Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 204: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Pickwick Abroad. 159 actresses were set off to advantage by the Swiss costume wore s and the scenery inimitably represented the stupendous mountein, the ‘hb 2, ry sD) , i 1 Ji ‘S Py ic et: oon | camguiingg re - = : ; = = " _ 2% > * . o- _— z. |= " \— . o 7. 2 7 a - at ~ sl 4 " — a : -. ‘ > : er 7 'E “ae a 9s : SS a laughing valleys, the bright cascades, the cottages and the meadows which form the varied attractions of the land whose darling hero’s exploits were then being represented in miniature, but with truth. At some periods during the development of the piece, there were not less than two hundred individuals upon the stage. The apple was duly shot from the head of the boy by the principal actor in the perform- ance ; and enthusiastic was the applause that followed this exhibition of skill and unerring aim. Beautiful were the voices of the actresses as they mixed with the harmony created by a hundred and fifty musi- Clans in the orchestra; and graceful was the dance in which the Swiss peasant girls joined at certain intervals, At length the piece was ter- minated, and then began that splendid exhibition of moveable scene for which the Royal Academy of Music is so justly celebrated. A perfect panorama of Switzerland was thus displayed to the audience, till the eye became sated with the contemplation of such gorgeous landscapes. ‘“‘ Tt was about half-past eleven o’clock when our little party ema- nated from the doors of the Royal Opera, well pleased with the enter- tainment they had witnessed. At such an advanced hour the theatres in Paris are generally closed, or actually about to break up; it was therefore ridiculous to attempt to obtain admittance to any one of them. Mr. Walker’s ingenuity, however, speedily found a substitute for that enjoyment in proposing a small supper at the Café Anglais— a hint that was immediately adopted by the three gentlemen to whom it was addressed. To the Café Anglais did they accordingly repair ; and in a few minutes a dish of oysters—a lobster—a broiled fowl— and an omelette auz fines herbes were ready for their discussion in a cabinet particulier, or private sitting-room, under the sagacious auspices of Mr. Walker himself. ‘‘T have scarcely ever been so much amused at a theatre in the whole course of my life,” said Mr. Winkle, extricating his forefinger CO BMtiZed PY OTM OO