Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/285

Rh in these rooms, where young men and young women prepare, as it were, their own future.

The remarks which I have made against the generality of female workers here, may be applied, with a still graver emphasis, to the male population of the work-shops. I know that, amongst these, honorable exceptions occur, but—I will allow a member of this class himself to make his naïve confession.

My good hostess, Madame Bouvier, related to me the following:

“I went,” said she, “yesterday afternoon, up to the bastion, for a little fresh air, and seated myself upon one of the benches under the trees. A well-dressed and respectable-looking young man was sitting just by, and throwing bread-crumbs to the birds.

“After we had sat a little while in silence, I said, ‘You are fond of birds, sir?’

“ ‘Yes, very; but there are so few now, to what there used to be; people take their nests.’

“ ‘You are from the country?’

“ ‘No; I live in the city, but the country is now very beautiful!’

“ ‘Yes, and they say that there is an unusual promise of a good harvest.’

“ ‘Yes; the prices of wine have already fallen.’

“ ‘It is always a good thing when the prices of the means of life fall; but as far as wine is concerned, it is better when the price continues somewhat high, because, then, people drink less of it.’

“ ‘Ah! what, indeed, could the workman do without wine! Believe me, he requires it; I know it.