Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 10 — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

40 ’ ee ee me tee eee ew se The New York | Library. you prefer it, a cockade, which threatens the eye in the | and throw themselves into my arms; I therefore de- same manner as those of the country mules. As for the | termined to seek them out, and that my searches might men, it is a waistcoat with a cap and falling collar; if they | not. be fruitless, I endeavored to find out their haunts have a shirt, which is the regulated costume, breeches are not insisted on; the supreme bon ton would be an artilleryman’s cap, the frock of an hussar, the pantaloon of a lancer, the boots of a guardsman—in fact, the cast-off attire of three or four regiments, or the wardrobe of a field of battle; and there is no out and outer thus attired but is the fancy man of these ladies, who adore the cav- alry, ana have a decided taste for the dress of the whole army; but nothing so much pleases them as moustachios, and a broad red cap adorned with leather of the same color. In this assembly a beaver hat, unless napless and brim- leas, would be very rare; no one ever remembers to have aeen a coat there, and should any one dare to present himself in a great coat, unless a family man, he would be aure to depart skirtless, or only in his waistcoat. In vain would he ask pardon for those flaps which had offended the eyes of the noble assembly; too happy would he be, if, after having been bandied and knocked about with the atmost unanimity as a greenhorn, only one skirt should be left in the hands of these youthful beauties. Desnoyers’ is the resort of the lower orders; but before stepping over the threshold of the cabaret of Guillotin, even the canaille themselves look twice; as in this repos- tory are only to be seen ill-women with their bullies ckpockets, and thieves of all classes, some prigs of e lowest grade, and many of those nocturnal maraud- ers who divide their existence into two parts, consecrat- ing it to the duties of theft and riot. It may be supposed that slang is the only ny oy of this delightful society: it is generally in French, but so perverted from its primi- tive signification that there is not a member of the dis- tinguished ‘‘ company of forty’’ who can flatter himself with a full knowledge of it, and yet the ‘‘dons of Guillo- tin’s ’’ have their purists: those who assert that slang took its rise in the East, and without thinking fora moment of disputing their talent as Orientalists, they take that title to themselves without any ceremony, as also that of Ar- onauts, when they have completed their studies under e direction of the galley-sergeants, in working, in the per of Toulon, the dormant navigation on board a vessel dock. If notes were pleasing to me, I could here seize the opportunity of making some very learned remarks. I should, perhaps, go into a profound a but I am about to paint the paradise of these bacchanalians; the colors are prepared—let us finish the picture. If they d at Guillotin’s, they eat also, and the mys- teries of the kitchen of this ae of delights are well worthy of being known. The little father Guillotin has no butcher, but he has a purveyor; and in his brass stew- ns, the verdigris of which never poisons, the dead orse is transformed into beef A-la-mode; the thighs of the dead dogs found in Rue Guénegaud become legs of mutton from the salt marshes; and the magic of a piquant sauce gives to the s/agg bod (dead-born veal) of the cow-feeder the appetizing look of that of Pontoise. We are told that the cheer in winter is excellent, when the rot en and if ever bread were scarce in summer during he ‘* massacre of the innocents,’’ mutton was to be had here at a very cheap rate. In this country of metamorphoses the hare never had the right of citizenship; it was compelled to yield to the rabbit, and the rabbit—how happy the rats are! “O fortunati nimium—si nérint.” It was the Dominie of St. Mandé who taught me this quo- tation; he told me it was Latin—perhaps it may be Greek or Hebrew;—no matter, I leave it, come what may, to the will of God; but still, if the rats could ever have seen what I have seen, unless they had been an ingrate and per- verse race, they would have opened a subscription for the erection of a statue to the Liderator, little father Guillotin, One aiboaryps led by my inclination, which a good Frenchman always follows, I went out; in my road I ses ge see Benge against a door; it gave way, and, by the freshness of the air, I found I was ina court; the — was propitious, and I groped along, until I made a p over some paving stones which had been left in the way. I stretched out my arms to recover myself, and whilst with one hand I grasped hold of a post, 1 seized with the other she em very soft and very long. I was in dark- ness, but fancied I saw several sparks shining, and by the touch I thought I ene a certain velvet appendage of a quadruped’s vertebral column. I kept hold of a bunch of it, and wing it through my hand, there remained a packet of spoils, with which I entered the room at the very moment when M. Double-Croche, pointing out the figures to the dancers, was howling out ‘la queue du ¢*’—(the cat's tail.) it needs not to be asked how very apropos this was; there was throughout the assembly a general mewing, put it was only a joke; the lovers of fricassee mewed like the rest, and, after having taken their caps off, they said, ‘*Come on, here is the good stuff! Covered by cat-skin, and fed on cats, we shall not soon be in want; the mother of tom-cats is not yet dead.”’ Father Guillotin consumed generally more oil than cot- ton, but I can, nevertheless, affirm that, in my time, some banquets have been spread at his cabaret, which, sub- stracting the liquids, could not have cost more at the café Riche or at mg moo I remember six individuals, named Driancourt, Vilattes, Pitroux, and three others, who found means to spend 166 francs there in one night. In fact, each of them had with him his favorite della. The citizen no doubt pretty well fleeced them, but they did not com- piain, and that quarter of an hour which Rabelais had so much difficulty in passing caused them no trouble; they paid like grandees, without forgetting the waiter. I ap- prehended them whilst they were paying the bill, which ar had not even taken the trouble of examining. Thieves are generous when they are caught ‘i’ the vein.” They had just committed many considerable neon which they are now repenting in the Bagnes of rance. It can scarcely be believed that in the centre of civili- gation there can exist a den so hideous as the cave of Guillotin; it must be, seen as I have seen it, to be be- hiev Men or women all smoked as they danced, the — passed from mouth to mouth, and the most refined ge Jantry that could be offered to the nymphs who came this rendezvous to display their graces in the postures and attitudes of the indecent Chahut was, to offer them the pruneau, that is, the quid of tobacco, submitted or t, acco to the previous mastication. The peace officers and in- @iors were characters too y distinguished to ap- amongst suck an assemblage, they kept themselves scrupulously aloof, to avoid so repugnant a contact; was much disgusted w ite bat af the same 8 persuaded that to discover and apprehend male- would not de to wait until they should come | cast my line out with a certainty of a bite. degree of familiarity, to the test of | ani then, like a fisherman who has found a preserve, I I did not lose my time in searching for a needle in a bottle of hay, as the saying is; when we lack water it is useless to go to the source of a dried-up stream and wait for a shower of rain; but to quit all metaphor and speak plainly—the sp who rae, means to ferret out the robbers ought, as muc as possible, to dwell amongst them, that he nay SteeP at every a ie which presents itself of drawing down upon their heads the sentence of the laws. Upon this principle I acted, and this caused my recruits to say that 1 made men robbers; I certainly have, in this way, made a vast many, particularly on my first connection with the police. On a particular afternoon I had a presentiment that a visit to Guillotin’s would not be without its results. Without being superstitious, I know not why, I have al- ways followed these inspirations; I put my wardrobe in requisition, and, after having suited myself so as not to bear any appearance of being a greenhorn, I left my house with another secret agent, named Riboulet, @ downy cove, whom all the houris of the boozing ken claimed as their chevalier, as did also the milliners’ girls, who considered him as a complete kiddy. For such an excursion a woman was an indispensable portion of the baggage, and Riboulet had one who just suited us,— Manon la Blonde, on whom he assured me that reliance could be placed. In two seconds she rent her woollen stockings in twenty places, tore the edges of her red cloak, begrimed her shawl, trod her shoes down at the heel, dishevelled her locks, and gave to the kerchief with which she graced her brows that indescribable