Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-05-19

Although this strange locality In Paris,
is more widely known than some others to
which we may presently refer, it ls yet sc
much out of of the way as TO make IL worth
while to describe its exact Whereabouts.
Ii lies, then, beyend the northern slope OF
the Hill Of Montmartre; IL Is bounded Ia
the south by the Rue des Clogs and to the
north by the Rue Marcadet, and le COM
pletely surrounded by high stone wall.
Ii covers a considerable tract of ground,
and was used during the Commune as an
artillery park. The entrance to it ia
through .arge wooden door in the Rue
Marcadet, opposite the cemetery Of Mont
martre. Before we 60 any farther, ii will
be well TO warn any intending visitor that
the inhabitants. although very tolerant
folk. cannot endure the sight of decent
clothes, and that amongst many healthy
symptoms to be noted in them, the most
prominent is deadly adherence of the
tall hat OF civilization. To attempt 10
take them IN, ON the other hand, by any
assumption of blouse or of silken 'casqu-
ettr' is absurd, owever 'qusiltan curious
your knowledge of Partisan slang may be-;
bnt they will he pleased by the attention,
and when you come among them will COM
ment pleasantly upon your good breeding
and taste in adopting the outward habits
of the country in which you happen to
find yourself. Such, at least, WAS our ex-
perence. The coup dOett when you find
yourself within the entrance is a striking
one. Immediately before you lies an Op"n
space with grass growing here and there
between heaps of rubbish. In the centre
is sort of avenue of young trees and
plants in every stage of decrepitude, lead
ing Up to the houses, or, TO speak by the
card, boxes, in which the .chifonniers live.
These are about six feet square, and the
roofs are kept in their places by heavy
stones, such as one. sees on the cottages in
exposed situations in O.her places. The
roofs are for the most part OF wood, where
us the walls are Composed OF ali things
which are generally considered unit 10
build with, SO that the appearance of a
Rue Marcadet chlffOnnier III his house may
De best likened To that OF caddis in his
strangely constructed abode. On the occa-
sion OF our visit high wind had been
blowing, and more than one member of
the community was busy rebuilding his
house, which had been blown down in the
night On all sides hustling activity pre-
vailed, men and women buslly sorting the
contents of their baskets, while numbers OF
dogs or au unknown breed barked Justify
a. our approach. Strangers are, indeed,
lew and far between in the chiffonniers'
town, for no man from the outer world
ev, comes to sell them anything, a street
Of shops kept by their cOncttoyens exist
ing, not indeed within their own walls,
but in another enclosure close by. Here
dwell boolmaker5, butcher Ga great ex-
pert at making Cat found dead into
toothsome dish), tailors and lampmakers,
who provide the Triangular lanterns with
which the members of the profession go
their rounds at night in search Of prey.
Go through that strange little street, OF
which the houses come up Ia your shoul-
ders, at what hour of the night you will,
on will still see the bootmakers at work
on the cast of shoes which their customers
have picked up IN the Paris cutters.