A LEGITIMIST BARBER.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 688, 6 March 1852, Page 4

A LEGITIMIST BARBER.

[From the Times, November 12.] The following amusing account of a pilgrimage to Wiesbaden is extracted from an able article in Blackwood’s Magazine for the current month, on the “German Letters from Paris of Professor Stahr — “Professor Stahr, stepping one day into a hairdresser’s rooms, was so fortunate as to come under the hands of tbe master of the establishment, an eager politician and a redhot Legitimist, voluble and communicative as only a Frenchman and a barber can be. With tbe very first clip of the scissors an animated conversation began, which the Professor has set down so far as his memory serves him, although he much doubts that his pen has conveyed all the minuter comical touches of tbe dialogue. This began with the usual exordium of Frenchmen of all classes since the revolution, —‘You, Monsieur,’ said the man of wigs, ‘are a foriegner, and consequently uninterested in our quarrels. Tell me what you think of our situation ?’

‘“I think,’ replied I, ‘that the President will never willingly resign power.’ ‘“But, Monsieur, what is to be hoped for from such a man ?’

“‘I do not say he will succeed ; I say he will make the attempt.’ “ ‘And I say that he will fail. Henry V. for me ; ala bonne heure ! There is a man for you !’ ‘“What do you know about him? You are very anxious, then, to make tonsures?’ “‘What do I know about him? But, Monsieur, I have seen him, I am acquainted with him, I have spoken to him, and I tell you be is a charming man !’ “ ‘Where did you see him ?’

“ ‘Did I not go to see him at Wiesbaden ? Sir, there were thirty of us, —workmen, we called ourselves, though we were all masters who went of our own accord to pay our respects to Henry V. Tbe thing was briskly done, I beg you to believe. I spoke to him as I speak to you, Sir, at this moment. At first I was received by M. de la Ferronnaye, his aide-de-camp. ‘Good morning, Monsieur R.,’ said he, ‘how do you do V ‘Very well, Sir, 1 thank you,’ answered I; and, far from making me wait whole hours at the door, like those Republicans of the Veille, he made me sit down beside him on the sofa as affable as could be.’

“ Mr. Stahr inquired of the worthy coiff-ur what bad been the motive of his journey to Wiesbaden, which he seemed to look upon as a sort of North Pole expedition, and of whose fatigues and privations he drew a vivid picture. He wished to judge for himself, he said; to see whether the rightful heir to the throne was as ill-favoured as his enemies represented him to be. He found him, on the contrary, full of amiable qualities. He was a little lame, but his smile was irresistible. Warming with his subject, the enthusiastic Henriqumquist asked his customer’s permission to relate all the particulars of bis reception at Wiesbaden. This was just what Mr, Stahr wished, and he duly encouraged his interlocutor.

“‘On our arrival,’ continued the hairdresser, ‘we presented ourselves to the aide-de-camp, as I have had the honor of informing you. He took down our names, and

gave us each a number of rotation » P . to which we were arranged in the after . the general audience. We were f °° n at three ranks. The Prince was info’/m/A 1 ” forehand of the name and trade of each be * her, so that he was able to address a few" 111 )’ chosen words to everybody. When W We "* : all drawn up in order, he came in’V"! himself in the midst of us, at a f ew " SCe distance, and addressed us. ‘Good d ****”’ you, my friends,’ he said ; ’believe me w? I § ay that lam irost sensible of the mark ' sympathy you have so spontaneously me, by quitting your families and you r pations, and undertaking a journey i n , foreign country to see arid console me in ° * ,exile. Be sure that I will never forget wP you have done for me.’ Then he said T “ nearer, my friends !’ We advanced ’a ‘Nearer yet, my friends. You come too far not to come nearer. I hope to you all at 8 o'clock to-night ’’ ,te “ The hairdresser acted this scene u 1 related it, addressing himself and Mr St ? alternately as the Prince, by whose ma 3 to draw a step nearer he was evidently , ml l flattered. The professor, immensely aQIu J by the performance, still fancied he saw that • he.main cause of the fascination which Hehrv V. had exercised upon his devoted adherent was still undivulged. The sequel showed that he was not mistaken.

“‘ In the evening,’ continued the coiffeur ‘we returned to the Prince’s residence ; there we partook of refreshments, and the Prince bad an amiable word for each and all of us He talked about the siate of affairs in France and wished to know all our opinions about it’ The next day some of us were received io private audience. I was of the number. But, as we were numerous, and the Prince was very busy, I could not have much conversation with him. However, he gave me a silver medal, and, ‘ Mr. R.,’ said he ‘b—you a comfortable bed at your hotel?’ ‘Mon. seigneur,’ I replied, ‘since you deign to ask the question, I am accustomed to sleep between two sheets, and, as I do not understand a word of German, 1 have been unable to make them understand this at my hotel. They put the sheet sometimes over and sometimes under the blanket, but never more than one.’ ‘Sir,’ continued the delighted barber, addressing himself to Mr. Stahr, while his face beamed with triumph, ‘that night I bad two sheets upon my bed. Could anything be more amiable ? Ah, Sir, I have seen them from very near, those Republicans of tbe Mountain, those members ol the Provisional Government! What blockheads!— what boors! They aspired to command, and, io i their whole lives, scarcely one of them bad had as much as a servant at his orders. Sir, it was pitiable to behold.’

“Mr. Stahr observed to the loyal bait curltr that he had seen the persons in question only after they had attained power, and that there are few more amiable people in the world than a pretender before he has gained his object. He thought it possible that, onte at the Tuileries, Henry V. might show himself in a less agreeable light, and trouble himself less about his adherents’ bed linen. The barber’s sensible reply did him honour. But barbers, from Don Quixote’s day downwards, have been men of good counsel. “ ‘Monsieur,’ said the coiffeur, ‘I am rot a fool. Do you suppose I shall go and plague him when he is King? He will have other matters to attend to then. I have no preteosions to be made minister or prefect wlw there are other people who have studied those things all their lives. I am a hairdresser, arid I shall remain one. But I want to dress a great deal of hair, and under the Republic I dress none.’ I •“‘But,’ remarked Mr. Stahr, ‘youdi“'| more under the President ?' I “The barber, however, was no admirerol l the President, whom he had also been to see | before his election, and upon the appear JDt6 l of whose head he passed a most unfavoured I opinion. He was sulky, he said, and roll conversable. The affairs of France could | never go on well under a man who knew llol | how to talk. Moreover nothing could him but Henry V. He was neither B*| partist nor Republican. But when tbi°£ , | were at the worst, he said, his cry bad ways been ‘ Vive la France !’ ‘Stick to tbe l ' | said a customer who just then stepped ityl ‘ France has a tough existence, and will 4 **E live your Henri Dieudonne and all his* l ' ,| l and the President to boot. And nowbaveia l goodness to curl my hair.’’ I