登陆注册
5406500000013

第13章 II(6)

"For many years a paste for the hands and a lotion for the face offering superior results to those obtained from Eau-de-Cologne in the domain of the toilet, has been widely sought by both sexes in Europe. Devoting long vigils to the study of the skin and cuticle of the two sexes, each of whom, one as much as the other, attach the utmost importance to the softness, suppleness, brilliancy, and velvet texture of the complexion, the Sieur Birotteau, perfumer, favorably known in this metropolis and abroad, has discovered a Paste and a Lotion justly hailed as marvellous by the fashion and elegance of Paris. In point of fact, this Paste and this Lotion possess amazing properties which act upon the skin without prematurely wrinkling it,--the inevitable result of drugs thoughtlessly employed, and sold in these days by ignorance and cupidity. This discovery rests upon diversities of temperament, which divide themselves into two great classes, indicated by the color of the Paste and the Lotion, which will be found /pink/ for the skin and cuticle of persons of lymphatic habit, and /white/

for those possessed of a sanguine temperament.

"This Paste is named the 'Paste of Sultans,' because the discovery was originally made for the Seraglio by an Arabian physician. It has been approved by the Institute on the recommendation of our illustrious chemist, Vauquelin; together with the Lotion, fabricated on the same principles which govern the composition of the Paste.

"This precious Paste, exhaling as it does the sweetest perfumes, removes all blotches, even those that are obstinately rebellious, whitens the most recalcitrant epidermis, and dissipates the perspirations of the hand, of which both sexes equally complain.

"The Carminative Balm will disperse the little pimples which appear inopportunely at certain times, and interfere with a lady's projects for a ball; it refreshes and revives the color by opening or shutting the pores of the skin according to the exigencies of the individual temperament. It is so well known already for its effect in arresting the ravages of time that many, out of gratitude, have called it the 'Friend of Beauty.'

"Eau-de-Cologne is, purely and simply, a trivial perfume without special efficacy of any kind; while the Double Paste of Sultans and the Carminative Balm are two operative compounds, of a motive power which acts without risk upon the internal energies and seconds them. Their perfumes (essentially balsamic, and of a stimulating character which admirably revives the heart and brain)

awake ideas and vivify them; they are as wonderful for their simplicity as for their merits. In short, they offer one attraction the more to women, and to men a means of seduction which it is within their power to secure.

"The daily use of the Balm will relieve the smart occasioned by the heat of the razor; it will protect the lips from chapping, and restore their color; it dispels in time all discolorations, and revives the natural tones of the skin. Such results demonstrate in man a perfect equilibrium of the juices of life, which tends to relieve all persons subject to headache from the sufferings of that horrible malady. Finally, the Carminative Balm, which can be employed by women in all stages of their toilet, will prevent cutaneous diseases by facilitating the transpiration of the tissues, and communicating to them a permanent texture like that of velvet.

"Address, post-paid, Monsieur Cesar Birotteau, successor to Ragon, former perfumer to the Queen Marie Antoinette, at The Queen of Roses, Rue Saint-Honore, Paris, near the Place Vendome.

"The price of a cake of Paste is three francs; that of the bottle six francs.

"Monsieur Cesar Birotteau, to avoid counterfeits, informs the public that the Paste is wrapped in paper bearing his signature, and that the bottles have a stamp blown in the glass."

The success was owing, without Cesar's suspecting it, to Constance, who advised him to send cases of the Carminative Balm and the Paste of Sultans to all perfumers in France and in foreign cities, offering them at the same time a discount of thirty per cent if they would buy the two articles by the gross. The Paste and the Balm were, in reality, worth more than other cosmetics of the sort; and they captivated ignorant people by the distinctions they set up among the temperaments. The five hundred perfumers of France, allured by the discount, each bought annually from Birotteau more than three hundred gross of the Paste and the Lotion,--a consumption which, if it gave only a limited profit on each article, became enormous considered in bulk. Cesar was then able to buy the huts and the land in the Faubourg du Temple; he built large manufactories, and decorated his shop at "The Queen of Roses" with much magnificence; his household began to taste the little joys of competence, and his wife no longer trembled as before.

In 1810 Madame Cesar, foreseeing a rise in rents, pushed her husband into becoming chief tenant of the house where they had hitherto occupied only the shop and the /entresol/, and advised him to remove their own appartement to the first floor. A fortunate event induced Constance to shut her eyes to the follies which Birotteau committed for her sake in fitting up the new appartement. The perfumer had just been elected judge in the commercial courts: his integrity, his well-

known sense of honor, and the respect he enjoyed, earned for him this dignity, which ranked him henceforth among the leading merchants of Paris. To improve his knowledge, he rose daily at five o'clock, and read law-reports and books treating of commercial litigation. His sense of justice, his rectitude, his conscientious intentions,--

qualities essential to the understanding of questions submitted for consular decision,--soon made him highly esteemed among the judges.

