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out of old umbrellas。 All wore dust…coloured shoes。 My heart beat
high； for； in those four male personages； although complexionless
and eyebrowless； I beheld four subjects of the Family P。 Salcy。
Blue…bearded though they were； and bereft of the youthful
smoothness of cheek which is imparted by what is termed in Albion a
'Whitechapel shave' （and which is； in fact； whitening； judiciously
applied to the jaws with the palm of the hand）； I recognised them。
As I stood admiring； there emerged from the yard of a lowly
Cabaret； the excellent Ma Mere； Ma Mere； with the words； 'The soup
is served；' words which so elated the subject in the canvas suit；
that when they all ran in to partake； he went last； dancing with
his hands stuck angularly into the pockets of his canvas trousers；
after the Pierrot manner。 Glancing down the Yard； the last I saw
of him was； that he looked in through a window （at the soup； no
doubt） on one leg。
Full of this pleasure； I shortly afterwards departed from the town；
little dreaming of an addition to my good fortune。 But more was in
reserve。 I went by a train which was heavy with third…class
carriages； full of young fellows （well guarded） who had drawn
unlucky numbers in the last conscription； and were on their way to
a famous French garrison town where much of the raw military
material is worked up into soldiery。 At the station they had been
sitting about； in their threadbare homespun blue garments； with
their poor little bundles under their arms； covered with dust and
clay； and the various soils of France； sad enough at heart； most of
them； but putting a good face upon it； and slapping their breasts
and singing choruses on the smallest provocation； the gayest
spirits shouldering half loaves of black bread speared upon their
walking…sticks。 As we went along； they were audible at every
station； chorusing wildly out of tune； and feigning the highest
hilarity。 After a while； however； they began to leave off singing；
and to laugh naturally； while at intervals there mingled with their
laughter the barking of a dog。 Now； I had to alight short of their
destination； and； as that stoppage of the train was attended with a
quantity of horn blowing； bell ringing； and proclamation of what
Messieurs les Voyageurs were to do； and were not to do； in order to
reach their respective destinations； I had ample leisure to go
forward on the platform to take a parting look at my recruits；
whose heads were all out at window； and who were laughing like
delighted children。 Then I perceived that a large poodle with a
pink nose； who had been their travelling companion and the cause of
their mirth； stood on his hind…legs presenting arms on the extreme
verge of the platform； ready to salute them as the train went off。
This poodle wore a military shako （it is unnecessary to add； very
much on one side over one eye）； a little military coat； and the
regulation white gaiters。 He was armed with a little musket and a
little sword…bayonet； and he stood presenting arms in perfect
attitude； with his unobscured eye on his master or superior
officer； who stood by him。 So admirable was his discipline； that；
when the train moved； and he was greeted with the parting cheers of
the recruits； and also with a shower of centimes； several of which
struck his shako； and had a tendency to discompose him； he remained
staunch on his post； until the train was gone。 He then resigned
his arms to his officer； took off his shako by rubbing his paw over
it； dropped on four legs； bringing his uniform coat into the
absurdest relations with the overarching skies； and ran about the
platform in his white gaiters； waging his tail to an exceeding
great extent。 It struck me that there was more waggery than this
in the poodle； and that he knew that the recruits would neither get
through their exercises； nor get rid of their uniforms； as easily
as he； revolving which in my thoughts； and seeking in my pockets
some small money to bestow upon him； I casually directed my eyes to
the face of his superior officer； and in him beheld the Face…Maker！
Though it was not the way to Algeria； but quite the reverse； the
military poodle's Colonel was the Face…Maker in a dark blouse； with
a small bundle dangling over his shoulder at the end of an
umbrella； and taking a pipe from his breast to smoke as he and the
poodle went their mysterious way。
CHAPTER XXVIII … MEDICINE MEN OF CIVILISATION
My voyages （in paper boats） among savages often yield me matter for
reflection at home。 It is curious to trace the savage in the
civilised man； and to detect the hold of some savage customs on
conditions of society rather boastful of being high above them。
I wonder； is the Medicine Man of the North American Indians never
to be got rid of； out of the North American country？ He comes into
my Wigwam on all manner of occasions； and with the absurdest
'Medicine。' I always find it extremely difficult； and I often find
it simply impossible； to keep him out of my Wigwam。 For his legal
'Medicine' he sticks upon his head the hair of quadrupeds； and
plasters the same with fat； and dirty white powder； and talks a
gibberish quite unknown to the men and squaws of his tribe。 For
his religious 'Medicine' he puts on puffy white sleeves； little
black aprons； large black waistcoats of a peculiar cut； collarless
coats with Medicine button…holes； Medicine stockings and gaiters
and shoes； and tops the whole with a highly grotesque Medicinal
hat。 In one respect； to be sure； I am quite free from him。 On
occasions when the Medicine Men in general； together with a large
number of the miscellaneous inhabitants of his village； both male
and female； are presented to the principal Chief； his native
'Medicine' is a comical mixture of old odds and ends （hired of
traders） and new things in antiquated shapes； and pieces of red
cloth （of which he is particularly fond）； and white and red and
blue paint for the face。 The irrationality of this particular
Medicine culminates in a mock battle…rush； from which many of the
squaws are borne out； much dilapidated。 I need not observe how
unlike this is to a Drawing Room at St。 James's Palace。
The African magician I find it very difficult to exclude from my
Wigwam too。 This creature takes cases of death and mourning under
his supervision； and will frequently impoverish a whole family by
his preposterous enchantments。 He is a great eater and drinker；
and always conceals a rejoicing stomach under a grieving exterior。
His charms consist of an infinite quantity of worthless scraps； for
which he charges very high。 He impresses on the poor bereaved
natives； that the more of his followers they pay to exhibit such
scraps on their persons for an hour or two （though they never saw
the deceased in their lives； and are put in high spirits by his
decease）； the more honourably and piously they grieve for the dead。
The poor people submitting thems