The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-07-13

mittee of wine tasteEs in the world
they came off with golden honors
Good wine is dearer here than it ia il
London or New York. Many of th,
famous restaurants have faded en-
tirely out of sight. Tortoni's still re
manlns, but only the shadow of it,
former self. The celebrated Maiso,
Doree has long since disappeared. ant
the great Cafe DIES TfOis- Iferes Pro
rencaar, one of the finest restaurant,
in Paris in the golden days of the EN-
pire, is numbered among the thing,
that are past. There are plenty o
celebrated restaurants still where
they know how to cook and how te
charge-the Cafe Aaglais, the Caf
american and Cafe Cardinal. all or
the Bouleyards. The most attractive
time to see them is along toward,
midnight, after the theatres and con-
certs are ended. Hundreds of little
tables line the sidewalk and elegant
~ dressed men and women. seeming.
~ perfectly unconscious of the thon-
sands of passers by, are discussing
their Ice cream and cakes or coffee
and cognac. The interior of the sa-
looms is brilliantly lighted, and each
OF the small tables represents Re-
public, kingdom or an empire. I'm
perlallsts mourn for the departed
glorles OF the Empire, and Radicals
predict the future greatness of the
Republic. MOnarchists weigh the
chances of the old Bourbon stock
coming in for their legitimate rights,
and Communists curse the whole
batch and swear we never shall see
good times again till the rich are
pulled down to the level of the poor,
society reorganized and property
equitably divided. At times it seems
as if everybody was going in for a
free fight, but nobody fights. a quiet
military looking gentleman walks
leisurely along the street, apparently
looking for nobody in particular, but
everybody in general, and his pres
ence acts like oil upon the troubled
waters; he speaks to nobody; he
carries no policeman's rattle or club,
but he represents a power before which
even kings have trembled, the organ
lied force which in his person repre-
sents the majesty of the law.
Foureh6 was gathered to his fathers
many years ago, but the terrible sys-
tenn of /. espionage of which he was
the father survives him all over
France. There appears to be no such
thing any where as personal or busi-
ness confidence or trust every de-
partinent, public or private, is sur
rounded by guards and checks as
though all the people were thieves.
If you go to the theatre one man
sells you ticket, another man punch
es it, a third examines it, fourth
takes it up, and every fellow has an
other fellow watching him to see that
he does his duty. The passengers, in
every omnibus, are watched with
Argus eyes, and change of position
from one seat to another is matter
of official investigation. Cab drivers
look like soldiers in disguise, and ON.
nibus conductors like officers on half
pay. Every store has an army of
well-dressed fellows whose business
it is to keep an eye on the fellow who
takes the cash. That sublime prayer
of Lead us not into temptation
seems to be regarded by all classes,
and such moral safeguards are thrown
around the youthful shop-keeper that
his financial salvation, at least, is as
sured.
One of the largest restaurants in
the Exposition is attended exclusive
II by girls, and many of them are re-
good looking. They wear
spotless white aprons, clean looking
sleeves and coquettish little caps, so
that they all appear like young wid-
ows looking ou5 for some one to sup
ply the place of the dear departed.
just after the opening, a stout old
gentleman used to breakfast at this
restaurant every morning. His dress
was rather rough he wore high |
hoots and large broad rim
med soft hat on the side of which was
D little red feather; on bis finger was
q massive ring in which was set a
diamond of enormous value and a |
larger solitaire diamond glistened in
his breast. Who he was nobody |
knew, but every morning found him
at the same table attended by the |
same girl. Last week he disappeared
and the girl has disappeared also. /
The night before he left Paris a brill |
ant wedding took place at one of our
most fashionable hotels. The BRIDE |
groom was the gentleman of whom / |
have spoken, and the bride was the |
pretty attendant at the Cafe Duudt. |
The Countess is now on her way to |
lef estates in Hungary. Vira la Re-
oubliquet EiuG la France!
Truly yours. BROADRRIM.