appear- ance which was necessary. She wae highly delighted with the character she had to perform. Thus attired and prepared, we set out together, arm-in- arm, towards la Courtille. On reaching the cabaret we seated ourselves at a table in the corner, that we might the more easily watch whatever should pass. Riboulet was one of those men whose very appearance commanded instant attention: he had not spoken nor had I, but yet we were instantly attended to. ‘You see,” said he, the cove knows the time o’day, the lush (wine,) meat, and salad.” I asked if we could not have a matelote of eels. “‘Snakes,”’ cried Manon, ‘‘do you want cag-mag and snivellers (stinking meat and onions) would be as good."’ I said no more, and we began to eat with as much appe- tite as if we had never been initiated into the mysteries of pene Guillotin’s cookery. uring the repast, a noise at the door attracted our at- tention. It proceeded from some conquerors who made their triumphal entry: men and women six in number, forming three couples of individuals whose ‘‘ human face divine * was most tremendously disfigured: they all had scratched countenances and black eyes; by the blood disorder of their attire, and the freshness of their dilapti- dations in face and garments, it was easy to perceive that they were the heroes of some spree, in which on both sides the quarrel had been decided by fistycuffs. They wy our table. NE OF THE HEROES. ‘‘ By your leave, my trumps, 1s there room for us on this seat?” I. ‘*We shall be squeezed a little, but never mind”’ (making room). RreouLet (addressing mé). room for the gentlemen.”’ MANON (to the fresh arrivals). ‘* Are these ladies with you? One oF THE HeRornes. “ Vat is it you say? (turning lo her friends), vat does she say ?”’ Her Pau. ‘Hold your jaw, Titine (Celestine), the lady said nothing to affront you.”’ The whole party seated themselves. A Hero. “ Halloo! come here, daddy Guillotin; atte black father, four year old, for eight mag."’ (A four-quart jug for eight sous). uILLoTIN. ‘Coming, coming.” THe WAITER ( jug in his hand). Thirty-two mag, if you please.”’ “Til give you two and thirty kicks; your'e chaffing us, my rum ‘un.’ Atrer. ‘ No, my knowing ones, but it’s the custom, or, if you like, the way of this here house.”’ The wine wae poured into all the glasses, and they also ~e ours. ‘“‘ Excuse the liberty,”’ said the Ganymede of the party. ‘Oh, there’s no harm done,” replied Riboulet. ‘‘ You know one politeness requires another,” ‘** But you are too polite.” ‘Oh no, drink away; nunky pays for all.” ‘* You are right my boys, so push the wine about.” We did push it about, and so well that about ten o'clock in the evening all the sympathy left between us was mani- fested by protestations, sight nan, or and by those ex- plosions of drunken tenderness which develop all the in- firmities of the human heart. When the hour of parting had arrived, our new acquaintances, and particularly the softer sex, were com- pletely drunk. Riboulet and the Blonde were only some- what elevated, as well as myself; they had preserved their senses, but to appear all in unison we pretended to be so tipsy as to be unable to walk! formed into a paans, be- cause in that way the gusts of wind are less to be feared, we left the theatre of our pleasures. Then, that we might neutralize, wee aid of a chant, the reeling tendencies of our troop, Riboulet, with a voice whose echoes vibrated in every court and alley, 0 to sing, in the most fin- ished slang of his time, one of those ballads with a chorus, which are as long as to-day and to-morrow, “ As from ken (@) to ken I was goings Doing a bit on the prigging lay ) Who should I meet, but a jolly lowen (e) Tol lol, lol lol, tol derol, ay Who should I meet but a jo y blowen, Who was fly (d) to the time o’day. (@) “ Who should I meet, but a jolly blowen, ‘Come, my covey, make Who was fly to the time o’day; I 5h in flash (/), like covey (g), knowimg, ol lol, ‘Ay, bub or grubby (A), I say.’ 9 Ken—shop, house. b) Priggin thieving business. ¢) Blow “ 4 a ert ty sweetheart. Fly [contraction of frash), awake—up to, practiced é) Time ath AP mt Mee of business, thieving, &. Pattered in flash—spoke in slang. Oovey—man. Bub and orub—drink and food. ‘I pattered in flash, like a covey kno Ay, bub or grubby, J say. ‘Lots of gatter’ (#), quo’ she, ‘ are fi Tol lol, &c. Lend me a lift in the family way. (jf) 8 “Lots of gatter,’ quo’ she, ‘ are flowing, Lend me a lift in the family way. You may have a crib (&) to stow in, Tollol, &c. Welcome, my pal, (2) as the flowers in May *** You