The people in the streets appeared sulky and
stupefied: here and there I noticed groups of the higher classes evidently
discussing the events of the moment.
How strange humanity would look in our day in the costume of the first
empire. The ladies wore very scanty and short skirts, which left little
or no waist; their bonnets were of exaggerated proportions, and protruded
at least a foot from their faces, and they generally carried a fan.
The men wore blue or black coats, which were baggily made, and reached
down to their ankles; their hats were enormously large, and spread out
at the top.
I dined the first day of my entrance into Paris at the Cafe Anglais,
on the Boulevard des Italiens, where I found to my surprise several
of my brother officers. I recollect the charge for the dinner was about
one-third what it would be at the present day. I had a potage, fish
- anything but fresh, and, according to English predilections and taste,
of course I ordered a beef-steak and pommes de terre. The wine, I thought,
was sour. The dinner cost about two francs. The theatres at this time,
as may easily be imagined, were not very well attended. I recollect
going to the Francais, where I saw for the first time the famous Talma.
There was but a scanty audience; in fact all the best places in the
house were empty.
It may easily be imagined that, at a moment like this, most of those
who had a stake in the country were pondering over the great and real
drama that was then taking place.
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