, 1875-12-05
Searching for an *'Appartement," and
Some Of the Odd CHARTERS
Encountered.
4 French Kitchen an Amazing Place to
American Eyes.
Economy in France rs; Extravaganza in
tha United States


houses {called here hotels). charminRly decorat-
ed and furnished or unfurnished at will, ut rents
varying from 50 900 to S10, 600 per annum- For
them are reserved such delights as gas, and
water, and bath-rooms and bells, sud other In
ventions OF later civilization. But, to persons
with limited purse, the case is different.
Let us, therefore. imagine family, compelled
to pay due regard to economy, on the lookout for
suitable quarters whereip to begin housekeeping
in Paris. Three bedrooms ara required. the sit
uation must be central, and the location must
not be 1t the very top OF si1-story mansion,
where most Of the low-priced apartments are to
be found With these general ideaa, Pater-
familias
STARTS OUT UPON 4 SEARCH.
The usual preliminary step ia TO 60 to one Of
the three or four Enslish aud American house.
agents who are to ba found in the leading Amer
ican business-quarter OF Paris, namely: the Rue
Scribe and the adjacent thoroughfarcs. Genar-
ally, however, the best plan for the apartment
seeker to pursue Is to take carriage by the
hour, and traverse the streets Of the quarter
whore he wishes to reside, stopping wherever
tho placard Of Apartments to Let" may meet
his eye. suspended to balcony or protruding at
the side of porte cochere,-the yellow placards
indicating furnished apartments, aud the white
unfurntshed ones. Tbe concierge, vino usually.
has charge Of al m.lters connected with tho
renting OF the apartments, and who gets per-
cent4ge upon their price, has charge Of
the key and will show the would-be 10
catotre through the rooms. Usually, some re-
duction on the rent stated by the concierge may
be procured. a. the prospect Of the percentage
aforesaid aots as strong Incentive to that func-
tionary to make tho sum demanded little be-
yond the actual rate. The number Of apart
ments actually to be Inspected will not be found
on trial to be 50 great aB QUE would naturally
imagine for. the number Of bedrooms and the
price being once decided upon, only those need
be examined that suit in both particulars. For
q good uuflrnished appa,tenlent IN central
situation, with the number OF bedrooma afore-
said. from $500 to $500 per Annum will bo
charged.
IF OFFERED At LOWER RATE,
something will invariably be found to be the
matter when the rooms are inspected.
Thus. m American gentleman was lately
floor with three bedrooms. in tho
Rue st. Honore. half block from the Rue Cas-
ticlione the con ntinuatlon Of the Rue do Ia PAX,
for $3.50 per auuun. He weat At once to exam
inc 1t, aud found that tho entrance TO it Was .up
= winding stair" and back one At that. Tho
rooms looked out upon the courtyard OF tho
building, and we're bright and cheerful enough !:
they were spacious, too, and freshly papeTed and
painted. But. in addition to tho dlaagreeahle
qualities OF tho approach, the kitchen nas sltn--
ated On tbs floor above, aud the only "aF OF
reaching it was by = narrow. perpendicular flight
Of stoira, as steep "a ladder, and not ono whit
wider. From this peculisrly-situated 1oom ao
actual ladder led TO . loft overhead, whittier the
servant Was expected to clndp IN order TO feacn
her bedroom. thu cause Of the phenomenaly-
small rent was thu, explained
AMONG OrHEn ODD QUARTERS
into which our Americau's searoh introduced
him Was the houns Of al artist and hts family.
There were four be drooms, besides dining ROOM
narior. and kitchen, in the suite, which was slt-
uated On the fifth floor ttha sixth according to
Amet,oan reokou1ng) OF \ large building IN &
pleasant street behind the Palace Of the Elysee:
It was literally 7arret, wah the sloptnE part OF
the roof partitoned gu elVang 70 eaeho ot me non5
rooua two small oaosets, which Wera cranmed
full OF old Aprinss. books, musical Instruments.
etc. The furniture was Of the oldest
shabbiest and most dismal description :
but the walls Of the principal rooms we're
hung With fine Old TAPESTRY. and adorned With
Quantities OF rare old china. And there were
pictures,- pictures everywhere, on the wallis On
floors. and in the oorridors,-paintings and curl-
osities enough to have set up the Whole estan- .,
lishment with carpets and curtains ana tn9
freshest of new furniture, had they been aold
and the proceeds SO expended: Such queer,
comfortlass, picturesque abode can hardly Pc
imeained,-with Sevres platea against the walls
and not shred OF carpet on one Of tne
Hoors: With the dirtiest OF cheap paper on tho
walls of one room, and priceless old tapestry
de.ninp auotbor it was such place as one
meets with in books, and but seldom IN feal h1e'
Then there was another suiss OF apartments
where dwelt ..-.
4 BAp1p BoNApAHT1sr.
There were pictures Of tile late Emperor and OF
TIA Ernress Eueenie, and the Prince Imperial,
On every side, and in every style, and OF az ol-
mepsions there w1s an Imperial eagle IN gut
wood over the Mirror, and another in pronze On
the mantelpieca, and bees and vloiess scattered
profusely in the guise Of decorations Wherever
ssncf, devices could find place. And, strange to
say, The apporteners1 which was under the
CHARGE Of Young lady, WAS full OF cartridges :;
they were strewu over the tables OF the plnc.-
pal rooms, and we're piled in heaps IN tne o.s-
Guardian Of tue abode Was hard at work making
66thers in her own bedroom. There was scant
as Of coups fetat and political copsplT-
acieg in the air. But perhsps a1ter AiI'
the owner OF the rooms was merely pio, .,
pairing for the. hunting season, tbs opening OF
which Was near at hand.
Another arparter1sent shoFn Was the quon9am
residence of ona OF
uherein mink eatiu aud gliding struggled against
a;rt md 3;sorder: where the 5ne Turkey carpet
;n the dinluz-rooun was all splashec WITH vine
and spotted with grease; and where tue satln
hane1nes had been twisted awry and soiled ~
r1de and careless hands profuslon o. mr.
1ora everywhere, scent Of patchoul1 and musk
in the atmosphere, rude scratches On lne 1ocA
naner in tie drawing groom, and Initials so1aSSa-
ssd m tho window panes with undeserved ga.
monda-suoh Fere tho charactei1stlcs o. Vtu@
abode which did not suit at tne nlst g.pGhe. q:
- nne wishes to pay low rent, and at the
ea1na time to secure pure air and modern Coz
veniences the bost quarters TO lnaoect are 70 %
fonnd m The new streets aud aveA'ues dtVeTglng
from the Arc de Triom phe, such as the Avenno
d'Eylau the Avenne Josephine. the Avenue ou
= o4o