The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-10-27
The ParIahs Of Paris,

Right IN the very heart of Paris, in the
! Rue des Lyonnais and next door TO the
church of Saint Medard, the visitor who
has courage enough to see such q sight
may find clearinghouse and restaurant
| frequented and patronized by the pa
riahs of Paris. The somber building,
covered with smoke, and begrimed
without and within, has no flaming
placard. It's owner has not christened
his house with any high-soundinR name
to qualify the word "hotel," and the
lantern which hangs out at the first
floor alone indicates that lodging may
be had within. The windows of the
ground floor are closed, and the panes
have been carefully whitewashed to save
curtains. Now and then a man comes
slouching down the street, pushes with
his shoulder against the greasy door, and
enters.
The hesitating wanderer, who casts
his eye up at the lantern and shudders
when he reaches the door as if all hope
were abandoned, has perhaps seen bet
ter days. His demeanor contrasts
strangely with that of the next conner,
who has his hands in his pockets, jing-
ling the few coppers which will enable
him to eat and drink, as well as obtain
a bed. All sorts and conditions of men
find their way to the Rue des Lyonnais.
The place has areputation for cheapness,
and poverty gives men strange bed
fellows and companions, so that the
fastidious must put all their finer feel
ings in their pockets when they find
that their ideas are not counterbalaneed
by certain sum of money sufficient TO
enable them to maintain their reputa-
ton.
Follow the man who has just gone in,
who looks like a student of the Raoul
Rigault school, and who carries bum
die of manuscript under his arm, as If
he had been taking copious notes at tsome
lecture, or had been copying some data
from The well-thumbed folios in the
public libraries. The door when pushed
open, leads to a passage, the floor Of
which is caked with dirt. In front are
the stairs. and lantern stands on dark
days at the turn so as to prevent the
dodgers from breaking their limbs. On
the lett of the door is the restaurant,
with its low ceiling, dirty floor and
green tables, while an indiscribable
odor of damp straw, old clothes, etc.,
pervades the place.
Honesty does not appear to be a promi-
nent trait in the character of the GUS
toners of this establishment. The
pewter platters, which are used to pro-
tect the food served from any contact
with the table, are attache to the wood
with thin but stout chains, for the pro-
prietor knows that the merest trifle has
some value in the eyes of man whose
cravings and stomach cause him to rise
against his neighbor, take what belongs
to him, and find some customer for the
stolen property. Benches, worn and
stained with use, are the only seats pro-
vided, and the luxury of knives and
forks is unknown. True, every GUS
toner carries his own knife, and knows
how to use it ON a pinch, while more
than one has been arrested by the police,
dragged from his lair, his hands, and
bearing traces of the blood
shed he has -nitted. Forks are quite
superfiuous WAere fingers can be used,
and then meat is not sold in the restau-
rant. Portions of vegetables fried in
some nameless tat can be had for
penny, while the bouillon, or broth,
which has some "eyes of grease on IL
for the sake of appearances, Is sold for
about half that sum.
Contrary to the custom prevailing in
other establishments of this description,
neither wine, coffee or brandy is sold
here. The only beverage the customers
can obtain is what the proprietor has
been pleased to denominate "beer,"
made without hops, by the owner of the
place in some dark cellar, and sold for
two pence quart-a price which effec-
tually prevents any grumbling. Bread
is generally brought into the house by
the customer, who can buy old crusts
and leavings from the restaurants tor
three half-pence pound.
SO much for the restaurant, which
has peculiarities of its own unlike the
house in the Boulevard de la Care,
where the customer enters, take penny
from his pocket, sand places it on a
plank, when it is swept in by some un-
seen individual, and in return tin pan
nikin, full If fiery spirit, more than half
called " "cognac," is handed out,
while the receptacle which contains it is
chained to the counter, or like that house
in the Rue des Anglais, where men may
pay so much an hour and drink as much
as they can.-Lo7tClon Globe.