Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-12-04
A Ragpicker Princess.

The most curious city" Of Paris is
on the Avenue de In Reyolie. at the
upper end Of the Passage Triboulet.
The passage ends In vacant lots. where
in summer our carpets are whipped.
The right side belongs to a woman
named FoucAult. who built and manages
the "city;" it is n long alleyway, bor-
dercd with n sort of sheds. Each lode-
ing on the ground floor, or first story. TO
which access is had by an outside gal
lcry, is A species Of little cell, more or
less broken down and dirty. The only
furniture is n mattress thrown on the
floor or n topping iron bedstead. A
square window, eighteen inches across,
lights these places. la FcDsuae CulotSe
is the title by which the proprietress is
known. She reigns supreme over n
wretchcd people-ragpickers, workmen
without work. dccldsscs OF every kind
10 the number of 400 This woman.
who Is very rich, and goes about in her
phaeton drawn by pretty pony. il dis
guised rs n man she may be fifty; her
gray hair is cut short, like that Of men !;
she is clad in pantaloons-hence the
name-a vest, blue blouse and laced
CATERS. This costume she has worn
for the last twenty years. assuming. as
well, the bearing and energetic gestures
of the stronger sex. la Femme CHlOtte
is by no means dull; in her springtims
she must have associated with intelii-
gent men. She declares she knew
Dumas the elder well. She chats very
agreeably and skins literature with a
light touch. The day I had the honor
10 visit her she had two friends ai break
fast. AS | entered they had Just taken
coffee, and these ladies were smoking
cigarettes. pouring out from time TO
time a swallow of cognac. In Femme
Calotie leaned back In her chair. her
legs crossed. and puffcd the smoke from
her cigarette In dainty rings. At the
moment the three companions were en-
gagged in n dispute. Emile Zola was the
subject. Ia Femme Calotte was Of the
opinion that "L'Assommoir." which
claimed 10 he the romance ~ the people,
was picture of but one phase of
Partisan wretchedness. and If Zola had
applied to her he could have learned
much more as 20 popular depravity
This conversation was interrupted from
time TO time by the entry Of some poor
fellow who presented himself at the
cash-window TO pay an installment of
his rent-five cents or ten cents-all
of which la Femme CiIlotte buried in her
breeches pocket.
Conducted by this lady In person
whom her tenants salute as a sovereign.
we make the round of the "city."
Everywhere the same spectacle OF heart
rending povery; entire families in
dwellings where a single person could
hardly find room. In one Of these holes
n woman with new born child lay on
n straw pallet, while the oldest girl of
twelve was cooking on little furnace,
and the odor Of the charcoal mingled
with the pestilential emanations from
the rubbish which the husband had
brought in and was raking over.
Young boys, who bad been hunting
rags, tired out, were sleeping at the foot
Of the bed, by the side Of the mother
and babe. Poverty descends In these
families with the calling. Some here
are honest fathers, who for twenty
years have lived in the "city," worked
like dogs paid their rent regularly, and
have never been able TO lay up n sou for
the morrow. Others are worthless
scamps, spend each days wages Mt the
rum shop and live on n morscl of bread
50 long as they get as much brandy as
possible. Children born in these
''cities" are raised In the midst
OF the most degrading sights.
Modesty Is an unheard word; shame
m unknown feeling. Old men pass by
with backs bowed, whose life has been
passed in this filth. buried under their
load OF refuse, covered with vcrmin.
Here are born little beings who will die
without having caught glimpse, even
ior an instant. of The joys OF life. -Rdris
Figaro
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