The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-25
THE FRENCH IN NEW YoRK.
Lively Description of their Amusemcnts
md kecrentIons.

I'D
foreign population 81 mo city of New York
were. ihFhhps astonished. upon reading the
official returns OF tho Inst census to learn that
the French colony here Is composed OF only 3, o1O
inhabitants. This astonishment is easily
understood when We consider that large pro-
portion OF tho Belgians. Swiss. and Canadians
speak nothing but French among themselves.
ana IRE thought to be French by many.
Nevertheless the compatriots of Moliore are
easily recognized. for generally they preserve
Wherever they 20 their tastes and customs, not
only in their way OF living. but particularly in
tho way they amuse themselves.
OF all the suburbs of New York the spot most
iiIreauented by them during the season Of beau
titul weather is without exception Williams
bridge. Thoy are attracted by the picturesque
beauty OF the shady stos which are found
fellow rnintrY Dg ohS presence OF manyof their
shore OF the Bronx River. Every sunday they
can De seen In groups Of several families car.
their favorite resort Upon their arrival they
choose by lot the one who shall prepare . the
iully put together. 1t makes little differences
npon whom the lot falls for the French Mi
ai e more or less talent for compromising those
make the nostrils OF Brillat-Savarin or n
b baron Brisse dilate with delight This choice
kindof amusement that best pieases him, And
aespite what the sntirist Gavarni said one day.
begins with hook and ends with a ninny. il is
to that pastme that those who love the tran
sslves Tnn .hG gentle smSton surrender them
~ stocked with big lsh, but IL they only catch
some son as large as tho blade Of n renknifo they
are as murh enriptured rs IL they had captured
whale. The children invent ali sorts of games
while thoir mammns seated around the foot OF
romance of Daudet or Montepin. In the mean
time Others. more, fond of vivncious move
plying their oars with ali their mirht and
singing in chorus as they go the famous refrain
ol the bargcmcn of the Seino
Tas dchcards
Tas dfiambards,
All those joyous cries. all these outbursts of
merrimnnt give such u Partisan air to this
TRANSPORTED to AsniSres or Bougival.
But The appetite begins to gnaw: It is dinner
it is expressly Forbidden to speak a Word sbout
Trade or business affairs. Anybody who breals
bna rue w II ~. bore and fined
Kept up. and they Try who s6ai i say the drolicst
Americani2cd, should propose at dessert a
poker party; He would run the risk OF being
Watching The Wagons Of OF WI Vine n follow H, S'o One
another 80 rapidly. person might think they
taken nj 10 sSi rarv Not at al wine
sides. all the world knows that the Frenchman
is not a. drnnkard In support Of what here as
can author Of the brilliant brochure Travels"
who finding himself IL Paris on the day OF the
y,
that he did not see in all that crowd. wholly
gwen up 10 enjoyment single case Of drunk;
the author OF Travels vet more If he had
known that there did not exist in the capital
OF France a single temperance society.
And one can say without fear Of being con-
tradicted that among all the tipplers in the
universe it is the one who has drunk wine who
Whata contrast with the beer or whiskey toperi
While the worshipper OF Bacchus loves to laugh
ana 10 look upon tho rosy side Of life. the beer
urlnKer has the air OF one cOmDlptply bpSOttpt
HIS look is so dull and so, vacant that one
might he he was %hGly oGeHned in re-
genealogy OF Gambrinus. The whiskey drinker
is the most dangerous, A mere tribe irritates
ing to avenge insults. often imaginary ones. Be-
hold the reason why half the murders are com
III had the honor of being a member of Congress
shonld believe myself to be performing a
to secure the completo abotion OF OF the i duty
upon red wines. the luxurious wines excepted
because those who drink them are able to pay
Bssides should like to- e see the G9YeEn g
MIA. in order, to stimulate them to improve their
products. which, by tho way. it may be said
are bec2mi ing better every day. If the la5orer
couI d obtain the, juice Of the grape as chenply
as beer or tea he would not hesitate 10 glo-
rify his repast with wine:
Ifan American should hear Frenchman say
that he was going to pass the evening at
gogH,e,ts for his amusement and reaYation he
familiar term used to designate Il place whore
families meet. at which the principal pastimr
Is singing, and where all the hearers have the
lar quarters Of Paris. In fact, it was az one Of
these place that she who, in lo62 delighted the
attracted the attention OF the composer A. de-
Villebichot, who produced the music Of, the
the names OF known dramatic and lyric
artists. who had no other beginning, In
avenue. they have organized such "a resort.
When the season is no longer propitious for
excursions into the country. the workmen and
evening. The decoration u Of f the haIl is very
simple. The American and French, flags.
per part of the platform whore the President
Sits. and upon the, walls are only seen the
song writers. such as Iachambaudie. Pierre
dupont Gustave Nadaud and the poet OF Lii
settle. the immortal BeranGer.
One thing worthy Of remark is that you SEQ
there no piano: and believe the cause, Of its
absence is that the piano must be played by
ment OF torture for persons Of lender nerves.
Beyond question it is not without reason that
nance which forbids the playing of the piano
before before, o'clock IN the morning and after 10
several vera tenants. ' even know va somewhat ec
centric gentleman who makes use OF the piano
as a scarecrow. When he, finds that hi, even
proaches his daughter rand says TO her very loud:
Now, my girl play upon the piano. If you please.
laugh You. You know what-the Massacre Of
the Maccabeesv" The plan never misses. Five
minutes atterward the parlor IS completely
empty.
accompaniment. they have cOntryed a fan
tasticaI INSTRUMENT, which they call the mu;
steal Goulot. 1t is exceedingly simple. and
anybody can play upon it, 1t Is. In truth. only
an empty bottle, which is held In the right
hand and the index finger OF tho left hand is
applied to the inner surface of tho neck. BY
rubbing perrendcularly wooden partition or
cf The finger opposite to the bottle. sounds are
PRODUCED which resemble so closely as to de-
One, thing especcialiy French is to see the
President, during the intermissons. go about
among the auditors and offer them pinch Of
snuff from gigantic snuff box. The snuff
proyokes many persons TO sneeze. whereupon
their neighbOrs respond with the traditional
salutation, God bless you" For those read
ers who do not know whence this way OF salut-
ing person who sneezes is derived, will say
that mythology mates it date back to Prone
theus. WhcG that Titan had finished the clay
figure out Of which he wished to make man,
he placed under >the nose Of his hero n ray OF
sunlight which he had caught in phial This
ray penetrated 50 quickly into the brain Of the
hat IL gal in