The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 556, July 7, 1832Various
General
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 556, July 7, 1832
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
In person, Mr. Colton was ungainly; he stooped much, his gait was slovenly,
and his dress mean and dirty; the reason he assigned for not removing the
dirt that accumulated on the lower part of his trousers and upon his boots,
was that none but shoeblacks looked below the knee in so dirty a city as
Paris. As if fond of contradiction, he wore at the same time a ridiculous
superfluity of jewellery; his unwashed hands were adorned with rings, and
his shirt, which probably had not visited his _blanchisseuse_ for a
fortnight, was garnished with numerous brooches and pins of considerable
value. A heavy gold chain secured his watch in his waistcoat pocket, and
he carried two massive gold boxes, one for snuff, though he took none
himself, and the other for tobacco. His face was pale and emaciated, the
cheek bones being remarkably prominent; his left arm was considerably
contracted, as he was fond of saying, from a pistol wound received in a
duel. His habits were low; when not at the gaming house, he was to be
found in one of the lower English houses, smoking and drinking,
entertaining his pot companions, and acting what is vulgarly called, the
"king of the company." He possessed a fund of anecdote and wit, and had
his manners been more polished, and his character less exceptionable, his
society would doubtless have been much courted.
His lodgings, which were in the Palais Royal, above the Café Phoenix, were
particularly filthy; his bedroom, into which all visiters were shown, was
truly disgusting; though he had at the same time two sitting-rooms,
handsomely furnished, which were constantly locked, and into which he
himself perhaps did not enter once in a month. An anecdote, which he
related to me, will tend to illustrate his character and style of living.
A pair of his pantaloons became much worn in the pockets, and he took them
to a tailor to be repaired. They were brought home when he was absent, and
left below with the porter, who gave them to him on his return. The
following morning the _tailleur_ called while Colton was still in bed, for
the cash; he was shown into the bedroom by the miserable little urchin who
attended daily to light the fire, &c., and demanded in payment twenty
_sous_; this was resisted on the part of Colton as exorbitant, and the
_tailleur_, vexed at having parted with his work before payment, seized a
pair that were at the bedside, (imagining them the same that he had
stitched,) and was about to quit the room with them as security, when the
reverend gentleman, drawing a pistol from under his pillow, and presenting
it at the terrified mender of garments, swore he would favour him with the
contents unless the pantaloons were replaced: this was of course complied
with, and our indignant _tailleur_ immediately proceeded to _Monsieur le
Commissaire_, who dispatched messengers to require the attendance of the
party who had thus threatened the life of a Citizen of Paris. Colton then
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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