The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-18
SHE SHOCKED PARIS.
Chicago Girls Whim That Startled
the Gay Capital.
Chimes OF Notre Dame Pealed Dance
and Light Opera Music.


mendously shocked, and that by modest
young woman from Chicago. The tidal
wave of CONSERVATION which the execution
OF n girlish whim provoked swept from the
aristocratic Faubourg ST. Gcrmain TO the
bohemian Quarter Latin and startled alike
priest and ilaneur, nun and grisette.
For single hour the merry genius of
this young lady, who lives when at homo,
In an aristocratic North Side neighborhood
not far from Ohio street, overturned Pa
risian custom which has been In force for
hundreds of years and held the gay city
spollbound by her dashing and daring feat
Her act became the one topic Of discussion
In street, stall and palace, church and
wine cellar.
Among the first places which the author
OF this wholesale surprise visited on reach
ing Paris was the famous Cathedral of
Notro Dame The church interested her,
but its historic chimes exercised upon her
a strange fascination from which she could
not escape, struggle as she might.
The time for tho ringing OF its evening
chimes found her in a state Of high excite
ment, and the entire hour during which
they pealed forth their marvellous har-
monies was period OF unbroken rhapsody.
She listened as ono in trance and frank
ly confessed that she was hopelessly under
the spell of the bells.
Wherever she went and however engag-
ing were the sce<les which surrounded her,
the one experience of each day TO which she
looked forward with the keencst an.icipa-
ton was the ringing Of the chimes. No
company was sufficiently charming 10
draw her thoughts from this central theme,
and the echoes of the chimes rang their
clear notes through ever varying strain OF
pleasure.
When the impulse to ascend the tower
and witness the operation of ringing the
bells became paramount TO every other de-
sire, she sought the representatives of the
custodian of the church and applied for
permission to go into the tower at the hour
of the evening chimes. The only result of
her request was the information that, be-
cause of the number of suicides that had
taken place from the tower, absolute orders
had long been in force 10 admit no visitors.
She insisted on learning the names OF
the officials who might, If they would, grant
an exception to this order, but she was
given 10 encouragement to believe that
she could alter the established rule in this
regard.
This, however, did not weaken her de-
termination, and she began with the Off
cial lowest in rank and continued her APP
plications, without success, until she
reached the verger, with whom her last
hope rested.
He listened to her request and then re-
peatcd the explanation which she had
heard from every subcustodian to whom
she had applied. Her previous efforts had
only intensified her passion To climb into
the upper realms OF the carillonneur and
she sot herself the task of convincing the
church dignitary that she held no smolder-
ing suicidal impulses, and that her only in
terest in the matter was IA musical one.
Her special pleading was so adroitly
conducted that the yerger at last yielded
his consent. Before he could write out the
order for her admission to the belfry she
inquired by whom tho selections OF tae
tunes were made.
His answer was that the choice was left
entirely to the carillonneur, excepting when
special request was made for particular
piece.
"Will you allow me the honor of choos-
ing the selections TO he chimed Sunday
evening"" she quickly inquired.
Certainly, madam" was his answer,
and TO his order for her admission he add
cd the instructions that she should DE al
lowed to select the entire programme.
If the old Carillonneur was surprised
when the happy young woman entered his
exalted domain and placed before him the
order from the church dignitary, he was too
well trained TO fetray his emotions. He sim
ply bowed his acknowledgements and asked
II she would be kind enough To furnish him
with the list of selections. These wcro
neatly written in French on slips of note
paper which she laid upon the broad key
board. As he glanced over the programme
which she had prepared the traditions of a
lifetime were sSockcd. But he said moth
ing. There was the written order of his
superior, and it was his humble duty to
yield uDqUestioning obedience
The trcpid1tion of the musician may lie
saintly suggested by tie fact that the first
number on tho list was the Stephanie
Gavot."
Before the edges Of his hands had struck
score Of strokes upon the keys the city was
in its first throcs OF wonder and excitement
The oldest inhabitant OF Paris could not
recall the Sabbath evening when tho
chimes of Notre Dame had realed anything
bat the most classical of sacred music
and now they were ringing the gay meas
ures of the "Stephanie Gavot." Next
followed "A tripping air from the popular
opera, Tho Daughter of the Regiment, -
and for n fun hour the city was under
the thrall of waltZc5 and other echoes of
the ballroom as gay and rs lively as ever
inspired the light feet OF dancers.
When her hour Of triumph was over and
she descended from the belfry, the young
woman from Chicago had achieved IA dis
tinction 10 which no pcrson of her centur,
had dared aspire. Hei programme haa
added another epoch to the history of tho
chimes Of Notro Dame. Chicago Post