Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ...is one of the covered-streets the most frequented," READING. THE PASSAGE DE L'OPERA.--THE "GRAND OPERA."--Now, to the passage of-the Opera!--Oh! what fine turn-outs before that great bazar!--Where do you mean?--On the other side of-the Boulevards.--Oh!--But here we are at the passage.--What a crowd!1--Yes; this passage has the vogue. It owes it to the elegance of its stores, to its refined aristocracy, to its good society ways.2 The managers have made there a famous speculation!3--But here we are in the Colbert Gallery! It's just as fine as the gallery from-which we are-coming-out, is it not?--But, by the way, are you curious to see the Vivienne Gallery? It is neglected, badly kept. Nevertheless, it is one of the passages the most frequented of the capital.--Frequented by the Slitef--Oh! no; by the tradespeople. All (that which) you there see addresses itself to-the needs of a life 1 Monde = world, or people; que de monde! lit.: What (a quantity of) people!--2 To its ways of good society. 8 i. e., a fine speculation. 1 Lit.; the tine world, the fine people. et calculee. C'est un foyer1 continuel d'activite, un des centres de l'industrie parisienne.--Il nous reste encore deux heures avant de nous rendre au theatre. Ne pourrions-nous pas visiter le Diorama?--Il n'existe plus. C'etait un spectacle tres amusant. Vous connaissez de reputation l'auteur, Daguerre?--Celui qui a donne son nom au daguerreotype?--Lui-meme.--On dit que ce Diorama etait une des merveilles de Paris. L'illusion, parait-il,2 etait si complete qu'on aurait jure etre a Rome, a Saint-Petersbourg, ou dans les montagnes de la Suisse. On parlait aussi beaucoup des effets de...