fact, between countenances frozen into Lapland
formality and glowing with tropical animation and delight. Everybody's
mouth had apparently something kind to say to its neighbour's eyes;
and the only alloy was that, as each person had two neighbours, his
lips, under a sort of _embarras des richesses_, occasionally found it
rather difficult to express all that was polite and pleasing to both.'
Dinner being over, all returned to the drawing-room in the same formal
order. Each gentleman bowed ceremoniously to the lady he had
conducted, she withdrew her arm, 'and the sofas were again to be seen
fringed by rows of satin shoes; while the carpet, in all other
directions, was subjected to the pressure of boots, that often
remained for a short time motionless as before. A general buzz of
conversation, however, soon enlivened the room; and the President,
gladly availing himself of it, mingled familiarly with the crowd.'

In the course of his rambles through Paris, Sir Francis visits various
_casernes_ or military barracks, and military schools. He also makes
sundry investigations into the functions and _materiel_ of the French
army, and finally, in company with Louis Napoleon, goes to a review.
The sum of these proceedings is, that he is much struck with the
progress made by the French in strategy and military manoeuvres,
especially in their musket-ball firing, against which, he says, we
have no chance. Everybody knows that our author is an alarmist, ever
sighing over our want of national defences, and dreaming of invasion
and rapine. At the same time, his details on military affairs are
worth the notice of those to whom the business of military education
is intrusted.

Sir Francis is very much pleased with the Parisian street
_commissionaires_ or porters, and wonders that no such luxury is
general in London. One day he invites the nearest commissionaire to
visit his lodging, and tell him his whole story, which the man gladly
did. Setting off at a great rate, he said:--'Sir, I black boots; I

William Babington Maxwell (18661938) was a British novelist. He was a son of novelist Mary Elizabeth Braddon. Though nearly 50 years old at the outbreak of the First World War, he was accepted as a lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers and served in France until 1917.

Cyrus Townsend Brady (December 20, 1861 January 24, 1920) was a journalist, historian and adventure writer. His most well-known work is Indian Fights and Fighters. He was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1883. He was also a deacon in the Episcopal church. His first wife was Clarissa Guthrie, who died in 1890. His second wife was Mary Barrett.

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