Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01
A FAMOUS PARIS CAFE.
Fast Life By Gaslight in Naughty Res
taurant.


Fast Life BY Gaslight in Naughty Res
taurant.
was very much interested in the most
notable of Partisan restaurants, the Cafe
dc la Pax, writes Blakely Hail. IT bss
oeen the scene of so many sensational
encounters that Its fame is wide. IT
STANDS at the Junction of two of the great
esq thorougn1ares IN the town, and right
III She very heart of the wickedest city in
the world. HE Cafe de la Paix remains
open When everything else is closed. The
lower floor is long series of dipino
rooms opening into one another and eT,
tending out on the broad sidewalk. If is
up stairs that the fun and frivoltv o,c,r
These places are never closed, and the
walters are as fresh and amiabIe at six in
the morning as they are at six at night.
The upper stories are divided into supper
rooms of various SIZES, fitted in white and
gold, and adorned by enormous mirrors.
The chairs are big, roomy, well-cushioned
and comfortable, and the service excel
! lent. More scandals have enauated 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 g howling success in the
world of vice.
lt would be Interesting to analyze the
different supper parties that are held
there IN single night. remember on
one occasion, having glimpse OF three
of them, and the composition of all was
certainly odd. l had gone there with
some Americans after the opera ball.
Our party consisted of two Englishmen.
one man of title, and the other stock
broker, an American politician of some
emlnence, two ladies' who had never seen
Paris before, but who were anxious to
have a 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 the
| party. bade the others good night and
wens In to see some old friends. They
were both Americans whom had known
Tor great many years, and they had
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 at one of the most notorious cafes
! IN Paris, and they were all in that bliss
full condition where they did not care a
rap what happened. Fortunately moth
ing dld happen, but it was an escapade
that would have startled the most rock
less of Parisians, so great were the risks
| that the quartette ran.
They whooped things up to such hill
arious extent that, when they began to
sing, the voice of one of the men was
recognized in the adjoining room, and a
little Cuban, whom we had all known in
New York, stuck his head Ia the door and
Rugged everybody with delight at the re-
| union.
Then my four friends went off in mys-
| FERROUS cabs, and L went in with the Cuban
to have final nightcap. There were six
or eight people in the adjoining room,
and one of them a gorgeousIy affixed and
opulently beautiful Frenchwoman, was
pounding the piano with degree of Wig
or that threatened the immediate de-
struction of that instrument. The men
were military, and, like all Frenchmen,
exceedingly polite.
I felt that 1 was an intruder, for I was
lne op1y 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 to be
present, the modes of departure were
singularly stealthy and crafty. The wom-
en- seemed to disappear, lowering along
under the'guidance of waiter, while the
men shook hands, and then drifted un-
concernedly apart, leaving the place by
different doorways.
The sudden appearance of handful of
| husbands and fathers at the Cafe de la
Paix any night in the year would mean
| scr1mmage of no mean proportions.
Perhaps that is the reason why the place
is so popular.