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The Theatre is small, but very elegant; and the Public Ball Room, situated near it, is capacious and handsomely decorated.
The Castle is a massive old building with round turrets and slated roofs : admission to it is only to be obtained by an order from one of the Corporation of the town.
The trade of Dieppe is inconsiderable, consisting principally in turnery, laces and toys, It is, however, famous for its ivory carving, which is carried to an exquisite state of perfection; large vessels are modelled in a most beautiful manner, the rigging and sails are made of threads and shavings of ivory, and the countenances and attitudes of the various groups of figures are wonderfully expressive.
Trains to Rouen start several times daily, and the view of the town from a neighbouring eminence on the road to the capital of Normandy is very beautiful, commanding a fine prospect of the adjacent countries, as well as of the expanse of ocean skirting the horizon.
The roads about Dieppe are tolerably good; they are wide and unpaved, and are in many places bordered by apple-trees, which produce in autumn an immense quantity of fruit, which is manufactured into cider. The chateaux, or villas, are built near the roads, with high old-fashioned roofs, and in many places surrounded with the former paraphernalia of ancient gardening, although very many are situated in pleasure-grounds laid out in a most tasteful manner, and themselves elegantly decorated.
The Norman peasantry are usually agreeable in person, short in stature, and generally quick and shrewd. The women dress in a remarkable, though not altogether unbecoming costume, with extravagantly high caps (like towers of linen) on their heads. But these even the young children have, not even in miniature, the head- |
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