Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-11
A RagDicker Princess.

The most curious ''city" of Paris Is on
the Avenue de Ia Revolte, at the upper
end of the Passage Triboulet. The pas
sage ends in vacant lots, where in summer
our carpets arc whipped. The right side
belongs to a woman named Foucault,
who built and manages the 'city;' 1t is
long alleyway, bordered with sort of
sheds. Each lodging on the ground
floor, or first story, to which access is had
by an out side gallery, is a species Of lit
tie cell, more or less broken down and
dirty. The only furniture is mattress
thrown on the floor or Joplin iron bed
stead. A square window, eighteen inches
across, lights these places. La Femma
Cuzotte is the title bv which the propire-
tress is known. She reigns supreme
over wretched people-1agpickers work.
men without work, deeIGsseS of every
kind-to the number of 400. This wom-
an who is very rich, and goes about in her
phaeton drawn by pretty pony, is dis
guised as a 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 gait
ers. This costume she has worn for the
last twenty years, assuming, as we'll. the
bearing and energetic gestures OF the
stronger sex. La Femme CuELote is by no
means dull; in her sprlngtime she must
have associated with intelligent men.
She declares she knew Dumas the elder
well. She chats very aggreeably and
skins literature with light touch, The
day had the honor to visit her she had
two friends to breakfast. AS I entered
they had just taken coffee, and these la
dies were smoking cigarettes, pouring
out from time to time a swallow of cog
mac. LIZ Femme Cullotte lean ed back in
her chair, her legs crossed, and pulled
the smoke from her cigarette in
dainty rings. At the moment
the three companions were en-
gagged in dispute. Emile lola was the
subject. La Femme Culotte was of the
opinion that "L'Assommoir," which
claimed to be the romance of the people,
was picture Of but one phase of Paris
ian Indebtedness and ii lola had applied
to her he would have learned much more
as to popular depravity. This converse
ton was interrupted from time to time
by the entry of some poor fellow who
presented himself at the cash-window to
pay an instaliment of his rent-ive cents
or ten cents-alI of which La Femme
Cu1otte buried In her breeches pocket.
Conducted by this lady in person,
whom her tenants salute as sovereign
we make the round of the ''city." Every
where the same spectacle of heart rend-
ing poverty; entire families in dwellings
where single person could hardly find
room. In one of these holes woman
with new born babe lay on straw pal
let, while the oldest girl of twelve was
cooking on little furnace, and the odor
of the charcoal mingled with the pestiIen-
tial carnations from the rubbish which
the husband had brought In and was rak-
ing over. Young boys,who had been hunt
ing 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 a sou tor
the morrow. Others are worthless scamps
spend each days wages at the rum sher
and live on a morsel of bread so long az
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 an
unknown feeling. Old men pass by with
backs bowed, whose lite has been passed
in this filth, buried under their load Of
refuse, covered with vermin. Here ara
born little beings who will die without