Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-11-01
AFAMoUs PARIS CAFE.
Fast Life By Gaslight ina Naughty Res
taur8nt.

fast Life By Gaslight in a Naughty Res
taur8nt
was very much Interested in the most
notable OF Partisan restaurants, the Cafe
de la PAX, writes Blakely Hall. II has
oeen the soeue of SO many Sensational
encounters that its fame is wide. IL
stands at the junction Of two of thegreat-
est thoroughfares in the town, and riobt
Ia the very heart OF the wickedCst city in
the world. The Cafe de la Paix remains
open when everything else is closed The
loWer moor Is long series of dining
rooms opening into one another and ex.
tending out on the broad sidewalk 1t is
up STAIRS that the fun aud frjyolty occur.
Lhese places are never closed, and the
WATERS are as fresh and amiable at six in
Lhe morning as they are at six at night.
Inc upper stories are divided into supper
rooms OF various sizes, fitted in white and
gold, and adorned by enormous mirrors.
Lac chairs are big, roomy, well-cushioned
ano comfortable, and the service excel
lent. More scandals have emanated from
the place than from any other similar re-
sort IN Paris, for it embodies all that is
reckless IN the fads of the FOUNDERS who
make Paris such howiing success in the
world of vice.
IL would be interesting to analyze the
different supper parties that are held
there IN sing Aight. l remember on
one Occasion, having glimpse of three
OF them, and the composition of all was
certainly odd. I had gone there with
some Americans efter the opera ball.
Oar party consisted of two Englishmen,
one man of title, and the other stock
broker, an American politician of some
eminence, two ladies who had never seen
Paris before, but who were anxious to
nave look { its night side, and my
self,
An unfortunate row occurred between
the Englishman and the politician at the
beginning OF the supper, but they were
soon quoted and | was pulled into the
other room at the breaking up of tue
party. babe the others good night and
Wen5 In TO see some old friends. They
were both Americans whom had known
Tor great many years, and they bad
been away from New York fourteen
months, making & tour Of the world. On
their way back they had delivered letters
to people whom they knew in Paris, and
as they were botn clever and amusing
New York men, French peOple took them
up. They had the wives of two men OF
decided and unqualified distinction in
the world Of politics and diplomacy at
supper as one of the most notorious cafes
IN Paris, aud they were all in that bliss
full condition where they did not care a
rap what happened. Fortunately moth
ing did happen, but il was an escapade
that would have startled the most reck
less OF Parisians, so great we're the risks
that the quartstte ran.
they w1ooptd things mp to such a nil
arious extent that, when they began to
sing, the voice OF one Of the men was
recognized IN he adjoining room, and a
little Cuban, whom we had al known in
New York, stuck his heGd il the door and
Rugged everybody with delight at the re-
union.
Then my four friends went off in mys
terious cabs, and I went ia with the Cuban
TO have final nigdtoap, There we're six
or eight people in the adjoining room,
and one of them gorQeously alfred and
opulently beautiful Frenohwomau. was
pounding the piano with degree OF Wig
or that threatened the immediate de-
struction of that instrument The men
wers military, and, like all Frenohmen,
exceedingly polite.
felt that l was an intruder, for I was
the only foreigner present; but il was i'm
possible TO get away before five o'clock,
and when left i observed that, though
nothing had been said indicating that
people were there who had no right 20 be
present, the modes Of departure were
singulRrlv stealthy aud crafty. The WON
en- seemed TO disappear, lowering along
under the'guidanoe OF a waiter, while the
men shook hands, and then drifted IN
coneer7edly apart, leaving the place by
different doOrways.
The sudden appearance OF handful OF
husbands and fathers Mt the Cafe de Ia
Paix any night in the year would mean
scrimmage of no mean proportions.
Perhaps that is the reason why the place
ia so popular.