The parks are crowded with amusement seekers, some reading and playing games, some sewing, knitting, playing on musical instruments, dancing, sitting around tables in bevies eating, drinking, and gayly chatting.

And yet, when they drive in carriages or go to their homes at night, they will shut themselves in as tight as oysters in their shells.

They have a theory that night air is very injurious,--in the house,--although they will sit outside until midnight.

I found this same superstition prevalent in France fifty years later.
We visited the Hotel des Invalides just as they were preparing the sarcophagus for the reception of the remains of Napoleon.

We witnessed the wild excitement of that enthusiastic people, and listened with deep interest to the old soldiers' praises of their great general.