted brow and curling lip of Discontent had upon the girls that
waited at the table, who seemed but half disposed to attend, to his
demands; whereas the good natured confiding expression of his brother,
with his pleasing address, won all hearts, and he was served with
alacrity and scarcely needed to express his wants; it really is
astonishing how much influence suavity of manners has in France, in
procuring civility and attention, and how opposite is the case with a
repulsive mien.
Before I quit the subject, I must relate one more instance, most
powerfully attesting the veracity of the assertion, which occurred to
myself; after having engaged apartments at the house belonging to a
female, named Fournier, at Boulogne, I was informed by several
English families who had preceded me in the same lodgings, that I had
taken up my abode with the most disagreeable people, who would
impose upon us and annoy us in every possible manner. One exception,
however, to this general report I met with in the account that was given
me of our hostess and family by a Colonel Barry, who with his lady
and children had resided some time with Madame Fournier, and they
assured me that we should find we had chanced upon most worthy
people, who would do all in their power to make us comfortable; but it
so happened that the Colonel and his family were persons of most
conciliating manners, devoid of hauteur in their demeanour, possessing
in fact the very qualities calculated to propitiate a good feeling on the
part of the French. After we had been in the house some time, we

observed to those persons who assured us we should be so ill treated,
that we found the case quite the reverse; and, the answer was, wait until
the time comes when, you are about to depart, and then when you are
called upon to produce the plates, crockery, glasses, knives, forks, etc.,
you will see who you have to deal with; if there be any thing in the
slightest degree chipped, they will make you pay extravagantly for
damages. But when at last the awful day of departure arrived, I had
every thing collected of the description alluded to, and Madame
Fournier would not even look at them, and observed if there were any
thing injured she was sure it was to so trifling an amount that it was not
worth noticing. But it was not so with an English lady who was our
fellow lodger; towards her they certainly were neither obliging in their
manner nor disposed to render her any kind of accommodation beyond
the strict letter of their agreement; and the reason was, because she
always addressed them as if she was speaking to her servants; in short,
with an arrogance of manner that they could not brook. Thus whilst
they were continually practising little civilities and attentions towards
us, which greatly contributed to our comfort, they were following a
totally opposite system towards her, which rendered her very
uncomfortable; therefore, had that lady properly studied her happiness,
she would have conducted herself towards her hostess and family in a
very different manner, and I hope my readers who visit France will take
advantage of the hint; yet I must admit that the lady in question was a
very amiable personage in every other respect, but she detested the
French, and liked, as she observed, to pull down their pride, to make
them feel their inferiority, and let them know that the English were
their masters. Madame Fournier, however, was of a class superior to
the generality of persons who let lodgings in England; she was
possessed of an independent property, her eldest daughter was married
to a Colonel, and her