The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-21
PARTISAN "LIFE."
The CIOserie des LiIas-The Cau.cau-
stSardine.D

The terrestrial paradise of the medical stu
dents is the celebrated ballroom called by the
polite world the Clcserie des Lilas, but known
to its hobitUGS as the B1llier Of Prado, accord
ing to the season of the year. II is called
Butler (Which is the name of the proprietor)
in the summer, and in the winter the Prado,
which is, believe, a Spanish word, signifying
such places of entertainment. The ballroom
is the most elaborate in the city, and is per-
haps one Of the greatest ouriosities. II is here
that the peculiar dance called the "Can-can"
IS performed in all its extravaganza and Wild
ness. The establishment is situated in the
left Of the Boulevard Saint Michel, aud just
beyond the garden of the Luxembourg. These
balls are given each week, with sometimes,
par eEtrGordinaire, fourth. On ball nights
the entire boulevard is enoumbered
with the stream of men and women on
9heir way to indulge in wild revelry and
amusement. The gaily-painted facade of the
building is illuminated in gorgeous style, and
an immense crowd of les mltserabLeS, gather in
front to admire the toilets of the gay women
as they enter and feast themselves upon the
strains of lively music. In all their poverty
and wretchedness their hearts are doubtless
filled with envious longings at the sight of the
gay and laughing women who futter in and
out like bright colored butterflies. Little do
they dream that beneath all the splendid ex-
terror which dazzles their eyes there lies more
misery than beneath their own rags and pow
erty. Entrance to the saloon is gained by
fight of steps, some ten or fifteen feet
in depth, conducting to a large and
brilliantly illuminated ballroom, half
subterranean, and capable of containing
several thousand people. The saloon
is entirely rooted over in the winter, but
during the summer one-han is left uncovered,
forming quite handsome garden, ornamented
with fountains, statues, and charming little
alcoves, where the enamored swain may enjoy
of NIT 10 fa;r
Upon first entrance, especially during the
winter, the smoke is so dense that the eye
can distinguish nothing but confused mass
of human beings heaving to and fro like an
ocean, and the ears are assailed by din of
human voices which confuses the sense and
beggars description. doubt il such noise
as goes up from a crowded Bullier ever went
mp from any other assemblage in the world
The crowd at the Bullier is not like any
other, except that it is composed OF
human beings; indeed, it can hardly be
said to bear that resemblance, since it
is q question whether medical students and
CocoiteS are human beings or not. If they
are, they certainly form distinct species pc
cular to Paris, and to the Latin quarter par
ticulsrly. This horrible noise, if noise is not
too musical word to give to the terrific dis
cord which bursts through the smoke like
thunder through the clouds, is a compound of
all the sounds which the organs of man, by
distortion or other means, are capable of pro-
ducing. Terrific yells Of the men-French
yells, which are not like any other yells, and
what is more, students yells-mingle with the
screams of women, and rise musically up to
the gay and lively accompaniment of the
clinking of glasses and the shuffling of feet.
This magnificent and harmonious flood of sus-
tained music has for TONGUE, or fundamental
note, the continuous droning buzz of more
moderate talk and laughter, from which
Il Lazs, l. -
from time to time in magnificent CreScendos.
Wagner might introduce the Prado, one
of its nights to add to the effect of some of his
forte movements, and thereby economize the
wind of his trombOnes and the muscle of his
crosse caiSFe. 1t is here, in the midst of this
storm Of revelry and excitement, that the
French student may be seen in. all his glory;
here he lays aside all restraint and gives his
whole soul up TO enjoyment. 1t is here, too,
that the women, sharing by force of associa-
tion the utter abandon of the students, lay
aside all the magnificent and stately airs
which they wear elsewhere, and throw them
selves wildly into the vortex of dissipation.
As a general thing, the women who frequent
this ball are women of the quarter-their name
is legion-and who, by constant association
with the students, have acquired character
almost identical with theirs. There are,
however, many of the "upper-ten'' of the
demi-mOnde who are frequent visitors to
the students paradise; and the same cocotte
who steps tonight in stately dignity and
queenlike robes through the fairy walks of
Mabille may be seen tomorrow at Bullier, in
her short skirt, flipging her heels wildly in
the air, and taking excruciating postures
worthy of the finest contortionist in the Cirque
de PImper6trice. The peculiar Parisian dance
baptized by the name of caa-cdn, is perhaps
the most exciting of all such species OF amuse-
ment, both for the spectator and the dancer.
1t has but little regularity about it, and to the
spectator who sees it for the first time it has
apparently none. 1t has, however, its small
amount of system, but the principal merit
OF the dancer is within two given
points, the beginning and the end OF
a strain to commit az many extrava-
ganOies as possible, and to throw his body
into as many unnatural aud bizarre positions
as the structure of the human frame will per-
NIT of. A very fine accomplishment, for in
stance, is to be able to throw a back somer-
sault in the face of your fair partner while
she elevstes her leg in the air until the tip of
her toe and the crown of her head are upon
the same horizontal line. 1t is not at all in
artistic to be able to double youself up into a
knot and roll upon the floor, while the
beauteous daughters of Terpsiehore dance
around in circle, after the manner of the
savages in the Sandwich Islands. 1t is a
good thing, also, To b9 able to agitate your
legs, arms, and head with such rapidity as
to present the appearance OF misty shadow.
This accomplishment however, I am told, is
rarely met with. In short, the more horrible
or impossible the positions, the more
artistic the dances. The province oi
the fair sex lies principally in the
legs, though few unnatural and
comic oontortions of the body are considered
no mean addition to the talent of elevation -
The fair one who lifts her legs highest and