Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-12-08

Clothing can DO mad cheap enough,
but the men prefer, as long as their rags
will hold together, to spend their money
in drink, begrudging their custom to
the old chifonnier who sells boots and
shoes he has picked mp in the streets
at fabulously low prices. When any
one is wanted from the Quarter for
some crime or another, the police make
raid. Knives are drawn upon them,
but the police use their knuckle-dusters
very freely, and generally succeed in
mastering their assaiIants, though at
times some very ugly stabs are re-
ceived. Men known as dangerous, not
only on account Of the popularity they
enjoy in the Quarter, but also owing to
their strength and determination, are
1ured by some female into a distant
Iodging-house, where every precaution
mas been taken beforehand, and capture
is rendered comparatively easy.
The Maubert Quarter is the home Of
many of the begging-letter writers.
These epistles are sent round BY the
lads who. have been adopted by the
Quarter, and when the letter has been
successful, there are grand doings
among the brotherhood who occupy
themselves with this speciality. Now
and then they send some tride. such as
crucifx or pious prirt, to the person
they have written to, giving them in
exchange according to his generous
heart. They obtain their supplies from
the street hawkers who live among
them, and who, armed with a license
from the Prefecture, can go and come
unquestioned, doing the commissions
of those who prefer to remain at home
for reasons best known to themselves
Others get a living by waiting about
the different railroad stations early in
the morning, when the first trains come
in. They persuade strangers and coun-
try visitors not to take cabs, but to
engage them as guides, and then, when
they discover that the newcomer is
inclined to be mean and not pay them
the FIVE or six francs they demand as
their wages for an hours tramp, it Is
just possible they may take the traveller
to some hotel where he may be robbed.
All the inhabitants Of the Maubert
Quarter do not, however, live dishon-
estly. There are the men who are to
be found long before daybreak round
and about the central markets, ready
to accept any job given them by persons
who have had some reason or another
to be dissatisfied with the licensed
market porters, who have, very high
tariff Of their own, and are not over
famous for their urbanity. Again, the
Quarter has been chosen as cheap
place Of residence by many Of the stone
masons who came from Limoges to aid
in building the mansions which are tc
be found everywhere now. One com
mon tie seems however to bind all the
Quarter together, and that is the love
Of drink. ALI the earnings are swept
into the till Of the nadrchdnd De rim,
who makes capital out of she vices Of
his fellow-men. Among these outcasts
may be found men Of talent-poets, ar
fists and others, with plentiful sprin,
king Of musicians and singers, whose
voices have been rendered husky by
drink, and who have been refused an
engagement at the cafe concert. Some
times a voice may be heard singing
some operatic air, and the loud applause
which follows proves that drink has not
drowned every feeling. Vice and de-
bauchery go hand in hand with murder
and theft, and those who venture into
the modern Alsatia must feel surprised
that the humanizing influences of 8
republic have not extended to the Mau-
bert Quarter.