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Article CURIOUS ANECDOTE OF A FRENCH TRAVELLER. ← Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Anecdote Of A French Traveller.
countries , the nobility , literary persons , and most of those above the lower order , study the French language in particular , and in general speak it ; but it is also true , that in every country in the world the people speak their own language , or peculiar dialect , and in the provinces of France particularly , it is difficult to make them understand when the } ' are spoken to even in French . The confidence with which they travel aboutspeaking their language indiscriminately to
, all nations , and the certainty with which they think they mus-t be understood , has often been productive of laughable mistakes . The following is an example ; and what renders it more' really amusing , is , that we are assured it is a fact ' : A young Parisian going to Amsterdam , was attracted by the remarkable beauty of a house situated near the canal . He addressed a
Dutchman in French , who stood near him in the vessel , with , " Pray Sir , may 1 ask who that house belongs to ? " The Hollander answered him in his own language , " Ik lutn nietverstaan , " " I do not understand 3-011 . " The Parisian not doubting but that , he was understood , took the Dutchman ' s answer for the name of the proprietor . " Oh 1 Oh 1 " said he" it belongs to Mr . Kaniferstane . WellI am sure he
, , must be very agreeably situated : the house is most charming , and the garden appears delicious . I don ' t know that ever I saw a better . A friend of mine has one much like it , near the river at Choise ; but I ccr . ait . iy give this the preference . " He added many other observations of the same kind , to which the Dutchman , not understanding th ¦¦ :. ! , made no reply .
When he arrived at Amsterdam , he saw a most beautiful Woman , on the keys , walking arm in arm with a gentleman : he asked a person ri . at passed him , who that charming lady was ? but the man not und .-rsLinding French , replied : " Ik kan nietverstaan . " " " What , Sir , " jjpiied our traveller , " is that Mr . Kanifersrane ' s wife , whose house is near the canal ? Indeed , this gentleman ' s lotis enviable ; to possess . such a noble house , and so lovely a companion . " .
The next day when he was walking out , he saw some trumpeters playing at a gentleman ' s door , who had got the largest prize in the Dutch lottery . Our Parisian wishing to be informed of the gentleman ' s name , was still answered : Ik kail niet verstaan . " ' Oh ! " said he , " this is too great an accession of good fortune ! Mr . Kaniferstane proprietor of such a fine house , husband to such a beautiful woman , and to get the largest prize in the lottery ! It must be
allowed that there are some very fortunate men in the world . " About a week after this , our traveller walking about , saw a very superb burying . He asked , whose it was ? " Ik kan niet verstaan , " replied the person of whom he asked the question . " Oh ! my God , " exclaimed he , " poor Mr . Kaniferstane ! who had such a noble house , such an angelic wife , and the largest prize in the lottery ! pie must have quitted this world with great regret ; but I thought his happiness was too compleat to be of long duration . " Tie then went home , reflecting all the way on the im'ability of human affairs .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Anecdote Of A French Traveller.
countries , the nobility , literary persons , and most of those above the lower order , study the French language in particular , and in general speak it ; but it is also true , that in every country in the world the people speak their own language , or peculiar dialect , and in the provinces of France particularly , it is difficult to make them understand when the } ' are spoken to even in French . The confidence with which they travel aboutspeaking their language indiscriminately to
, all nations , and the certainty with which they think they mus-t be understood , has often been productive of laughable mistakes . The following is an example ; and what renders it more' really amusing , is , that we are assured it is a fact ' : A young Parisian going to Amsterdam , was attracted by the remarkable beauty of a house situated near the canal . He addressed a
Dutchman in French , who stood near him in the vessel , with , " Pray Sir , may 1 ask who that house belongs to ? " The Hollander answered him in his own language , " Ik lutn nietverstaan , " " I do not understand 3-011 . " The Parisian not doubting but that , he was understood , took the Dutchman ' s answer for the name of the proprietor . " Oh 1 Oh 1 " said he" it belongs to Mr . Kaniferstane . WellI am sure he
, , must be very agreeably situated : the house is most charming , and the garden appears delicious . I don ' t know that ever I saw a better . A friend of mine has one much like it , near the river at Choise ; but I ccr . ait . iy give this the preference . " He added many other observations of the same kind , to which the Dutchman , not understanding th ¦¦ :. ! , made no reply .
When he arrived at Amsterdam , he saw a most beautiful Woman , on the keys , walking arm in arm with a gentleman : he asked a person ri . at passed him , who that charming lady was ? but the man not und .-rsLinding French , replied : " Ik kan nietverstaan . " " " What , Sir , " jjpiied our traveller , " is that Mr . Kanifersrane ' s wife , whose house is near the canal ? Indeed , this gentleman ' s lotis enviable ; to possess . such a noble house , and so lovely a companion . " .
The next day when he was walking out , he saw some trumpeters playing at a gentleman ' s door , who had got the largest prize in the Dutch lottery . Our Parisian wishing to be informed of the gentleman ' s name , was still answered : Ik kail niet verstaan . " ' Oh ! " said he , " this is too great an accession of good fortune ! Mr . Kaniferstane proprietor of such a fine house , husband to such a beautiful woman , and to get the largest prize in the lottery ! It must be
allowed that there are some very fortunate men in the world . " About a week after this , our traveller walking about , saw a very superb burying . He asked , whose it was ? " Ik kan niet verstaan , " replied the person of whom he asked the question . " Oh ! my God , " exclaimed he , " poor Mr . Kaniferstane ! who had such a noble house , such an angelic wife , and the largest prize in the lottery ! pie must have quitted this world with great regret ; but I thought his happiness was too compleat to be of long duration . " Tie then went home , reflecting all the way on the im'ability of human affairs .