New Impressions

           Atthreeo’clockintheafternoon,allthefashionableworldatNicemaybeseenonthePromenadedesAnglais—acharmingplace,forthewidewalk,borderedwithpalms,flowers,andtropicalshrubs,isboundedononesidebythesea,ontheotherbythegranddrive,linedwithhotelsandvillas,whilebeyondlieorangeorchardsandthehills.Manynationsarerepresented,manylanguagesspoken,manycostumesworn,andonasunnydaythespectacleisasgayandbrilliantasacarnival.HaughtyEnglish,livelyFrench,soberGermans,handsomeSpaniards,uglyRussians,meekJews,free-and-easyAmericans,alldrive,sit,orsaunterhere,chattingoverthenews,andcriticizingthelatestcelebritywhohasarrived—RistoriorDickens,VictorEmmanuelortheQueenoftheSandwichIslands.Theequipagesareasvariedasthecompanyandattractasmuchattention,especiallythelowbasketbarouchesinwhichladiesdrivethemselves,withapairofdashingponies,gaynetstokeeptheirvoluminousflouncesfromoverflowingthediminutivevehicles,andlittlegroomsontheperchbehind.

           Alongthiswalk,onChristmasDay,atallyoungmanwalkedslowly,withhishandsbehindhim,andasomewhatabsentexpressionofcountenance.