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several waiters； with their napkins under their arms； leaned forward；
impatient to witness the arrival of the singular guests they were
expecting。
At length； the grotesque procession made its appearance in the thick of
an immense uproar。 The train comprised a chariot； escorted by men and
women on horseback； clad in rich and elegant fancy dresses。 Most of
these maskers belonged to the middle and easy classes of society。 The
report had spread that masquerade was in preparation； for the purpose of
daring the cholera； and； by this joyous demonstration； to revive the
courage of the affrighted populace。 Immediately； artists； young men
about town； students； and so on； responded to the appeal； and though till
now unknown one to the other； they easily fraternized together。 Many
brought their mistresses； to complete the show。 A subscription had been
opened to defray the expenses； and； that morning； after a splendid
breakfast at the other end of Paris； the joyous troop had started bravely
on their march； to finish the day by a dinner in the square of Notre…
Dame。
We say bravely； for it required a singular turn of mind； a rare firmness
of character； in young women； to traverse； in this fashion； a great city
plunged in consternation and terrorto fall in at every step with
litters loaded with the dying； and carriages filled with the deadto
defy； as it were； in a spirit of strange pleasantry； the plague that was
detonating the Parisians。 It is certain that； in Paris alone； and there
only amongst a peculiar class； could such an idea have ever been
conceived or realized。 Two men； grotesquely disguised as postilions at a
funeral； with formidable false noses； rose…colored crape hat…bands and
large favors of roses and crape bows at their buttonholes； rode before
the vehicle。 Upon the platform of the car were groups of allegorical
personages； representing WINE； PLEASURE； LOVE； PLAY。 The mission of
these symbolical beings was； by means of jokes； sarcasms； and mockeries；
to plague the life out of Goodman Cholera； a sort of funeral and
burlesque Cassander； whom they ridiculed and made game of in a hundred
ways。 The moral of the play was this： 〃To brave Cholera in security； let
us drink； laugh； game； and make love！〃
WINE was represented by a huge； lusty Silenus； thick…set； and with
swollen paunch； a crown of ivy on his brow； a panther's skin across his
shoulder； and in his hand a large gilt goblet； wreathed with flowers。
None other than Ninny Moulin； the famous moral and religious writer；
could have exhibited to the astonished and delighted spectators an ear of
so deep a scarlet； so majestic an abdomen； and a face of such triumphant
and majestic fulness。 Every moment； Ninny Moulin appeared to empty his
cupafter which he burst out laughing in the face of Goodman Cholera。
Goodman Cholera； a cadaverous pantaloon； was half…enveloped in a shroud；
his mask of greenish cardboard； with red； hollow eyes； seemed every
moment to grin as in mockery of death； from beneath his powdered peruke；
surmounted by a pyramidical cotton night…cap； appeared his neck and arm；
dyed of a bright green color； his lean hand； which shook almost always
with a feverish trembling （not feigned； but natural）； rested upon a
crutch…handled cane； finally； as was becoming in a pantaloon； he wore red
stockings； with buckles at the knees； and high slippers of black beaver。
This grotesque representative of the cholera was Sleepinbuff。
Notwithstanding a slow and dangerous fever； caused by the excessive use
of brandy； and by constant debauchery； that was silently undermining his
constitution； Jacques Rennepont had been induced by Morok to join the
masquerade。 The brute…tamer himself； dressed as the King of Diamonds；
represented PLAY。 His forehead was adorned with a diadem of gilded
paper； his face was pale and impassible； and as his long； yellow beard
fell down the front of his parti…colored robe； Morok looked exactly the
character he personated。 From time to time； with an air of grave
mockery； he shook close to the eyes of Goodman Cholera a large bag full
of sounding counters； and on this bag were painted all sorts of playing…
cards。 A certain stiffness in the right arm showed that the lion…tamer
had not yet quite recovered from the effects of the wound which the
panther had inflicted before being stabbed by Djalma。
PLEASURE； who also represented Laughter； classically shook her rattle；
with its sonorous gilded bells； close to the ears of Goodman Cholera。
She was a quick； lively young girl； and her fine black hair was crowned
with a scarlet cap of liberty。 For Sleepinbuff's sake； she had taken the
place of the poor Bacchanal queen； who would not have failed to attend on
such an occasionshe； who had been so valiant and gay； when she bore her
part in a less philosophical； but not less amusing masquerade。 Another
pretty creature； Modeste Bornichoux； who served as a model to a painter
of renown （one of the cavaliers of the procession）； was eminently
successful in her representation of LOVE。 He could not have had a more
charming face； and more graceful form。 Clad in a light blue spangled
tunic； with a blue and silver band across her chestnut hair； and little
transparent wings affixed to her white shoulders； she placed one
forefinger upon the other； and pointed with the prettiest impertinence at
Goodman Cholera。 Around the principal group； other maskers； more or less
grotesque in appearance； waved each a banner； an which were inscriptions
of a very anacreontic character； considering the circumstances：
〃Down with the Cholera！〃 〃Short and sweet！〃 〃Laugh away； laugh always！〃
〃We'll collar the Cholera！〃 〃Love forever！〃 〃Wine forever！〃 〃Come if you
dare； old terror！〃
There was really such audacious gayety in this masquerade； that the
greater number of the spectators； at the moment when it crossed the
square； in the direction of the eating…house； where dinner was waiting；
applauded it loudly and repeatedly。 This sort of admiration； which
courage； however mad and blind； almost always inspires； appeared to
others （a small number； it must be confessed） a kind of defiance to the
wrath of heaven； and these received the procession with angry murmurs。
This extraordinary spectacle； and the different impressions it produced；
were too remote from all customary facts to admit of a just appreciation。
We hardly know if this daring bravado was deserving of praise or blame。
Besides； the appearance of those plagues； which from age to age decimate
the population of whole countries； has almost always been accompanied by
a sort of mental excitement； which none of those who have been spared by
the contagion can hope to escape。 It is a strange fever of the mind；
which sometimes rouses the most stupid prejudices and the most ferocious
passions； and sometimes inspires； on the contrary； the most magnificent
devotion； the most courageous actionswith some； driving the fear of
death to a point of the wildest terrorwith others； exciting the
contempt of life to express itself in the most audacious bravadoes。
Caring little for the praise or blame it might deserve； the masquerade
arrived before the ea