But The Fact Is That Blucher Has A Contempt For
And Hates The Parisians And Likes To Mortify Them On
All occasions; he
threatens to do a number of things which he never seriously intends, merely
for the sake of
Teasing them; and it must be owned that they deserve a
little contempt from the want of caractere they showed on the entrance of
the Allies. Be it as it may, Blucher is the bete noire of the Parisians
and they are as much afraid of him as the children are of Monsieur
Croque-mitaine.
We returned from St Cloud by the Quai, crossed the bridge of Jena,
galloped along the Champs de Mars, took a hasty glance at the Hotel des
Invalides, a magnificent edifice and which may be distinguished from all
other buildings by its gilded cupola. It is a superb establishment in every
respect, and is furnished with an excellent library. A great many old
soldiers are to be seen in this library occupied in reading; they are very
polite to all visitors, particularly to ladies. Nothing can better
demonstrate the superior character, intelligence and deportment of the
French soldiers over those of all other countries than the way in which
they employ their time in literary pursuits, their dignified politeness to
visitors and the intelligent answers they give to questions. I am afraid
our British veterans, brave as they are in the field, occupy themselves,
when laid up as invalids, more in destroying their bodies by spirituous
liquors than in improving their minds by reading.
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