Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-23


itself in English and American cities. The
fashionables of the great world stroll for
few blocks after the theater or are whisk-
ed away in their carriages to some expen-
sive restaurant Business men sit with
their wives or mistresses outside the cafes,
or alone play dominoes within. Young
clerks in their best clothes ogle the ladies
as they pass. Whole families of genuine
working people saunter along in groups
or stop to rest or look in shop windows.
Englishmeu at the cafe tables wrangle with
the walters over their change. in broken
French; and Americans spoil the garcons
by giving heavy tips, oftenest with no
French at all. Both English and Americans
jostle Spaniards, Turks, Arabs, provincial
Frenchmen, Paris dudes, beggars, anarch-
lists and men of letters.
What Parfsinns Want.
Yet it is the Parisians who make the
boulevard-not the strangers, although they
bring the money. A Frenchman cannot
be shamed into spending his cash, and he
wants to have many of his pleasures for
nothing; but he does pay for things he be-
lieves worth paying for. Moreover. he
knows exactly what he wants. and the au-
thorities know about what he can be trust
ed with.
Above all, the ParIsians wish to have
bright, gay and cheerful meeting places.
where they can watch their fellow creatures
| and talk, talk. talk. Therefore besides the
wide street and open places there are the
boulevard cafes. The street and the cafe
pushing out into 1t. encroaching on 1t with
Its chairs and tables as il IL were jealous
these two together form the only bar room
known TO prosperous Paris, and the only
free lunch Is the free lunch for the eyes
OE this street. though You have not one
sou, you are at no disadvantage. You are
not shut out from the others. People are
spending money, and not hiding the sight
OF their pleasures from those less fortunate
what the eyes and ears can take is free;
and all the pleasurabie excitement of being
In the swim is TO be had for nothing. But
IL food is desired, or IL you even wish 20 sit
and rest, then out must come the pocket
DOCK. cup OF coffee is the cheapest thing
and with care it can be made to last
through the whole evening. To sit at beer
Is more expensive.
On Summer Nights.
1t Is best on summer nights to sit out on
the sidewalk. There. having secured
| table mo small trouble), you may pass the
evening making your observations of the
| life OF the boulevard. Past you will come
firg, like pleasing nightmare, all the
parading tinsel of Paris in fine weather
The calls of the street peddlers give the
music for the marching. They are like
Nagners leit-motivs; when they break in
on the half-dreaning mind II IS TO warn
to promise. to explain. to call the wander
ing attention to the meaning of II all. They
are an index, so to speak. Of Paris.
The Libre Parole! France for the
| French.'
''Turpin's Invention Sold: France Mar
| tyred and Betrayed
"Pourquoi les femmes mouillent-elles
leurs doigts pour attraper leurs puces.
c'Why women wet their fingers to catch
| feas"O
This last stands for a ribald pamphlet
| on burning question of summer time in
| Paris, where heas conceal themselves in
! every petticoat
A deputy saunters along with his wife on
his arm. Behind him a newsboy and a
night beauty elbow a millionaire who is
walking in the same direction his cleck
| and taking In the same cheap pleasures
There are cheerful people OF every class.
all filled with the spirit of idle amusement,
| tinged with something artistic. which pre-
| vents crudeness.
| lie Soir! . o'clock edition"
| Occasion for pianis.s! Fifty morceaus
for fifteen sous"'
| THE little danseuse Of the Moulin
Rouge.
| At Ii o'clock the bourgeois begin TO leave
| the street. In front # the cafes family
parties break up and go their several ways.
| A father passes. carrying his sleeping child
| on his shoulder, ara mother skurries
along with her little brood. Hitherto IL has
| been no small amusement to watch the
| Parisians at their limitations. in the open
highway, in the clear electric light, with
| the eyes Of dozen nationalities upon
| them. uncons cioJs eager and innocently
| unashamed. man win jump up from the
| table next you, speak ID a mademoiselle
| upon the sidewalk, bring her back in
| triumph. and then plump her down beside
your wife and children. Soon these mild
| hirtationS will become more numerous; and
| * you know a bit OF French you will hear
| language strange to Anglo-Saxon ears.
Soon 1t will be the hour for the pretty
| fgurantes of the theaters and music halls
| to be passing down the street on their way
home
| 1t is midnight and raining You would
scarcely think it summer unless you should
| skurry by. Men and women SIT sim at the
| cafe sidewalk tables, huddled under leaky
| awnings. doggedly holding their places.
| They wish the evening would not end.
| Love of Leisure.
| The first and most distinct impression
| Americans get in Paris on the boulevard
| Is that. behind all the activity. there is
| most astounding love of leisure. which per-
vades all classes. The Partisan Of pure
| blood Is recognized by his easy walk: and
when he walks he is continually loafing
stops to look up In the air or join gaping
| crowd Of others ike himself. be sure that
man Is Partisan. The Partisan is. before
| all else, q badaud, a saunterer and seer
of sights. He looks at wedding or a
| burial which is passing as II he had never
! seen one. He likes soldiers, and follows
| them. He likes his boulevard which he
| feels sure is situated in the very center of
| the universe The Paris boulevard is given
| over to leisure 1t is a place for loafing,
| not a place for working. Parisians are
| happy to have such a place for loafng.
| STERLING HELLO.