Charles Xshe lost her chance to become queen when her father…in…
law abdicated the French throne in 1830Napoleon said of her that
she was 〃the only man in her family〃｝
It happened； while we lay in the bleaching grounds； that one half of the
piece extended into a part of the field that came under the management
of a legitimist； while the other invaded the dominions of a liberal。 Neither
of these persons had any concern with us； we being under the special
superintendence of the head workman； but it was impossible； altogether
impossible； to escape the consequences of our locales。 While the
legitimist read nothing but the Moniteur； the liberal read nothing but Le
Temps； a journal then recently established； in the supposed interests of
human freedom。 Each of these individuals got a paper at a certain hour；
which he read with as much manner as he could command； and with
singular perseverance as related to the difficulties to be overcome； to a
clientele of bleachers； who reasoned as he reasoned； swore by his
oaths； and finally arrived at all his conclusions。 The liberals had the best
of it as to numbers； and possibly as to wit； the Moniteur possessing all
the dullness of official dignity under all the dynasties and ministries that
have governed France since its establishment。 My business； however； is
with the effect produced on the pocket…handkerchiefs； and not with that
produced on the laborers。 The two extremes were regular cotes
gauches and cotes droits。 In other words； all at the right end of the
piece became devoted Bourbonists； devoutly believing that princes；
who were daily mentioned with so much reverence and respect； could
be nothing else but perfect； while the opposite extreme were disposed
to think that nothing good could come of Nazareth。 In this way； four of
our number became decided politicians； not only entertaining a
sovereign contempt for the sides they respectively opposed； but
beginning to feel sensations approaching to hatred for each other。
｛bleaching grounds = open spaces where newly woven linen is spread
to whiten in the sun； legitimist。。。。 = this paragraph refers to
controversies； before the French 〃July Revolution〃 of 1830； between
rightist （〃cote droit〃 = right side） legitimists； who read the official
〃Moniteur〃 newspaper and supported the absolutist Bourbon monarchy
of King Charles X； and leftist （〃cote gauche〃 = left side） liberals； who
read 〃Le Temps〃 and argued for reform or revolution； 〃nothing good
could come of Nazareth〃 = from the Bible； John； I； 46： 〃Can any good
thing come out of Nazareth〃｝
The reader will readily understand that these feelings lessened toward
the centre of the piece； acquiring most intensity at the extremes。 I may
be said； myself； to have belonged to the centre gauche； that being my
accidental position in the fabric； when it was a natural consequence to
obtain sentiments of this shade。 It will be seen； in the end； how
prominent were these early impressions； and how far it is worth while
for mere pocket…handkerchiefs to throw away their time； and permit
their feelings to become excited concerning interests that they are
certainly not destined to control； and about which； under the most
favorable circumstances； they seldom obtain other than very
questionable information。
｛centre gauche = center left； i。e。； moderate left｝
It followed from this state of feeling； that the notion we were about to
fall into the hands of the unfortunate daughter of Louis XVI excited
considerable commotion and disgust among us。 Though very moderate
in my political antipathies and predilections； I confess to some
excitement in my own case； declaring that if royalty WAS to be my lot；
I would prefer not to ascend any higher on the scale than to become the
property of that excellent princess； Amelie； who then presided in the
Palais Royal； the daughter and sister of a king； but with as little
prospects as desires of becoming a queen in her own person。 This wish
of mine was treated as groveling； and even worse than republican； by
the cote droit of our piece； while the cote gauche sneered at it as
manifesting a sneaking regard for station without the spirit to avow it。
Both were mistaken； however； no unworthy sentiments entering into my
decision。 Accident had made me acquainted with the virtues of this
estimable woman； and I felt assured that she would treat even a pocket…
handkerchief kindly。 This early opinion has been confirmed by her
deportment under very trying and unexpected events。 I wish； as I
believe she wishes herself； she had never been a queen。
｛daughter of Louis XVI = the dauphine； Marie Therese Charlotte；
Duchesse d'Angouleme； mentioned above； Amelie = Marie Amelie
（1782…1866）； daughter of King Ferdinand IV of Naples； sister of King
Francis I of The Two Siciliesreluctantly became queen in France
when her husband the Duke of Orleans seized the throne from Charles
X on July 31； 1830； and was proclaimed King Louis Philippe of the
French｝
All our family did not aspire as high as royalty。 Some looked forward to
the glories of a banker's daughter's trousseau；we all understood that
