Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-12-24
Our Paris Letter.
4 RUE DE CHEvREUsE, PARIS, Dec. 9Th,
1895.

RUE DE CHEvREUsE, PARIS, Dec. 18th,
1895.
DEAR EDITOR: There is so much
real life an art student sees here in Paris
that every day becomes holiday.
Then, too, we see with different eyes
from the mere sight-seer. day the
Academic was a Verltabe theatre. The
model for the week posed as a merry old
frequenter of the quaint taverns in the
by places of Europe. With glass in
his hand he rests his arm on his knees,
and gazes at you mirthfully, his eyes
fairly twinkling with merriment, and
his battered hat brim flung back from
his brow, the wavy hair peeping out
each side. His costume is of weaUherwOrn
sheep-skln; his complexion of a rudy
hue and withal he is the very picture OF
happiness; you can even see his teeth, he
isllaughing so heartily. But the contor-
tions he is obliged to go through with
periodically in order to rest his mouth
add an element of the ludIcrOus. While
he poses another model appears on the
scene, Gn1eed the courtyard is filled
with them, all sorts and conditions of
men, women and children in native gay
attire in ordinary garments with bag
sung over his shoulder from which he
produces a costume worthy of a Spanish
cavalier, and Immediately proceeds to
don it. His black eyes shine, he gives
his mouStacheS an extra twirl, and,
presto! when "c'est Pheure" is called,
with a grace and nOnchalance worthy any
actor he springs up and strikes an atti-
tude. Perfect! "Qui desire la pose?"
the rate goes "Our'-all for him and
dofing his plumod hat he politely aud
profoundly bews to madame, mad
emoislle and monsieurs and in his
smooth Italian tongue bids us all good
afternoon. He is IA cavalier, in truth,
and his handsome face above his crimson
doublet will be fine study next week
The sights and scenes on the boule-
wards are worth chrOnicling. Near the
Boulevard La Chapelle is sign reading
in French las it would appear to an
American) "POtag9 and pain at discre-
ton" translated 1T loses it's ludcrous
side and becomes decidedly PRACTICAL
Soup and bread whenever you wish"
1t is a common sight to see men women.
or children carrying home the morning
or evening meal in long, narrow, pole
like loaf under the arm or a "dejeuner''
(dinner) in Melted bag with handle,
the vegetables, cabbages and fish mixed
promiscuously with shopping or books,
hats OF shoes.
The Palais de Justice, when the courts
are in session, presents novel spectacle
Between the calling of the different
courts the advocates, dressed in their
long gowns, white jabOts and black caps
pace the long halls, excitedly argue, or
with earnest mien and rapid tread
seek the man most interested
in the case on hand. such fine looking
men! These gowns and caps give even
the least favored land they are rare),
distingue look. l amusedly wandered
around, entirely overlooked, watching
the groups, attentively examining the
size of each Frenchman's little black
portfolio, which seems to be the con-
slant companion of nearly every French
man you meet anywhere, and listening
with as sober face as possible to the
unutterable French jargOn about me.
Later, as l crossed the Pont au
Change, an old man selling shoe lacings
sccosted me with ISL vous plat,
madame A paper vender shouted, or
rather sang, his refrain of LA Force ct
La Patne." Speaking of vendors, will
say that the street criers in Paris are
very musical. Each has his or her pecu-
liar song. The old fish woman, the veg
etable carrier with his bright bit of
color In carrots and green's carried in
basket on his back, the glass member.
the man who has, apparently, nothing
to sell or work with, all cry in their ma
tive tongue characteristic song, far
more musical than our Umbrellas to
mend!" 1t is exceedingly funny when
an old truck laden with monstrous bar
rels of liquor bumps along through a
street so narrow one must stop ones
nj IA att,lx
worth living in Paris. Even work be-
comes play to the artist, though | would
not leave the impression that discourage
ments do not abound, as in any profess
sion, for they do. 1t just rests with
ones self how much pleasure is obtained
from work. E.. A.P.