The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-08-16
PARIS LETTER.
Something About the Boulevards-
Cafes and Crystal Places Extended
to the Dimensions of a City.

So4Oo oh0 OAy AesOOo 6AbCAOOh
to the Dimensions of City.
From an Occasional Correspondent.
PARIS. July 20, rs.
Every great metropolis has, and
has had a center-a heart, the TO-
Gus of life, of character, and move
ment. In Rome, the Forum with
its classic memories; in London,
Regent street; in New York,
Broadway; and in modern
Paris--the Boulevards. Other
points have been more central and
more fashionable in the Paris of
the past, for the Boulevards In
teriors were once Exteriors, and
their. history and chronology is
known. But the Palais Royal, the
Louvre, and other centers of at
fractions have been eclipsed by
these Boulevards, which represent
the type, the essence of Paris life
in all Its originality aud piquancy.
Formed in the seventeenth centu-
nv, the Boulevards were at first
the bulworks or ramparts of Paris,
when the nightingales frequented
the groves replaced by the present
Boulevards, Haussmann and Nal
esherbes, and lovers strolled in
the flowery fields about the Chaus-
see d. Antin. They have many
interesting historic associations.
Mongalfier, the inventor of bal
looms, lived in the Bouleavord St.
Denis; the assassin, Fieschi,
pointed his Internal machine
against Louis Philippe from No.
so Boulevard du Temple, and the
noted beauty, Ninon de L'Enclos,
lived on the same Boulevard, No.
%; while the well known Bou-
levard des Italians, the zenith of
Partisan animation in 1915, was
inhabited by the celebrated come
dian Regnerd the rival of Moliare.
What a transformation in the
present day: the shop windows
with the blaze of Z Potisi, the
wealth of the Indies and Bonanzas
with the rarest combinations of
modern IngenuetY and industry
a Crystal Palace extended to the
dimensions of city, with avenues
OF light and passages of pleasure.
All this must be seen to be under
stood or rather felt, for the gener-
al impression of the far-famed
Boulevards is a much more power
full appeal 10 the passions, emo
tions, and, perhaps, to the esthet-
ic sense, than to the thought or
reason, more clearly typified in
our more sober cities, the markets
and marts of this age of progress.
A heterogeneous crowd, which
the delights of the French capital
have attracted from all parts of
the world, gaze with rapture upon
the scene of wonders. The daz-
zling display of diamonds and
other costly jewels exhibited in
the windows which are iluminat-
ed with gas by means of reflectors
throwing n soft clear light and
showing off these treasures to the
best advantage. The windows are
in most cases re-arranged express
ly with view to evening effect.
Nowhere else can be seen such an
attractive display of tiaras of dla-
monds and precious stones, rang
ing in price from five to two hun
dred thousand francs. Watches
ofevery variety of style, and every
description of jeweiry, glitter In
the soft mellow light. Perfumery
shops, also arranged with the most
consummate skill, impregnating
the air with delicious odors, add to
the fairy-like impressions of the
scene. Clothing establishments,
marbles and pictures, bronzes,
fruit and pastry shops, in fact
everything can be found here in
the greatest profusion. Every
variety of form and device is re-
sorted to in arranging gaslights
and mirrors so as to produce the
greatest effect. The names of
many of the principal restaurants
and cafes are emblazoned over the
doors in letters of fire, the effect
of which is extremely beautiful,
while at the same time the cost
must be enormous; but the shop
keepers seem to pay no regard to
the item of expenditure IN their
endeavors to eclipse each other in
brilliancy of display. This illumi-
nation continues until about mid
night. -
A point Of unusual attraction il
the Grand Cafe upon the Boule
wards des Capuoines, corner o.
Rue Scribe. the largest and most
magnificent. cafe in Paris, anC
probably in the world. The gen
eral effect from the opposite side
is dazzling; the rooms are a blaz'
of light. It is said that ZOO
persons congregate here at nigh
to drink coffee, cognac, absinthe
and peruse the leading journals
The decoration and furniture o
this cate has cost nearly q million
of francs. It's main attraction il
perhaps the exquisite painting o
the ceiling executed by artists of M
less merit than Boularger and Du
laney. A group of bacchante
and fauns on the ceiling of
drawing room, which measure
thirteen metres in circumference
is a work of artistic merit (which
might be envied by any art col
lector. Upon the side walks, il
front of the cafe, which are abou
thirty feet wide, and covered wit
asphaltum, like the streets, ar
arranged small tables and neal
fancy chairs made of iron. Thes
are occupied, upon pleasant even
lngs, by persons of both SEEKS, n
calling themselves with ices, ct,
The effect Of this large crow
both within and without the cafi
the great profusionrof gas light
the numbers of which seem doub
ed and quadrupled by reflectio
from the immense mirrors on th
walls, combine 30 produce a seen
efunusual brilAAncy and 'gayety,