our PRICE would be too high for any of the old nobility；while some
even fancied that the happiness of traveling in company was reserved
for us before we should be called regularly to enter on the duties of life。
As we were so closely connected； and on the whole were affectionate
as became brothers and sisters； it was the common wish that we might
not be separated； but go together into the same wardrobe； let it be
foreign or domestic； that of prince or plebeian。 There were a few among
us who spoke of the Duchesse de Berri as our future mistress； but the
notion prevailed that we should so soon pass into the hands of a femme
de chambre； as to render the selection little desirable。 In the end we
wisely and philosophically determined to await the result with patience；
well knowing that we were altogether in the hands of caprice and
fashion。
｛Duchesse de Berri = Marie Caroline （1798…1870）； wife of Charles
Ferdinand of Artois； Duke of Berry； second son of King Charles X；
femme de chambre = lady's maid｝
At length the happy moment arrived when we were to quit the
warehouse of the manufacturer。 Let what would happen； this was a
source of joy； inasmuch as we all knew that we could only vegetate
while we continued where we then were； and that too without
experiencing the delights of our former position； with good roots in the
earth； a genial sun shedding its warmth upon our bosom； and balmy airs
fanning our cheeks。 We loved change； too； like other people； and had
probably seen enough of vegetation； whether figurative or real； to satisfy
us。 Our departure from Picardie took place in June； 1830； and we
reached Paris on the first day of the succeeding month。 We went
through the formalities of the custom…houses； or barrieres； the same
day； and the next morning we were all transferred to a celebrated shop
that dealt in articles of our genus。 Most of the goods were sent on drays
to the magazin； but our reputation having preceded us； we were
honored with a fiacre； making the journey between the Douane and the
shop on the knee of a confidential commissionaire。
｛Picardie = province of France； north of Evreux； barrieres = gates at
the edge of Paris； where local customs duties were collected； magazin =
shop； fiacre = a kind of carriage； Douane = customs house； confidential
commissionaire = special messenger｝
Great was the satisfaction of our little party as we first drove down
through the streets of this capital of Europethe centre of fashion and
the abode of elegance。 Our natures had adapted themselves to
circumstances； and we no longer pined for the luxuries of the linum
usitatissimum； but were ready to enter into all the pleasures of our new
existence； which we well understood was to be one of pure parade； for
no handkerchief of our quality was ever employed on any of the more
menial offices of the profession。 We might occasionally brush a lady's
cheek； or conceal a blush or a smile； but the usitatissimum had been left
behind us in the fields。 The fiacre stopped at the door of a celebrated
perfumer； and the commissionaire； deeming us of too much value to be
left on a carriage seat； took us in her hand while she negotiated a small
affair with its mistress。 This was our introduction to the pleasant
association of sweet odors； of which it was to be our fortune to enjoy in
future the most delicate and judicious communion。 We knew very well
that things of this sort were considered vulgar； unless of the purest
quality and used with the tact of good society； but still it was permitted
to sprinkle a very little lavender； or exquisite eau de cologne； on a
pocket…handkerchief。 The odor of these two scents； therefore；
appeared quite natural to us； and as Madame Savon never allowed any
perfume； or articles （as these things are technically termed）； of inferior
quality to pollute her shop； we had no scruples about inhaling the
delightful fragrance that breathed in the place。 Desiree； the
commissionaire； could not depart without permitting her friend；
Madame Savon； to feast her eyes on the treasure in her own hands。 The
handkerchiefs were unfolded； amidst a hundred dieux！ ciels！ and
dames！ Our fineness and beauty were extolled in a manner that was
perfectly gratifying to the self…esteem of the whole family。 Madame
Savon imagined that even her perfumes would be more fragrant in such
company； and she insisted on letting one dropa single dropof her
eau de cologne fall on the beautiful texture。 I was the happy
handkerchief that was thus favored； and long did I riot in that delightful
odor； which was just strong enough to fill the air with sensations； rather
than impressions of all that is sweet and womanly in the female
wardrobe。
｛usitatissimum had been left behind = the species name of linen means
〃most useful〃； Madame Savon = literally； Mrs。 Soap； articles = short for
〃articles de Paris〃 or Parisian specialties； dieux！ = dear me！； ciels！ =
good heavens！； dames = my oh my！｝
CHAPTER III。
Notwithstanding this accidental introduction to one of the nicest
distinctions of good society； and the general