The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-01
THE BULLETIN, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER L. 1876

each weekly, producing an annual income OF
about thirty-two thousand dollars. There are
four quarters, known respectively as the
"Carre du Paiais Royal" as sort Of parody
on the true Palais Royal, comprising the silk.
lace and glove merchants, and the vendors Of
| every species OF foppery required to make up
| the second rate lion, or copy of a. fine lady
Here, too. are the traps or baitin g-places Of
sellers OF bric-a-brac- who waylay their prey
| In the vestlbules, and thence conduct them tC
their rich wares close by, buried in the most
| frightful of houses.
Among them we find furniture such as
Meubles de Bull, porcelain Of Sevres and
| Japan, world Of curiosities, and an untold
| wealth of satins, and the richest merchandise,
sold cheaper because stored cheaper, than in
| the luxurious shops of Rue Vivienne and Rue
de la Polk. The Supplied customer who
sought cheap bagatelle, finds himself con-
fronted in these obscure retreats by artistic
caprices, to be had for no less than 10000
francs each.
The second quarter the Pavilion of Flora,
little less aristocratic than the preceding,
comprises the more useful household objects
of a cheap and dubious character.
In the third, LIE Pou Volant," (the reader
will pardon me the transasion), rags, old
iron and understandable wares predominant.
The fourth aud most hazardous is " The
Black Forest, medley of every cheap abom-
nation, new, old and second hand.
This bazaar has its peculiar Slang and types
of inhabitants The little shops are called
lyons. Hugo naively remarks, why not hGl-
Ions. The curious observer can penetrate the
first two quarters without other inconveni-
ences than repeated but curteous applications
for his custom. But it requires considerable
courage and self-possession to penetrate the
mysteries of the Pou Volant and the Foret
Noire.
Harpies, scarcely recognizable as of the fe-
male sex, beset his progress, seize him By the
arms or garments. and menace in their rivalry
literally to devide him into halves. These run
ners are termed in the argot idiom r0leuses.
Escaping them, he is assailed by q danking
fire of direct apostrophes, half in argot, from
their employers. "My amiable Sir, buy
something -buy-you must buy. What does
monsieur want? A carpet, coat-atn habit to
go to ball-a cloak. first quality-a MOLE,
good quality decrocltez moi ca, for madame,
your wife-patent boots-an umbrella-tne
pelure, all the frusques of st. John, at your
choice"
Should the adventurer continue on his way
without replying to the temptations of these
commercial sirens, torrent of mingled abuse
hAu A4Ouy 10 uIoCuuASCO upOA AL
indeed, how much he buys Very we'll; one
must excuse him. What did he come here
for, this picayune fellow? say, monsieur, let
u at the least mend the elbows of your coat.
He carries his body we'll, to be sure. Ohe,
pane. He is an ambassador to the court OF
Persia"
Encore I'M cdUeau dcdsse
VIA ruitrier qui passe."
Just beyond this bazaar rises the s'R blonde
du Tempe" which is to its neighbor what
the common graves at Pere la Chaise are to
the rest of the cemetery. It is the receptacle
of all the debris of human attire, too mean to
find shelf-room even in the market of "old
linen" One sees pandemonium of rags,
tattered garments, rent boots, old hats, and
every object upon which the heart of
scavenger Jew doats. Costumes which have
survived the saturnalia of many carnival,
and uniforms discharged by the order of the
day or the death of their proprietors, dating
from the first empire down. Theatrical ward
robes too venerable for active service, and
fashions which have long since been driven
from human backs, are here mingled in one
picturesque equality of poverty. Even out
of such collection Partisan taste contrives
to make not unpleasing effect. As with
Partisan pauperism, it has cleaner and
more cheerful look than English indulgence
and old clothes.
The Rotonde is circular, with a cloister in
the exterior of forty-four arcades. A damp
and dark court occupies the interior. 1t is
species of low rival to the bazaar, and limited
in its circumference; it is computed to lodge
more than Thousand inhabitants. They
drink and dive at the neighboring wine-shops
and cafes, known as the Elephant, Two Lions,
and kindred names.
Les rendez UOas de bonnie cOmpdgnie etc. "
In these bastringues, brandy is eight sous a
bottle, ragout three sous, and a cup of
coffee one cent. There are resorts still
cheaper and lower, such as the "Field Of the
Wolf" frequented by the most brutal of the
denizens OF this quarter, who, in their orgies,
not unfrequently mingle blood with the blue
fluid they swallow for wine.
The greater part of the dram shops add to
their chasing occupation that of usury. But
as we have now arrived at that point where
the line which marks the boundary between
Legitimate industry and crime becomes indis-
tinct, 1 stop. A. P. kNUTT.