The Argosy — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

56 In the Black Forest. of its wings there is a café and restaurant, largely patronised and loudly appreciated: in the other is a gorgeous reading-room, equally frequented, but where absolute silence reigns. Several old duennas aroused one’s curiosity, as to what their past lives and histories had been. One of them especially, old and withered, bore traces still of a once marvellous beauty. Daily she came, daily sat in the same seat, read the same newspapers and studied the politics of the world. She was wonderfully arrayed; a young girl’s. dress upon an _ old woman; but there was a melancholy in her eyes it made one melan- choly to see. Evidently she regretted the days of her lost youth and beauty—a regret that is so keen and bitter; re- eretted the palmy days of Baden, when gam- Gen “SS, bling was the fashion ost fee) «and the rage, the ruin Slee ee sand despair of multi- gota | fc spe ren aes «tudes. Of a certainty Fee = ee) «3~she had taken part in that. fatal excitement ; one could see it almost \, - 7 Net - J . ~ ¥ ae 5 PQ re Sah is te tues OS - MINS > ~ SS bass y Nia) Oe rat f en eae TT RL pany a" = . —— —S — SSS — ‘ 7 war Tor wan a Pp Py . , CAT: /— | j L- oS - ~ et le yes 1d «? 4 } se LAF, written upon her fea- . Se ese tures, still handsome es ee See ome) «and aristocratic in their Sac Oia iw old age. A vain woman SASS NAS rig SAUL MAREE iees «=f the world, who had ee SSS found out that the world, oe taken from her point of BADEN-BADEN, WITH VIEW OF THE NEW CASTLE “view, Was altogether un- satisfying and a mistake. Another old coquette would sit every night at the open window, airing her faded beauty, and wondering why she ceased to attract admiration. Such characters are to be found in all Continental watering places, to which fashion and a crowd periodically resort, and the excitement of bygone life is fed by an artificial substitute, without which these poor frail minds and bodies would cease to be. Sit there of an evening, in the gardens, watching the crowds strolling about, or occupying the chairs and benches, talking in animated groups, or listening to the music, and what a different scene it all is from anything to be found in England. It appeals, no doubt, CORNICE LOOKS.CO© m