Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1888 — Old-Time Customs. [ARTICLE]

Old-Time Customs.

In the Paris of 170 Q , a man i u a fine laced coat, well dressed enough to be taken for a military officer, could paaq into any kind of assembly without asking or being asked. Np Swiss or King’s Guard would take it upon him to turn him back. The chief terror of those clothed in fine raiment was the mud in the streets, and it was especially fatal to the fashionable scarlet cloth, which has since descended to pur “thin red lines.” Crowds of loafers made a good livelihood as decotteurs by cleaning off the spatters and splashes.

The town watch, or mounted guard of 200 men, patrolled the streets after nightfall, and they were pretty safe until ten or eleven o’clock, when the cases, the rotisseurs and the cabarets shut and all coaches and pairs went home. When out after dark it was well to be accompanied by friends and to have all your valets walking in front with torches, but about 172 Fthe Duke of Richmond was attacked in his carriage while crossing the Pcnt-Neuf at midnight and run through the body. Even in the day time catpurees were active, and one went in peril of his life in a crowd, for nothing was commoner than for some bully to fix an instant quarrel on a stranger for some inoffensive touch in the press of passing. There no saluting in the streets, chiefly, no all the difficulties of getting along were quite sufficient occupation for every one, and, intact, the best thing to doto save your shoes, stockings, clothes and wjg—to say nothing of vour money or your life—was to ride in a coach. There are 3,00) postmistresses in the ; United States