New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-19
TOPICS IN PARIS.
THE LIFE OF THE BoULEvARDs IS NO
MORE.

MORE
ATHLETICS AND EARLY HOURS IN FASHION,
PRINCE ABpALLAHs' IMPosrURE-
DIPLOMATIC CHANGES.
Paris August 8.
Paris IL losing its most distinctive feature
namely. its boulevard life, and the boulevardier
is type that Is now fast disappearing. In days
gone by the boulevard might have been regarded
as the very heart Of Paris. The leading men OF
the day In the social political and financial worlds
would not have considered their day as complete
unless they had taken their turn on the boule-
ward at the hour when they were most certain 10
meet their ac1uaintances and to see and hear
everything that was going on. 1t was there too
that all the finest shops were congregated. where
the tradesmen took the greatest pains TO dis
play their wares In the most artistic and con-
sequently attractive manner. and where con-
stantly all the shopping was done by the great
mondaines, and by those who follow In their
wake. The restaurants a la mode established
their headquarters there: 30. too. did the CLUBS,
the theatres and, as far as possible. the great
banks Indeed, the entire life OF the city centred
there-I mean what was most characteristic OF
Partisan life-and whenever stranger visited
the city for the first time the very first move ne
made was 10 go for stroll along the boulevard,
10 imbbe there what has sometimes been de-
scribed as the concentrated qulntessence OF Pari-
sianism All this is changed The Boulevard du
Crime absorbed by that OF Bonnie Nouvele'
made way for the Boulevard Montmartre, which
was abandoned In turn for the Boulevard des
Italiens and lastly. the Boulevard des Capucines'
which marks the limit All these oou'evards
have entirely lost their former aspect ana nave
been deserted to such an extent that one by one
the famous restaurants have come 70 grier or
gone out OF business. Neither the clubman nor
the politician. neither the fnancier nor Inc uoV-
eminent official ever dreams or going 20 lar out
~ his wav aa 70 ..naner sur le boulevard (saun-
for on the boulevard, as his father and grand
father before him were IN the habit Of doing.
Nor does one see any longer the elegantes trip
ming along in front Of the shop-windcws with
that peculiar gait. half-hurried. half-lingering.
which Is SO characteristic Of the Parisienne IneY
live too far of nowadays 10 find the boulevard
within the possibility Of n walk. and the conse-
nuenco Is that the boulevard stores have lost all
their briliancy and have become very ordinary
concerns The only remnant OF this feminine ieat-
ure Of bouevar I'd life IL TO be found perhaps on the
Rue de la Paix. which IL thronged WIN the car
rages OF fair shoppers Of an afternoon during the
seas n and where the tradespeople still try their
best 10 adorn their windows with all their most
attractive wares What you see OF the fari-
senne there however IL only on her way from
her carriage 20 the shop and back again. ana ali
that YOU can dc is to catch glimpse OF her DIS
ehe Darts in turn into the jewellers. the hat
makers the parfumier's the tailors or the DOT
tiers lust Ike a butterfly futtering from flower
ha
there is nothing there that. from a masculine
pont o, view. corresponds TO the boulevard hustle
and lie Of bygone tines. should be puzzled
- reply 10 any question as TO where IL couid De
found nowadays. Parts is so utterly metamor-
pbosed and about the only place tina, I can
think Of where men meet ms on the bouievards
II old "a In the morning In the Bots
Tho whole tenor Of our existence has become
modified Instead OF turning night into day We
all 20 70 bed early now. and the nocturnal life
that was formerly one Of the features OF TINS
CAV metropolis has like the boulevards. become
a thing Of the past. Both men and women have
developed strong taste for athletic PURSUITS.
This has been especially the case with the aris-
,orracy and leaders ~ soce,y who nave received
their cduca'on In those splendid Jesuit ana DO
minic,n colleges which in striking contrast 10
the Did lycecs make a special point or developing
taste for sports and outdoor exercise. French
rowing cubs Of relatively recent birth have
beaten English crews not on.y on the seine put
even on the Thames. Partisan football teams
have defeated English cl-vens. while at tennis.
polo and even cricket Gac youth has become
equally adept Gymnastc societies have sprung
up all over the country on the same lines as
the German Turnveren. and the Frenchman or
the rising generation is Just as eager 10 develop
his biceps ard 10 achieve success In one pranch
ar another OF sport az his father and grand
father before him were bent on making conquests
among the fair sen Now. In order 10 ut the
physique FOR this species OF existence IL IL neces-
s,rv % sleep well and long. and. above all. 10
rise early the morning being the best time TOT
all kinds Of athletic pursuits. But to get up
cary one must go early 10 bed. hence the Pari-
sian has given up altogether those midnight sup
pers which until a short time ago constituted
the inevitable conclusion OF a Partisan day. 1t
,s becoming almost difficult to get anything TO
eat here after II O'Clock at night as It is In
Vienna or New-York and II you want to see
your friends both masculine and feminine. with
out going TO the trouble Of calling al their houses.
why the only way TO do so is to ride. drive or
walk between 10 and ~ In the morning In the
Bois. where you will find what constitutes the
actual counterpart Of old time boulevard life and
briiliancy.
Although not on the boulevards but on the
banks Of the Seine. the celebrated Cafe dOrsay.
which closed Its doors yesterday was In the days
of the Empire. and even down I'LL a few years
ago. a popular rendezvous Of much that was
brilliant and conspicuous here In Paris. During
tho Empire It's cabinets. particulars and salons
used TO be crowded with the officers Of the Guard.
and many are the fortunes which have been
squandered there at the card tables after dinner.
It has been the scene OF many sensational cpl
sode and II thence that popular beauty
made her escape disgus as marmiton after
being tracked thither by IA jealous and Infatuated
hus al uh had fni ii REASONS 10 object 10