同类推荐
  • 六十种曲鸾鎞记

    六十种曲鸾鎞记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说持世陀罗尼经

    佛说持世陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • SERMONS ON THE CARD AND OTHER DISCOURSES

    SERMONS ON THE CARD AND OTHER DISCOURSES

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 楹联丛话全编

    楹联丛话全编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 经幄管见

    经幄管见

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 太古土兑经

    太古土兑经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 读故事·作测试·学管理

    读故事·作测试·学管理

    本书汇集了100个经典的管理故事,并附带100句经典的管理名言和管理点评,同时为了使管理更科学,使管理者能更全面地认识自己,书中还精选了37个管理小测试,同样是以一种轻松活泼的方式在诠释管理。如果企业的发展遭遇不顺利,如果你的团队出现了裂痕,如果作为领导者的你思路有些混乱,如果你的企业在经济的大潮中裹足不前,那么读读这些故事,也许这种轻松简单的方式会给你带来意想不到的结果,就像故事里说的,丑小鸭变成了白天鹅,灰姑娘变成了王妃。
  • 爱在地裂天崩时

    爱在地裂天崩时

    对于一个做过无数次的梦,他清楚其中所有的细节。在梦中,他像上帝般俯瞰一切、明了一切、潜入一切——他,就是世界本身。他看到一个十六岁的少年在一个燠热难耐的午后斜倚着一棵法国梧桐,体内的兴奋和期待在奋力对抗恹恹睡意。她应该来了,少年想。很快,他看到了她,马尾辫、白T恤、淡蓝色牛仔裤、斜挎帆布包。他浑身一凛,向她招手,她笑了,也抬起手——忽然,时间凝滞了,像飞虫钻进果冻。声音、气味、振动……所有这些感官形成了一个云团,包裹了少年。
  • 和珅传

    和珅传

    “满洲青年才俊”堕落蜕变的终极原因;“乾隆第一宠臣”为人处世的生存之术;“史上第一大贪官”爬上高位、聚敛财富的翔实记录。
  • 随身空间之嫡女神医

    随身空间之嫡女神医

    莫名穿越,附赠随身空间,开启神医之路。在她成为强者的路上,遇到了许多不离不弃的朋友,也遇到了一个妖孽至极,霸道无比的男人。精彩片段:“小清儿,你是我的!”“谁是你的了??我是我自己的!”这男人要不要这么大言不惭?“是!小清儿是你自己的,那我是你的好了!”帝无殇眼带宠溺轻笑着说到。“就你长成这样,我会很有压力的!我特别惜命的!”云清头疼的抚额,要知道那些如狼似虎的女人眼神比刀子还锐利,试问谁想每天都被千刀万剐,反正她是不想了,这感觉别提多蛋疼了。(空间,神医,宠文,霸道腹黑,一对一)
  • 重生之最强公会

    重生之最强公会

    准备放弃生命的李清风,意外重生回到了五年前。老天给了我一个重新来过,弥补一切的机会,我还有什么理由不能够成为最强?
  • 时光深处恰逢你

    时光深处恰逢你

    ?(??,简介被偷走了,有空再寻。多多指教啊。)
  • 人界圣主

    人界圣主

    天地之间似乎蕴藏着一个巨大的秘密...当主人公成长以后,才发现原来是...
  • 阵修士

    阵修士

    正常版:这是一个阵法改变世界,氪金创造未来的仙侠故事。 争霸版:这是一个穿越者争霸世界,建立一世仙朝的故事。文艺版:这是被迫害妄想症患者融入世界,接受现实的故事。 续作《一世仙朝》已经发布
  • 会飞的耳环

    会飞的耳环

    本书是由董恒波编著的《会飞的耳环》,是神探小鹰校园幽默推理小说系列丛书之一。《会飞的耳环》的故事内容如下:歌星菲菲住进了七星大酒店。奇怪的事发生了,菲菲在房间唱歌时感觉有一个幽灵般的黑影在身边绕。突然,菲菲发现她的耳环不翼而飞了。逐一盘查中,嫌疑人小娟和顾老板竟然一口承认是自己偷了菲菲的耳环。丢了一只耳环,竟然有两人同时投案,谁真谁假呢?