What's In A Sign ?

WHAT'S IN A SIGN ?

BY A FRIEND AND A BROTHER . * T 7 "EARS upon years ago—alas ! it makes one sad to think of that dim -L distance HOAV , when all youth ' s fervour seems to haA'e melted into the A'eriest apathy of old age—the writer of this A'eracions little tale formed part

, of a merry little company sojourning in Paris . People may abuse Paris as much as they like , and the "Reverend Pogrom , " as tbe French term him , always lifts up his . eyes as he speaks in a whisper of that " siren of nations , " but for me it has always many charms , ancl I maintain is a very comfortable " locale " for those who make a proper use of it . Of course yon can make a bad use of all things and places here below . Paris has , no doubt , its dangerous

and darker side , but we need not , I think , kind readers , court imaginary dangers , or get eloquent or sensational over imaginary evils , and so let us believe that , for you and for me , if only we are reasonable ancl ivell behaved , Paris is as pleasant a spot to pitch our tent in for a time , and as safe as any on this Avide earth . It has attractions many and A'ivicl for the student and the statesman , for the painter and the poet , for the lovei' of music ancl tbe

admirer of tbe drama , for those who make the fine arts a stud y , for medical science , for those who like a little " variety , " and for those who do not object to a French dinner , to a pleasant little party at a restaurant , an intellectual evening at the Theatre Francais , or the Gymnase . We some of ns know the old story of the Englishman who AA'as asked Avby be had come to Paris . " Voyez vous , monsieur , " he said ; " ma femine m ' embete . " Poor man , if that was

his only reason 1 Tbe French are themselves a quiet , family-loving people , simple in their tastes and friendl y in their sympathies , ancl if English people go wrong in Paris it is because tbey clo not always remember that because they are in a strange country they bave no license to do what tbey would not dare to do at home : to forget their manners and their morals , and set defiance to law ancl orderthe customs of the countryancl the regulations of

, , the police . For all who really seek to be quiet , and live as peaceful ancl respectable citizens , Paris has always , I beg to repeat , great welcome and greater pleasantness . Forgive my " littel " digression , as my friend Monsieur " Caoolet" says .

We had spent the evening at the Francais , ancl had seen Bressant and Delaunay , Mime , Brohan and Favart , ancl bad adjourned to a pleasant restaurant for a little supper . One of my friends , poor Jim Jackson , had made the acquaintance of a certain Baron cle Maurier , AVIIO had introduced him to another , Baron cle la Motte , and though Billy Barker and I did not like them and thought tbem rather dubious personages , and felt inclined to pay a friendly visit to the Rue Jerusalem , yet tbey had made a favourable impression on Jim , and Matt Singer , ancl Charley Hope , and so we said no

more . We observed that they were always suggesting cards , and hinting bow nice "Baccarat" was . We had been too busy ancl too amused to listen to their polite suggestions , but to-night , when supper was OA * er , as ill luck would have it , Jim Jackson himself suggested it . No sooner said than clone , and there we all sat until we had to leave the restaurant , our French friends being large winners . They finished up with ecarte . Bill and I had not played , but sat watching the players , but I beard Bill grumbling and growling , and there was a look in his eyes that portended a coming storm . In the street our French friends were most civil ancl pleasant , though I observed that a little