Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-20
THE sEAMY SIDE of PARIS.
Famous Ball Rooms and GRrdens-A
Successor to Mabill0.
Prom tAe Paris Morning Neios.

Successor to MabillS.
Prom the Paris Morning Netos.
The truth of the French prOverb, "Tout
passe, tout casse, tout lasse," has seldom
been more fOrcIbly illustrated than in the
gradual disappearance of the public balls
of Paris. Only during the past few years
the most celebrated of these establish
ments has vanished--the world-renOwned
Mabllle, from under the shadow OF whose
evergreen zinc palm trees there bloomed
forth TO the world of gayoty Pomare, Ma
ria, MogadOr and Clara, who have been
immortalized by the poetry OF Gustave
Nadaud in his song OF Lies Reines de
Mabille," and a host of other creatures,
fair but frail, who have disappeared like
the scene of their former triumphs, eXceDt
Celeste MogadOr, who became the COun-
tess de Chabrillan, and took to writing
poetry and memoirs. lie Pere Mabille,
as the founder OF this ball was called, made
a fortune; but his son and successor found
business falling off, and that the ground
which once was disputed inch by inch at
enormous rents by greedy restaurateurs
anxious to obtain the privilege OF retail
ing their gooseberry champagne, worth
3 francs bottle, at prices rarely less than
20f., and the prOprietOrs of rickety chairs,
who frequently paid for their chairs out
him in a larger interest if covered with
bricks and mortar, ana the scene of so
many gay and noisy meetings is now
covered by a palatial pile of dwelling
houses.
Mabille's winter sister, Valentino, soon
after gave place. TO a panorama, which
was established just in time to be too
late, for the panorama rage had died out,
and the panorama company ''wound upv
ito Of flv Oh 10
opened as a circus in the winter and
swimming bath ia the summer. "Le Cha
teau Rouge" high up at M0ntmartre, has
also made way for houses. The poor
"Reine Blanche" failed to find a bidder
when put up for auction two years ago,
and still remains closed, with only the
name ON the gate to tell what once it
was. "Bullier," dear to students OF
the Quarter Latin, still exists, but It is
not the scene of student mirth IL used to
be while there yet remained two or three
of Paul de koch's grisettes. Even the
"Boule NOiIe," where, once upon a time,
every one entering with a tall hat was
sure to have ''likened to concertina"
! before be had been there five minutes. has
50 changed that the price OF entry is now
one franc, and 'stOVe pipes' form the
major part Of the head covering worn by
the gentlemen frequenters of the estab-
that is all, while the "Elysee Montmar-
tre'' is the only one having any preten-
tions to perpetuate the traditions of its
ancestors.
IL was probably after reasoning thus
that NJ. Olivier Metra, whose magic wand
has so often directed the dulcet strains q
his marvellous band at the Opera Carni-
val balls, came to the conclusion, to use
his own words, that the "Parisian adoreI
..fA .tnlrs ny fg..
represented" He thereupOn made tie
necessary demand 10 the Project of PO-
lice, constituted his orchestra and reopen
ed sFrascati' as a concert and dancing
saloon in the very heart OF Paris-Rue Vi
vienne.
Whether NJ. Metra's enterprise will
succeed remains to be seen. Many hun
dreds of persons had accepted his invita-
ton yesterday evening, and the press, of
course, was largely represented. There
were scores OF eleganily-dressed women
and the music was excellent. The arri-
val of Metra at his post was the occasion
of a burst of applause, which increased as
he led the music OF lie Polka DIES VOlon-
taries," OF hisO composition. Waltz.
polka and mAZurkR succeeded one anotb-
er, but not quadrille could be formed.
When we asked NJ. Metra the cause, he
replied:
- WISH 10 fSNlNe Jnc real 'DAl pubic
but wish the respectable people TO dance,
aud will not have paid dancers"
AT about 80 In the morning eight cou-
pies were found who formed a quadrille
and danced 1t right merrIly. II none Of
the onlOOkers had his hat lifted of, ''cela
viendra," but everybody seemed well
amused. NJ. MeLra evidently counts upon
a large portion OF hrs patrons dancing, to
Judge from the space devoted 10 the
quenchlng of their thirst. "Frascati'
will, at any rate, Tor the moment be the
place 70 see.