may have a crib to stow in ; Welcome, my pal, as the flowers in May." To her ken at once I go in, Tol lol, &c. Where in a corner out of the way; “To her ken at once I go in, Where in a corner, out of the way, With his smeller, (mm) a trumpet blowing, Tol lol, &c. A regular swell-cove (m) lushy (0) lay. “With his smeller, a trumpet blowing, A regular swell-cove lushy lay; To his clies (p) my hooks (g) I throw ha, Tol lol, &c. And collar his dragons (7) clear away, “To his clies my hooks I throw in, And collar his dragons clear away; Then his ticker (8) 1 set a-going, Tol lol, &c. And his onions, (¢) chain, and key. “Then his ticker I set a-going, With his onions, chain, and key, Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing, Tol lol, &c. And his gingerbread topper gay. ** Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing, And his gingerbread topper gay. Then his other toggery (wu) stowing, Tol lol, &c. All with the swag, (v) I sneak away. “Then his other toggery stowing, All with the swag, I sneak away; ‘Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen Tol lol, &c. Or be grabbed (w) by the beaks (2) we may. ““*Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen, Or be grabbed by the Seaka we may; And we shalleaper a-hvel-and-toeing, Tol lol, &c. , A Newgate hornpipe some fine day.’ ‘**And we shall caper a-heel-and-toeing, A Newgate hornpipe some find day; With the mots, (y) their ogles (z) throwing, Tol lol, &c. And old Cotton (aa) humming his pray (0d).” ‘** With the mots their ogles throwing, And old Cotton humming his pray; And the fogle-hunters (cc) doing, Tol lol, &e. Their morning fake (dd) in the prigging lay.’ * Riboulet having been safely delivered of his feurteea couplets, Manon la Blende was desirous of evincing the powers of her lungs. ‘* Now for another?’’ eaid she. The chorus, which we took up, as it were, from Manon’s mouth, was repeated eight or ten times, in a manner which almost broke the windows of the house aboutus. After this burst of bacchanalian hilarity, the first fumes of wine, which are usually most potent, penning come in to dis- sipate, we entered into conversation. e chapter of con- fidences, according to custom, opened by interrogatories. | did not require to be much questioned, but went beyond the communications which they desired to know; a stranger in Paris, 1 had only known Riboulet in prison at Valen- ciennes, when he was sent back to his regiment as a de- serter; he was a college chum (a fellow-prisoner), whom I had met sania. As to the rest, | took care to represent myself in colors which charmed them: I was a thorough out-and-outer, I know not what I bad not done, and was ready to do anything. I unbosomed myself that the might unbosom as freely in their turn; it is a tactic whic has often been successful with me; the party soon chat- tered like magpies, and I became as well acquainted with all their doings as if I had never been separated from them. They told me their names, residences, exploits, misfortunes, hope; they had met a man who was really worthy of their confidence, I returned it, I suited them, and all was said. ) Such explanations always make a man eae? more or less; all the liquor-shops in our road were visited: more than a hundred toasts were drunk in honor of our new convention, and we were not to separate again. ‘‘ Come along with us, come,”’ they said, and they were so 88- ing, that, quite unable to refuse their porran es, I reed to ga to their abode, Rue des Filles-Dieu—No. 14, ia they lodged in a furnished house. Once in their abode, it was impossible to refuse a share of their bed; it is difficult to describe what good fellows they were; and so was I, and they were the better convinced of it, as, during an hour, whilst I pretended to be sleeping, my friend Riboulet passed an eulogy on me, in a low tone of voice, of which not even half was true, or I should have richly merited a sentence for ten times the term of my natural life. At last Riboulet had so come plaiely placed me in good odor with our hosts, that about. br iy Gatter—porter. Family—thieves im general. The family way—the OW) Crib bed. 1) Pal—friend ni " end, companion, paramour. (77) Sraallon acing. Trumpet-blowing here is not alang, "" easy tor snoring. dant”. n) Swell-cove—gentleman y. tushy Crank. i” Clies— hog (q) Hooks—fngers; in full, thieving hook. (r Collar his dragons—take his sovereigns, 0 jets 0% \ trom foga. (0) St u othes, . w Grabbed—taken. (x) meee a Mols ls. (2 ' BS ject ets. a lc ler posi, Eomicboo —plundes. cers. S of dayf EE = al