Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-23
THE ARGYLE ROOMS.
An Hour I'm the Jardin MabiIie, Of
London.

An Hour I'm the Jardin MabiIie, of
London.
London Correspondence Of the Chicago Times
The Argyle, fronting prominent street,
is the entrance Of this place, and which the
visitor reaches at night, through a dense
throrg of carriages, of finely dressed women,
OF thickiy distributed policemen with their
leathern helmets; Of men of all nationali-
ties and every degree of respectability; of
Deggars in the guise of match-Venders, and
hundreds Of others, whom one need not
| partlculariZe. There is a vast glare of gas
lights over the entrance; and from these,
the throng, and the uproar, a stranger
might fancy that the scene was the crash
OF grand opera night.
1t must be noticed that among those out
side are hundreds of women, Enthusiastically
courtesans, but who, from lack of money
or elegance OF dress, do not enter the
rooms. These move about, hoping to pick
up some of the crumbs that fall from the
table of their more fortunate sisters with
in. Again it must be noticed that, while
these waiting ones are at liberty to address
any one, they can neither remain in one
place by themselves, nor can they stop to
converse with one who is passing. The
moment one attempts this, there is quick
Imperative "Moveon there.s from yigilant
policeman. She may solicit acquaintance
ship, but she must always move on.
The sentimentalist who finds in those
unfortunate creatures subject Of sympa-
thetic reflection, can discover in this cir
cumstance type of their career. Once in
motion, there is no stop, no tranquil rest,
no halting for thought, or progress to the
end; and however much they may desire to
stay their steps, society, through its stern
guardians of morality, commands them,
"Move onl''
The facades of the building, like nearly
all other buildings in London, is sombre
with smoke stains, and forbidding in out
lines. Entering the door, one pays five
English shillings, receives tin ticket, and
persons across a narrow vestibule through
a struggling crowd of both sexes, hands the
tin endorsement TO door-keeper, and then
is shot into the main room like wet apple
seed from the sudden pressure of thumb
and finger.
The room in which one finds himself is
an immense hall opening up to the sky
light in the roof. At the further end IS a
gallery, running entirely across the hall, in
which is band of some fifty pieces, who
a. SiiC
To the left of the entrance is a broad
stairway leading to a gallery that occupies
the remaining three sides Of the room.
Ascending one finds himself in the midst
of elegantly upholstered arm-chairs and
cushioned sofas. seated upon any one Of
which, one has cOupd oil of the scene
below.
The main floor is so densely thronged
. ,4s L. I'll
late kids and a swallow-tailed coat, has
great difficulty in keeping a space open for
the half-dOzen or dozen couples who are
whirling furiously to the strains Of the
band.
The women present, unlike those who
visit the Jardin Mabille, are, without ex-
ceptiOn, members of the demi-mOnde.
They are the elite of the professiOn-if
there be such a thing as grades in this
class of vileness. The assembly is one
which it is the grand desire of every courte-
san in London to be able to visit. The
women fairly blaze with jewelry; and their
dresses are regal in cost and quality. Many
of them are dressed as if for a princely we'd
ding ceremonial; and Others have simply
street dresses, but always of the most fash
ionable make and the richest material.
Avast majority of them are English
women and blondes. Here and there may
be seen the dark eyes, black hair, oriental
face, and 1.-the form of some Spanish,
French or American woman; but the major
ity have the sturdy build, the blue-gray
eyes and rich complexion Characteristic of
women of English birth and descent. With
scarcely an exception, they are handsome,
and in some cases beautiful; none fail in
possessing some attraction, either of face,
figure or movement. They are unmistaka-
bly, the thOroughbreds of their disreputable
profession.