The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-02-08
JOKING WITH GRIM DEATH.


at tho Cafe de La Morte.
Paris, that ever-interesting city, has
again put itself on record, this time in
having taken step forward in the mat
ter of "outre cafes"
The Cafe dc la Mort ives opened a
few months ago, but only recently has
it attracted much attention. 1t is situ-
ated two blocks from the Moulin Rouge,
that stamping ground of Venus and
Bac.hus, ct "a boulevard Montmaitre.
The outside of this extraordinary
cafe is curious in itself. 1t is small
two-story brick structure, the front OF
which, in imitation OF the decorations
customarily used on French church
during a funeral, is draped with black
portieres with white trimmings. En-
trance is obtained through slit in the
curtains.
Upon entering the unsuspccting
stranger receives a shock not soon to
be- forgotten. A room about 80 feet
square lies in front of him. The walls
are painted black, with white lines, in
imitation of the walls of a dungeon. At
intervals along the walls are painted
red devils with forked tails and pitch
forks enveloped in flame. From the
ceiling hang chandeliers composed OF
human bones. holding small oil lamps.
which diffuse dim and CHASTITY light
upon human skeletons whose hollow,
sightless skulls grin at one from every
side. There are six or eight of these
skeletons, arranged in fantastic atti-
tudes around the walls, some erect,
others seated. Placed about the room
are tables made of polished pine collins,
about which hustle the walters, who
are dressed as undertakers in long,
somber gray clothes. "Garcon" gives
place to ''fossoyeur."
Around the tables are seated men OF
all classes-professional men and mer-
chants, the wealthy and the poor, the
gentleman and the loafer, sit side by
side, for DE la Mort" tolerates no class
distinctions. A curious picture they
present as each lifts "un we're du
poison" as they call glass of wine, to
their lips, in toast. or as a sign OF
welcome.
The stereotyped expression of the
'fossoyeur" rs he welcomes you is GER
tainly in keeping with the surround
ings. The strangers reception is moth
ing If not cordial: "Hola, macca bee!
All, sacre gailard! Quest ce que tn
veux?' Hello, dead body! You dirty
fellow! What do you wish?"
To the rear of the room and little to
the right is dimly lighted passage
with vaulted ceiling extending back
some ten feet, at the further end OF
which is a massive wooden door, with
a huge iron knockcr resembling skull
y few vigorous raps and false panel
is swung wide. A face appears at q
little grated window.
A man dressed in hood and gown, like
the Capuchin monks, demands in gut.
teral tones the reason for intrusion
'Ah! One wishes to die? One wishes
to enter the chamber of death?"
There is grewsome rafting oi
chains. The heavy doors swing slowly
back. "Entrez. mes freres. Vous en-
trez lie domain de la mort. Vous venil
lei morir."
The room is somewhat smaller thar
the first. To the right are few row,
of benches for the spectators, to the left
an old organ, while directly opposit,
the entrance is a platform draped il
black, upon which, set up perpendicu
larry, stands an ebony coffin. Her,
also the walls are painted in imitation
| of masonry, with an assortment O.
Mephisto's angels painted on back
| ground of flame.
AS the visitors take their seats on,
of the two monks who conduct the cere
mony asks who it is that is ready ant
prepared to die. Upon the expression
| of such desire one is led to the coffin
| placed therein and covered, all excep
his face, with white sheet. The light
are turned low, almost extinguished
and the wheezy old organ begins t.
| pour forth a most melancholy dirge
A phosphorescent effect appears abou
the coffin, while faint streaks of ligh
are visible on the figure inside. Tn,
monks are chanting in weird jargon
Gradually and imperceptibly the bones
of skeleton appear. The human form
becomes less distinct, the skeleton
more clear. The illusion is perfect
startling. The mans head has sud
denly turned into grinning skull. IL
the coffin nothing remains except
| skeleton.
Presently the lights are turned VI
and the CHASTITY apparition disappears
while from out the coffin walks the maj
| who has contributed the Amusement
to his morbid friends. He has seel
nothing of the skeleton into which h,
was transformed, but could vaguel,
see the audience, to whom, owing to tn
illusion, he was invisible. Needless t,
say, the transformation is effected b,
the use of concealed stereopticon
Such is the domain of death"
This room is connected with anothe
by a narrow passage. The latter room
being furnished in less impressive
style, is somewhat more endurabl
than the others. There are rows o
long benches across one end, while a
the other is low, curtained platform
Here q performance is conducted
Tricks, sleight-of-hand performance
and dancing generally comprise tn
programme. The exit from this room
is through a passage similar to the en-
trance, which leads back into the mali
room IF the cafe