The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-11-08
Correspondence
OUR PARISLETTER
Paris Behind the Seenes-4t a Ball of
ers-Ayancez-The Beggar's
Paradise-HOw the Gay Parisians are
Cheated-Rabbits or.Cats, &c.
From opr Regular Correspondent.l

| 1ARlS, OCb Ii, 1910.
We are yet in Paris, but to-day not a
the Exhibition, but in narrow, twist
ing, sombre lane behind the Pantheon
beyond the Latin Quarter,-the heart O
the quarter of the chiffonniers Thi
thoroughfare is about nine feet wide
with narrow pavements on each side no
Exceeding two feet in width. There il
a general odor of the kitchen, in which
the onion predominates- All along
people are lounging and gossiping in the
middle of the lane, or leaning agains
the houses. Through the windows o.
the drinking shops are seen groups play
ing cards or dominoes on dark little
wooden tables, and stout women serving
behind uncovered countersand joking
with consumers. The houses are tall and
gloomy, the lights being confined to the
ground floors. An unusual number oi
policemen are observed which is pretty
sure indication of the turbulence of the
population. Near the lower end of the
lane, the groups are more numerous
under great lamp on which is painted
in red letters the word Bal. At the end
of long passage, man is seated behind
a rack, who receives the entrance mon
ey for the ball,-fve sous. Sticks and
umbrellas must be deposited with him
"a precautionary measure-at an extra
charge of two sous, for which he gives a
dirty pasteboard check. A few steps
farther on is a large, low, long room, on
one side of which, on an elevated place,
their heads close to the ceiling, are six
or eight very ordinary musicians, who
play with much vigor. A low railing
surrounds the space allotted for dancing.
and on the outside of the railing are
small tables and wooden benches, most
of which are occupied by men in blouse
and cap, women, and children. Most of
the men are smoking clay pipes, and
here and there a woman is smoking a
cigarette. The tables are garnished with
wine bottles and glasses, and great zinc
bowls in which is made wine punch, the
favorite beverage of the establishment.
A half-dozen policemen are stationed
in different parts of the room, and their
uniform in this place is pleasant thing
for the eye of the visitor to dwell upon.
Within the railing the dancing proceeds
with energy, the charge being two sous
for each dance for each couple, the man
naturally defraying the expense. There
are instances. however, where the wo
men, tired of her role as a wall flower,
furnishes the money to some needy
cavalier. The person who receives the
two sous is man of authority, who
stands near the center of the ballroom,
inviting all in loud voice to come for
ward and participate in the Terpsichor
can entertainment. At this, an irrever-
ent thought enters my mind of the re-
vivallst preacher calling upon the breth
rem and sisters to come forward to the
mourners bench. When the dancing is
under way, whether waltzor quadrllle,
the music stops, and the dance-stimula
or coll ects the two sous from each
couple; which rather indicates want
of confidence in the 'solvency of the
dancers.
There is no exhibition of grotesque
gesture, eccentric step, nor lofty leg
lifting. There are no, artists here,
but people whose climbs heve lost their
litheness through labor. There is rather
more activity among the women than
the men, the former jumping about with
considerable energy, but little grace.
1t can hardly be expected that he who
bends for several hours under basket
of rags, in his night rounds, should dis
play much grace. He shuffles and jumps
to the measure, and this suffices. In the
waltz, he clasps his partner closely with
both arms, and whiris away to the very
last strain.
Naturally there is much slang in the
vocabulary of these poor votaries of
pleasure, and some of it is grotesque. 1
overheard a man inviting a woman to
dance with the words, Madame, voulez
vous gtgother avec novi?" another, "Mad-
anne, voulez-vous nous asticoter les jam
bes un pen?"-and this with indescriba
BILE gesture.
In the intervals of music, there is a
buzz of gossip and laugh along the tables,
where the people look at the dancers,
and make comments on them. Then
follows the squeaking and saving music
and then the "Avancez messieurs mes
dames," &C., and so on to the end.
A little old man in blouse and felt hat,
at one of the tables, is pointed out to me
by the policeman as one, who, in addit-
ion to rag g-picking, deals in questionable
rabbits. He is known as the Pere Jac-
ques, and is regarded as person ofsome
importance in the rag fraternity. l ap-
preached Pere Jacques, and engaged
him in conversation. He has become
expansive over his wine, and makes in
discreet revelations touching the rabbit
business. Twenty years ago ne skinned
and dressed his rabbits and the people
bought them without asking any ques-
tons. That was the bon temps; and III
it had continued he would be to day a
man of independent fortune. But the
journals and inquisitive people got to
talking so much about cats In eonnec-
ton with rabbits that q long season OF
dullness followed as a consequence. The
newspapers went SO far as to figure upl
how many rabbits were brought intol
Paris each year, and how many were
consumed; and they lmade it out that
twice as many were consumed as were
brought in. He felt for time as If the
business was ruined; for hereafter, the
rabbit purchasers demanded the head OF
the rabbit as guarantee Of the genuine
ness of the animal. But be was equal
to the emergency. He gave an extension
to his commerce by making an arrange
ment with all the cooks on bis rag-beat
to buy their rabbit skins, on condition
that the heads should be delivered with
them. Thereafter he was enabled TO
furnish to sceptical buyers the rabbit
head with the dressed cat and every
body was satisfied. He sold the animals
to the small out of.the wsy restaurane'
as rule, where they were made INTO
gibelottes. The cat entire yielded nun
one franc; and they to whom ne soid