The American in Paris, during the winter

Front matter

READING FOR THE MILLION.'

I i BURGESS, STRINGER, & CO'S New Series. No. 11. i

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Introduction

I HAVE translated the present work from a very accurate and faithful account which we have received from the country of Cooper and Washington Irving. Paris is the subject — a theme of endless variety j and if you ask me what is the use of such a book, I will ask the beauty who reads these pages, " What is the use of a mirror ?" This book is written, that Paris may recognise in it, as she puts on the merry smile with which she looks at everything, her most beautiful monuments, her richest dwellings, her daily pleasures, her evening f6tes. And besides this, the original author of this account, a man well versed in the fine arts, a benevolent and yet acute observer, and myself his very humble translator, as I was formerly the translator of Sterne, are not left to ourselves in this hastilywritten sketch, this attempt to seize the ever-changing and moveable image of the Parisian world. More able describers than we, more faithful historians, the most eminent London engravers, and a very ingenious Paris draftsman, are assisting us to give the faithful reflection that we seek. Look, then, favorably upn this book, written beyond the seas, engraved in London, translated and drawn in Paris.

Perhaps it would be well to tell you something of the original writer, who has thrown into his travels much of his mirth, wit, and natural benevolence. In his youth he came to Paris, for the purpose of leaving there something of his impetuosity. It was not so easy as he had imagined ; but at last, by dint of zeal and perseverance, nights passed at the opera-balls, and days given up to the never-ending Parisian fetes — by dint of money lavished at random, as money must be lavished, to return you some little variety of interest and pleasure — our young man speedily became an old one. He arrived in Paris, as giddy-brained as a Parisian, ready for the most lively follies ; he left it a grave American, prepared for the calm and tranquil honors which his mother country holds in reserve for her favored sons. Besides this, we can assure you that our traveller was a person of calm observation, strong will, and good sense, and had a decided talent for the French language, even in its most beautiful idiom. He left at the gate of the Parisian city his national coldness and disdain, that he might obey the passionate enthusiasm for lofty things and the fine arts with which he was inspired. But why should I lose myself in these preliminaries, as though, after reading the following pages, your acquaintance with our author would not equal my own 1

Contents

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INTRODUCTION 3