The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-15
Fabrique de Paths a Roulettes
Et Jouets.

|
Old NJ Salomon-he Is seventy-thre'
years Of age-all smiles, opens the door
and introduces us into his mandatory
of roller-skates and toys. We pass
through the dining-room, which is com
fortably furnished. On the walls are a
ciayon portrait of NJ. Salomon's mother
who won a Monthyon prize for virtue in
her day, and died at the age of los. a por-
trait of NJ. Solomon himself and a col
ored photograph of Mile. Solomon in the
| costume of q ballet dancer The buffet
and the table are covered with caskets in
| the form of Swiss chalets, which open
| and reveal queer little dolls drawing
looms furnished with toy chairs and
| sofas upholstered In blue, rose and tinscl,
| with mirrors on the walls. and all the ac-
| cessories of elegance and comfort Other
| chalet caskets are surrounded by gardens
These are specimens of the productions
| Of the establishment
We lift up a curtain and enter the
| workshop. which is also the bedroom. II
| is a low garnet. with a window occupying
an entire side. In one corner is bed;
in another corner a washstand. in the
centre a little cast-iron stove, that serves
both for heating and for cooking purposes;
and the rest Of the room is taken up by
treadle lathe and work tables, while
the walls are covered with tools, shelves,
and unmounted pieces of toys and chalets,
all ready sawn into shape. Madame Sal
ONION sits at table vanishing a chalet
casket; old Solomon resumes his work OF
mounting roller-skates; by the side of the
bed, which is strewn with costumes
bandboxes and bright-colored muslin,
Mile. Rachel. or Chechel, as she is IA
miliarly caled-is busy discriminating a
bundle Of ribbons and tinsel braid. Che
chel is n bony, angular, and homely
woman of about thirty, ballet dancer by
profession.
While Paul Renouard makes his draw
Ing of this curious and touching interior
we gossip hour after hour about all sorts
or things. We discuss horticulture apro-
pos OF the nasturtums and sweet
peas that are planted in pots on The win
dow-sill, together with box Of barley
that Is grown for the cats benefit. For
more than year the cat has been sick.
inflammation OF the stomach. mon
sieur.' says Madame Solomon, kissing the
cats face ecstatically. Poor pussy can
not digest"
Is there no remedy. madame?"
mo. monsieur. Every morning we
give him two eggs and some milk, but he
Is beyond hope; we shall lose him soon"
How old is hep"
young; but he will have had a pleas lnt |
life as long as II lasted, and been a fine |
tomcat-a fine. dear, darling tomcat II |
Will be cruel blow to US to lose him"
And Madame Solomon once more kisses
the poor, lean cat, Chechel Joins I'm the
chorus OF lamentations. and the ema-
ciated animal receives more ecstatic ca
resses.
In order TO interrupt the current OF
dismal thoughts produced by the incident
OF the cats malady. / draw out old SAL
ONION, who In his day was a sort OF Han-
lon-Lee. circus tumbler and a dancer
and who. like all artists. is gifted with a
dose OF vanity. He tells us
about his debut at Paris at the old CIRQUE.
ana now one day that he wore a very
pretty Bohemian costume he noticed IN
me green-room during the entr'acte a gen.
lieman holding sheet Of paper at which
everybody was looking. He approache1
and recognized his own portrait. The
asked him II he would like IN
nave 1t, and handed II to him. after sign
ng II with the initials p. ID.
1t was Paul Delaroche, monsieur"
Ids old Solomon, with pride. as he con-
'iudes his story. But / have the por-
RAFT no longer. Somebody took it,
from "Proletarian Paris" by Theodore
hid, In Haspers Magazine for January.