Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-08-01
LIFE IN PARIS.
Lodging and Food For Those Whose
Means Arc Small.


Lodging and Food For Those Whose
Means Arc Small.
There are over $4,000 houses in
Paris, and each ono has its major
domo in the shape of concierge,
who is as vigilant as Cerberus in his
watch and ward over the mansion.
This mortal usually knows more
about your business than you do
yourself. He becomes an awe inspir-
ing autocrat to the student wherever
he may find his abiding perch. The
concierge knows the financial con-
dition of each ledger and is on the
qui vive regarding gossip and scan-
dial. There are all sorts and condi-
tons of lodgings to be had in Paris.
The cheapest is called "la cabinet
literally mere cupboard, with space
only for cot. The price of this
handbook is S24 per year. The best
that can be said of it is that it is a
shelter from wind and weather. The
occupant is expected to live i'll the
streets. Many country lad has
come to the metropolis and begun
the battle CT life in E-h box. The
next higher step toward comfort is
the "chambre, which boasts q fire.
place and window. For these lux
uries one lays anywhere from $50
to $50 "a year. Next como tho CHAM
bre ct cabinet and the "lodgment,'
two rooms and kitchen with u fire.
place and windows. Tho petit
apartment begins tho claims of
gentility. An Department. embraces
whole suit and ranges i'll price
from 500 upward. The high water
mark of luxury is the private hotel,
which answers tn our handsome and
luxurious private dwellings and
mansions. In Paris a grand hotel al
ways means II public house.
So after man has found shelter
to suit his purse there are all sorts
of ways to 1.-Two. Food is sold cooked
and uncooked at the street corners,
and itinerant soup and coffee vend-
ers promenade the streets. AT cream
cries 5 cents will get coffee or choco-
] late, omelet or salad, and 2 cents OK
ira provides delicious broad. Artists
and students Iatronize these places
and arc satisfied.
Tho business men satisfy their
hunger at the "bouillons" with boil
cd beef, soup, cheese and wine, all for
IL cents. Tho Duval bouillons have
become world famous and are found
in every quarter of Paris. This clev-
er Duval was originallya butcher
in the Grand Halles and sold the
odds and ends of meat left in his
shop cheaply to the second hand res
taurants about Paris. Seeing, how
much there was in this branch of
his business, hu determined to start
his own "bouillons. Today his
wealth mounts up into high numer-
ais with many noughts following.
at the Duvals ono can get good,
clean meal for franc and a half,
or order Il la carte anything fancy
dictates.
In the old Latin quarter 1G sous
will get sumptuous dinner for tho
half falnished student who cannot
afford to indulge in tho luxury OF
choice or the whims of his palate.
In the cafe democracy rules, and ev-
cry man is as good as his neighbor.
In these restaurants the talk runs
fast and furious. The fixed price res
taurant offers most varied and
fanciful bill of fare. The charm of
cafe life to the students is the Bohe-
mianism and good fellowship, that
reigns. These are clubs OF the world,
where everybody is at ease, whore
artists, literary mon, business men
and scientists meet OH u common
ground. There is no coign of van
tage better from which to analyze
the passing show, The student who
Graves the unexpected here throws
aside all convention and enters into
this happy so lucky existence which
demoralizes one. for the monotony
and dull round of life are decidedly a
phase of student existence. The old
Latin quarter today has u rival in
the new Bohemia i'll tho Montmartre
district. Here are gathered many of
the artists, students and decadent
poets, and tho old freedom and sans
souci of Latin quarter existence has
taken root and bids fair to ontbole-
mianize Bohemia. Letter in
Boston Advertiser.