Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-23
THE OLD CAFE.

little brick house that has since lost its
prestige. and has fallen TO the low level of
An ordinary tenement There is nothing
about the place to attract particular at
tentiOn; in fact, there il much reason why
now it should attract no attention at all.
The narrow gallery that once had afforded
its inmates resort on warm summer
evenings, when the pleasant south wind
could cool their perspiring faces, has
gradually fallen away, leaving the iron
supports still standing as mementoes OF
former greatness. The shingled roof has
sunken in places until its surface is as
irregular as the plowed land in the gar
dens beyond, ON the MetaIrie ridge They
knew how TO make bricks and mortar in
those old days in New Orleans, and
neith>r time nor the elements have made
much progress at demolishing the walls.
Indeed, a careful scrutiny shows the build
ing proper to be in just as good condition
as ever. What the carpenters did has
rotted away, but the brickmason's wOik
is as solid as when they spread the mortar
with their shining trOwels, and laid the
courses TO the gay music Of old Creole
songs.
Although the house is now a most com
mOnplace old structure, the adjoining
garden, If garden it can be called, is still
a delight TO the eye of those who appreci-
ate that kind Of rough beauty that rests
about unkempt shrubbery. Some time
ago, and it must have been many years,
the inmates of the house ceased to look
after the flowers and trees that filed the
ad joining lot and vegetation has run riot
there. Indomitable in its courage a soli-
Tor prvf ar al un tho HaSfr
i've effects Of constructing vines and tang
led weeds, and looks cOmplacently over
the front fence In generous rivaly with
gay and coquettish pomegranite, red in
garniture Of crimson blossoms. One or
two Mslmaison rose trees inger out
precartous existence, silent reminders
that once careful hands had pruned and
cared for them.
The whole place wore an air of neglect
that was almost sad. Across the way the
keeper of the corner grocery could give
no information as to the former inmates
Of the house, and even the old woman
who sells charcoal by the bucket next
door knew nothing except that her mother
had told her that they were a bad lot.
About forty years ago this opinion was
not general as to the character of the
proprietor and his family. Indeed il one
was TO ask anywhere in the city what was
the reputation Of Pepe I.avigo it was tol-
erably certain the answer would have
been that he was one of the most reput-
able, ever generous publicans that ever
handled a glass. In epidemics he was
equal to four DOCTORS in public calami-
ties his purse was the first TO open TO as
sist the unfortunate, and in private misfor-
tunes he had brought back many way
ward husband and healed hundreds of
domestic broils
All this was done with such charming
simplicity Of manner and unobstrusive
benevolence il made him one OF the most
popular men in the city. In fact old Law
illeton, the leading politician of those
days, used to say that "Pepe could be
elected mayor any day he wanted"
The Cafe de Resistance had nearly as
many friends as its proprietor, for Gus
toners were always sure OF getting there
the genuine mallorca from Spain, the
pure absinthe from France and Holland
gin, such as no place in the city could af-
ford. The Orgeat was the sweetest, and
the fragrant lines the sourest Of any in
town II the Cafe de Resistance had any
one weakness il was dominoes- Other
hOstelrieS might allure with attractive
games of bagatelle and cards; some
might tempt with billiard tables, with
pockets, bEe here the game Of dominoes
was the regnant amusement
From early morning to late at night,
the rattle of ivory pieces on the marble
tables greeted the ear of every passer, and
over against the wall were hung stock of
states and pencils for scoring, sufficient
TO start large primary school A poly
glot parrot usurped most of the converse
ton from its tin cage beside the door; and
two drowsy black cats dozed the hours
away In unpleasant proximity to the
crackers and cheese at one end of the
counter.
The Cafe de Resistance had been chris
tened with much ceremony at its opening,
and during the whole day libations had
been poured to its success As its name
indicated II was opposed to almost any
thing, but particularly to an ordinance
fixing the license for retailing liquor at a
high figure. In this crusade its influences
had been successful This, added to the
popularity Of the proprietor, made the
place the favored rendezvous Of political
leaders.
1t would have been difficult 10 find such
a contrast as was presented in the upper
and lower floors Of the cafe. Down stairs
the tinkle of ice In the glasses, the move
ment of feet on the sanded floor, and the
rattle of dominoeS were almost continu-
Gus, while above there reigned all the
peacefulness Of a convent. In the largest
room a large mahogany bedstead was
IL Il t. 4
A blithe canary bird sang In its little cage
at the window, and on the cool red and
white mating a rocking-chsir moved reg
ularly back and forth to the soft cadences
of Spanish air hummed over in a low,
sweet voice. The singer piled her needle
on some light piece Of ladies' ornamental
ton. stopping now and again TO pucker up
her rosy lips to whistle a note TO her bird
Felice was the daughter of the Pepe, and
known to but few of the habitues of the
cafe. She saw her father only at meal
times, when she presided over his board
with all the grace and dignity of q little
queen.
Her mother had died when she was very
young, and most of her days had been
passed in the convent below the city
After her graduation she had returned
home to take charge of her fathers house
hold; and here in the seclusion of the up
per part of the house, she let the hours
slip pleasantly away, happy and contented
with her uneventful lot. The wide en-
trance through the garden admitted her
friends to her apartments, and often of
evenings while that swaggerer Lolo Cay
ate, a Spanish roisterer, was telling in the
cafe, in a prOfusiOn of adjectiyes and ex-
pletives, some adventure of which he was
the hero, the rippling notes of piano
overhead would fill the atmosphere with
music. and he would suddenly become 81
lent, and significantly point upward with
his forefinger. Nobody spoke TO Pepe
about his daughter. By general consent
her name was held sacred by his Gus
toners.
The Young lady retained the warm
friendship Of her numerCu us schoolmates,
and frequently went out to evening par
ties, where her beauty made a conspic-
uous attraction. Her accomplishments