The Opelousas courier., 1896-02-22
JOKING WITH GRIM DEATH,
The Grewsome Carousals That Take Place
at the Cafe de la Morte.

The Cafe de la Mort YVES opened d
few months ago, but only recently has
1t attracted much attention. It is sitr.
nted two blocks from the Moulin Rouge,
that stamping ground of Venus and
Fae,hus, at 81 Boulevard Montmaitre.
The outside of this extraordinary
cafe is curious in itself. 1t is a small
~tNo-story brick structure, the front of
which, in imitation Of the decorations
customarily used on Il French church
during a funeral, is drapcd with black
portieres with white trimmings. En-
trance is obtained through u slit in the
curtains.
Upon entering the unsuspecting
stranger receives n shock not sooh 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 a dim and ghastly 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 a glass of wine, to
their lips, in a toast or as a sign Of
welcome.
The stereotyped expression of the
"1ossoyeur" us 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 a little to
the right is a dimly lighted passage
with vaulted ceiling extending back
some ten feet, at the further end of
which is a massive wooden door, with
q huge iron knocker resembling a skull.
y few vigorous raps and a false panel
is swung wide. A face ppears at a
grated window.
A man dressed in hood and gown, like
the Capuchin monks, demands in gut.
teral tones the reason for intrusion:
All! One wishes to die? One wishes
enter the chamber of death?"
There is a grewsome rafting of
The heavy doors swing slowly
back. "Entrez. mes freres. Vous en-
trez lie domain de la mort. Vous yenir
lei a morir."
The room is somewhat smaller than
first. To the right are a few rows
Of benches for the spectators, to the left
IN old organ, while directly opposite
entrance is a platform draped in
black, upon which, set up ~perpendicu-
'a1y, stands an ebony coffin. Here
Io the walls are painted in imitation
masonry, with an assortment of
angels painted 81. back.
ground of flame.
AS the visitors take their seats one
the two monks who conduct the cere-
nony asks who it is that is ready and
prepared to die. Upon the expression
# such a desire one is led to the coffin,
placed therein and covered, all except
lis face, with a white sheet. The lights
re turned low, almost extinguished.
md the wheezy old organ begins to
'our forth a most melancholy dirge.
phosphorescent effect appears about
he coffin, while faint streaks of light
re visible on the figure inside. The
monks are chanting in a weird jargon.
iradually and imperceptibly the bones
# a skeleton appear. The human form
'ecomes less distinct, the skeleton
more clear. The illusion is perfect,
tartling. The mans head has sud-
turned into a grinning skull. In
he coffin nothing remains except a
keleton.
Presently the lights are turned up
the CHASTITY apparition disappears,
1hile from out the coffin walks the man
gho has contributed the amusement
0 his morbid friends. He has seer
othing of the skeleton into which he
7as transformed, but could vaguely
the audience, to whom, owing to the
fusion, he was invisible. Needless to
ay, the transformation is effected by
he use of a concealed stereopticon.
UGH is the domain of death"
This room is connected with another
y q narrow passage. The latter room, !
eng furnished in a less impressive
lyle, is somewhat more endurable
han the others. There are rows of
ing benches across one end, while at
other is a low, curtained platform.
ere a performance is conducted. !
'ricks, sleight-of-hand performances .
dancing generally comprise the
rogramme. The exit from this room ;
through a passage similar to the en-
'ance, which leads back into the main {
,om of the cafe.
The proprietor is a little Frenchman
seems to have entered thoroughly
ito the spirit of the place and his I'M
ertaking. That he is making money
ut of his chamber of horrors is un.
The strangest thing is
lat, besides the usual throng of curl
sightseers, he has a large number
regular customers whose morbid
Incies are attracted by the place.