St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-03-07
JOKING WITH GRIM DEATH.


00NuN0 WtIV 0usW OeAIO.
The 0rowsome Carousals That Take 6lAoo
as the Cafe do II Aorts.
Paris, that ever-interesting city. has
again put itself ON record. this time in
having taken q step forward in the mat-
ter of 'outrc cafes"
The Cafe de In Mort ives opened .
few months ago. but only recently has
it attracted much attention. 1t is situ-
aled two blocks from the Moulin Rouge.
that stamping ground of Venus and
Rac.hus, at 81 Boulevard Montmaitre.
The outside Of this extraordinary
cafe is curious in itself. It is small
two-story brick structure, the front Of
which, In imitation Of the decorations
customarily used on n French church
during q funeral. Is drapcd with black
portieres with white trimmings. En-
trance is obtained through slit in the
curtains.
Upon entering the unsuspecting
stranger receives q shock not soon to
he forgotten. A room about 30 feet
square lies in front of him. The walls
are painted black, with white lines, in
imitation of the walls Of dungeon. At
intervals along the walls are painted
red devils with forked tails and pitch
forks enveloped in fame. From the
ceiling hang chandeliers composed OF
human bones. holding small oil lamps.
which diffuse a 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 coffins,
about which hustle the walters, who
are dressed AZ 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 q toast or as . sign Of
welcome.
The stereotyped expression Of the
''fossoyeur" rs he welcomes you il Ger
tainly in keeping with the surround
ings. The strangers reception is moth
ing II not cordial: "Hola, macca bee!
All, sacre gailard! Quest ce que tu
veux?" "Hello, dead body! You dirty
fellow! What do you wish?"
To the rear Of the room and little to
the right is a dimly lighted passage
with vaulted ceiling extending back
some ten feet. at the further end of
which is q massive wooden door, with
q huge iron knocker resembling skull.
4 few vigorous raps and = false panel
is swung wide. A face appears at .
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 a grewsome rattling Of
chains. The heavy doors swing slowly
back. "Entrez. mes freres. Vous en-
trez lie domain de Ia mort. Vous venir
lei q morir.''
The room is somewhat smaller than
the first. To the right are few rows
of benches for the spectators, to the left
an old organ, while directly opposite
the entrance is q platform draped in
black. upon which. set up perpendicu.
larly. stands an ebony coffin. Here
also the walls are painted in imitation
of masonry, with an assortment Of
Mephisto's angels painted on q back
ground Of flame.
A; the visitors take their seats one
Of the two monks who conduct the cere-
mony asks who it In that Is ready and
prepared to die. Upon the expression
| Of such . desire one is led to the coffin,
placed therein and covered, all except
his face, with q white sheet. The lights
are turned low, almost extinguished,
and the wheezy old organ begins to
pour forth a most melancholy dirge.
A phosphorescent effect appears about
tho 'co1fin, while faint streaks Of light
are visible on the figure inside. The
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 in perfect,
startling. The mans head has sud-
denly turned into a grinning skull. In
the coffin nothing remains except q
skeleton;
Presently the lights are turned up
and the ghastly apparition disappears,
while from out the coffin walks the man
who 1aas contributed the amusement
to his morbid friends. He has seen
nothing Of the skeleton into which he
was. transformed, but could vaguely
se4 the audience, to whom, owing to the
illusion, he was invisible. Needless ia
say, the Transformation n effected by
the use OF. q. concealed stereopticon
Such il the domain Of death"
This:roo ID connected with another
by i narrow passage. The latter room
being furnished in . less impressive
style, .is somewhat more endurable
thsu- the others. There are rows Of
long benches across one end, while at
the. other Is q low, curtained platform
dOEf. a. PeTIOImAuCC II SOuuuCsCu
Tricks slsight-of-hand performances
and dancing generally comprise the
prolfstnme. The exit from this. room
b through . passage similar to the en-
trance, which leads back into the main
roon of the cafe.
The proprietor In little Frenchman
who seems to have entered thoroughly
into the spirit Of the place and his un'
deEtaking. That he II making money
out Af his chamber Of horrors il un
qu3stio6afJle. The strankest thing +
that, besides the usual throng Of curl
ouS, sightseers, he has large number
of .le4ular eustomers whose morbid
fancies are attracted by the place
They assemble night after night, drinl
| at the comm tables and laugh and chat
q IL II was the most ordinary Of places
Here they stay, until far into the night
when with . parting handshake from
IL proprietor, : leering nod and -,
I-.-[.ps+ a. :. .<,ss~s' - thN ake1ntasaa <6DV