Young und Okey - 1915 - Travels in France and Italy during the years 1787,

Travels in France and Italy/35
which however is not the case with all, for the language of the country is
a mixture of Catalan, Proven9al, and French.—This, with examining
the minerals (an article for which the Duke de la Rochefoucauld likes to
accompany us, as he possesses a considerable knowledge in that branch
of natural history), and with noting the plants with which we are acquainted,
serves well to keep our time employed sufficiently to our taste.
The ramble of the morning finished, we return in time to dress for dinner,
at half after twelve or one: then adjourn to the drawing-room of
Madam de la Rochefoucauld, or the Countess of Grandval alternately,
the only ladies who have apartments large enough to contain the whole
company. None are excluded; as the first thing done, by every person
who arrives, is to pay a morning visit to each party already in the place;
the visit is returned, and then everybody is of course acquainted at these
assemblies, which last till the evening is cool enough for walking. There
is nothing in them but cards, trick-track, chess, and sometimes music;
but the great feature is cards: I need not add, that I absented myself
often from these parties, which are ever mortally insipid to me in England,
and not less so in France. In the evening, the company splits into
different parties, for their promenade, which lasts till half an hour after
eight; supper is served at nine: there is, after it, an hour’s conversation
in the chamber of one of our ladies; and this is the best part of the day,—
for the chat is free, lively, and unaffected; and uninterrupted, unless on
a post-day, when the duke has such packets of papers and pamphlets
that they turn us all into politicians. All the world are in bed by eleven.
In this arrangement of the day, no circumstance is so objectionable as
that of dining at noon, the consequence of eating no breakfast; for as the
ceremony of dressing: is kept up, you must be at home from any morning’s
excursion by twelve o’clock. This single circumstance, if adhered to,
would be sufficient to destroy any pursuits, except the most frivolous.
Dividing the day exactly in halves destroys it for any expedition, inquiry,
or business that demands seven or eight hours’ attention, uninterrupted
by any calls to the table or the toilette: calls which, after fatigue
or exertion, are obeyed with refreshment and with pleasure. We dress
for dinner in England with propriety, as the rest of the day is dedicated
to ease, to converse, and relaxation; but by doing it at noon, too much
time is lost. What is a man good for after his silk breeches and stockings
are on, his hat under his arm, and his head bien poudré!—Can he botanise
in a watered meadow?—Can he clamber the rocks to mineralise?—Can
he farm with the peasant and the ploughman?—He is in order for the