Evening star., 1895-08-17

pleasing nightmare. all the parading tinsel
of Paris in the dog days. The calls of the
street peddlers give a music for their
marching. They are like Wagner's leit-mo-
tvs. And when they break in on reverie 1t
is to warn, to promise to explain to the
half-dreaming mind the meaning of it all
and tell you what the soul Of Paris has
within itself today.
THE Libre Parole! France for the
Frenchr'
''rhe Salute of Felix Faurev'
1.-The English and the South African Gold
Mines!''
The first Is an Anu-Semite blatherskite
newspaper, with a new scare editorial each
day. The people buy it, as they do Roche
forts Intransigeant, because of its splendid
vituperation. The second is a wooden effi-
gy of the excessively popular new president,
which on a string being pulled takes off its
hat and bows benignly. The third is a
pamphlet against London stock jobbers in
particular and the British nation in general.
1t finds a ready sale because so many little
capitalists have put their savings in these
doubtful shares.
A tired man passes carrying in his arms
two little lacquered center tables, which
he indicates to those who sit and drink,
and whispers confidentially their price.
A Sharp Dodge.
A mysterious young man, with pockets
bulging, thrusts a French book tied round
tight with string into your lap. and whis-
pers swiftly and peremptorily. Quick.
three francs! while looking nervously
around. The tourist hides 1t guiltily be-
meath his coat, and pays the money. 1t
would be nice to see his face when he gets
back to his hotel and locks his door, unties
the string, and fnds-a shopworn and un-
popular novel from the trade sales, moth
Ing worse.
The Boulevard smells like a monkey
house. Let US Americans claim credit for
what we have and are. AS rule. we are
clean. We have bath tubs at home, and
are a means OF introducing bath tubs
abroad. Here in this mighty throng of un-
washed pleasure seekers there are over
powering whiffs Of personality.
Many women wear their cloaks, and some
men have their lightweight cvercoats, be-
cause the stuffy climate, damp and sticky.
springs breeze upon the sweltering crowd
along toward 10 o'clock at night.
Everywhere and always calling, always
pushing. always sweating, are the sellers
of toys tricks, sheet music, pamphlets ard
all manner of novelties. They cry out In
the drollest voices to amuse the public of
the cafes and attract their notice.
A deep bass voice:
"En voulez-vouz des Z-homards?"
And twenty voices answer him, from ell
directions, voices male and female, of the
men and women at the cafe tables. of the
cabmen, of the street girls, Of the tourists
even:
''Oh, les sales betes.
1t is the latest scie, or Chestnut" which
has fun through France like wildfire, and
has just attained the dignity Of editorial
notice in the Figaro.
do you like Iobsters?"
"Oh. the nasty thinSS!'
''They have hair on their feet?'
1t means nothing. 1t has no allusion. un-
less you have great Imagination. It Is
not witty. Yet it Is on every lip. and will
raise shouts of laughter in no matter what
assembly. Street fakirs sell cardboard
Holsters which men pin on their hats, little
Berlin wool Holsters which women pin to
their corsages, mechanical Holsters that
wrtggle. trick Holsters that squirt perfume
or pinch the uninitiated flngecs.
STERLING HEIhIG.