The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-07-18
THREE MERRY ARTISTS

Paris is no longer the gay capital
Of thirty years ago. To the stranger
there appears TO be little difference. We
nave the opera, the Bots. the salons and
all the other formal and brilliant diver
sions; but the Americans, the Russians
the English who have filed Paris, buy
their amusements from US, and our
pleasure is the pleasure of the show
man. But the greatest charge, one that
all can see, Is in the Latin quarter. The
pretty, pleasure-loving grisettes are
transformed into calculating cocotts
the happy, careless students have given
way 10 a crowd Of sombre digs" and
the life of the concierge wearies him for
its very freedom from the pranks of his
reckless dodgers. Were Henri Murger
to come bacK now, he would buy a pan
of charcoal and be waited on its yapory
wings 70 the land where Musette and
Mimi awaited him.
Sorieul was one Of the last of these
Bohemians. He was ostensibly an
artist, but his nights were spent in riot
ing, and his days-in the morning he
recovered from the previous night. in
the afternoon he prepared for the even
ing. He had large studio filed with
studies, sketches, haif-finished pictures.
but its principal use was as a banquet
ing hall. Here be would gather to-
gether some score or SO of couples from
the neighborhood, illuminate the
room with tapers, and entertain the
company with songs, orations, dancing
any thing that entered their heads
Then when & tapeTS or refreshments
had given out and the company retired
10 their several lodgings, he would
retain few choice spirits and spend the
remainder OF the night drinking punch
he was capital fist at a punch-and
performing whatever extravaganza act
the potatiOns inspired.
On one OF these occasions he bad kept
but two friends to bear him company
through the night, lie POttevin and
Voltage. both artists like him elf. As
was their custom. they retired to the
small room adjoining the studio, brewed
their punch. smoked their pipes, talked,
sang and finally became very drunk.
In fact by the the the purple fumes OF
the third brew were given 10 their
flushed races q distorted and rather
CHASTITY appearance, LePotteyin was the
only man who knew what he was doing.
They were holding violent discussion
about the merits Of the imperial army.
interpreted with occasional snatcheS Of
those stirring songs that had enliyened
many camp fire.
Presently Sorieul got to praising the
uniform OF the various corps, and
suddenly springing to his feet he took
from the huge chest in which be kept
his artists paraphernalia q compile hus-
sar's uniform and proceeded 10 array
himself II IL He next commanded lie
Potteyin TO tog himself out as a grena-
der; and as that worthy refused. the
two laid hold OF him, pulled off his
clothes, and introduced him into the
enormous uniform. in which he, being a
small man, seemed quite lost. Voltage
fished out q cuIraSsier's suit and put IT
on. Sorleul now put them through a
number OF complicated and entirely new
evOlutions. firing of this, however, he
reverted TO the original idea.
LAS we are soldiers" said be let US
drink like sold ers."
a punch was accordingly brewed and
llEN AGAA ANA- ALANlEA l. huE4 All = !
once lie POlteyin, who in spite OF his
deep pOtations was almost master OF
himself, silenced the others with a
gesture, and after few seconds he said
IL q whisper.
Listen ] am sure heard a noise in
the next ROOM Then rising unsteadily
20 his feet. he cried, "A spyl"
Going TO a trophy of arms which dec
GRATED the wall, he proceeded To equip
the trio according 20 their uniforms.
Voltage had q sort of carbine and y
saber; lie Pottevin an immense mus -
with a viilanOus looking oayoneE a1s.
SOneul not finding what he WS~seds
armed himself with a great a6rse
pistol, which he showed into his belt.
and battle axe, which he brandished
around furiously With great caution
the door Of the studio was opened and
they advanced into the suspected terri
tory.
When they reached the center of the
large room, numbered up with It's
variety Of curious and incOngruous
articles, such as one finds only III an
artists studio or the property room OF
a theatre, Sorieul said:
81 declare myself general. Now let US
holu a,cOuncil OF war. You, the CUR
assiers, shall cut of the enemy's retreat,
that Is 10 say, lock the door, anu on,
the grenadiers, shall be my escort.
Voltage executed the movement
ordered and then reioined the main
body of the troops which were engeg
in reconnaissance.
Just as Voltage was looking behind a
large japanese screen, he heard a
terrific hubbub in the other side Of the
room. he hurried over, still carrying a
candle in his hand, and found that La
PotteYin, with 4 single mighty thrust,
bad TRANSPORTED the body of a lay
figure with his bayonet. Sorieul was
battering il over the head with his axe.
The mistake being discovered. the gem
eral gave the command: Let Us be
prudent" and reconnaissance was
resumed.
For at least twenty minutes they had
been .rummaging around the dark
corners, without success, when lie
PoteyIn bethought him Of the closet.
Cautiously opening the door, Voltage
advanced his light and peered INTO the
darkness. He sprang back, terrified; a
man was in there. q living man who
had stored at him with wild and bag
gard eyes.
He instantly slammed the door to and
douhly locked II, and they held new
council. The opinions were widely du-