The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-21
DICTIONARY SNYDER.
An Interesting Character known to
the Students in the Latin Quarter
of PuriS
From the Baltimore sun.

the Students in the Latin Quarter
of Paris
From the Baltimore Sun.
Stories of the unique characters that
American contributes to the Latin quarter
of Paris, the section in which is TO be found
the majority of the art students in the gay
French capital, are cnsertainingly told by
Mr. Clinton Peters. Charles Snyder. who
has lived for the past thirty-one years in
Paris, is well known to the students in the
Latin quarter as Dictionary Snyder"
This soubriquet is due to his fund of in
formation. But he is not an artist, but
has for years associated with them.
Snyder speaks seven languages, has a SUI
perior education. which, however. he has
seldom been able to turn to advantage so
far as his personal benefit is concerned.
In everything he is a typical Bohe-
man. said Mr.. Peters yesterday and
Indifferent to the future, so long as his
wants are provided for in the present. He
is a master of expediency, and has given
/ innumerable illustrations of his remark
J able resources in practically living with
out money.
AT the beginning of the siege of Paris
Snyder had but 10 francs, yet he lived on
them throughout that long period, when
the necessities of life were sold for almost
fabulous prices. l asked him once how
he managed to survive on such a small
sum, and he replied that at the time the
quantity of food that no one else would
think OF and which would sustain life for
a. considerable period. Prices were so
nigh that there were very few articles of
food that were left to the choice of a limit
ed pocketbook, but he solved the problem
accurately. He bought three bottles of
olive oil on the first day. when hardly any
one of the Parisians thought of such an
article of diet and from day to day pur
chased small quantities of bread. The oil
and bread were mixed together with water
and made into sort of soup, and on this
| limited though nourishing menu Snyder
/ lived until the siege was nearly ended.
Toward the close of the siege he be-
| came extremely weary of his monotonous
| diet, and resolved on a bold stroke for
city secretly and walked boldly up to
| German picket OF course he was
brought to a halt by the soldier Then
he explained that he was not a Partisan,
and very hungry one at that He asked
| permission to enter the German camp. but
allow no one to pass. Convinced that
Snyder meant no mischief but was really
a man in need Of provender, he finally con-
sented to become a party to a ruse which
that fertile gentleman proposed. This
was that Snyder was to take to his heels
in the direction of the camp, while the SOL
1t was carried out successfully, and Sny-
der reached the camp. in safety.
Here he was RECALLED with cheese beer,
and other good things to his hearts con-
tent by the Germans, and soon after start
ed to return to Paris. But he had prom
| Used the guard who had first arrested his
bold flight to return within an hour. In
dulging the foaming beer offered him in
the camp, he had oVerstayed the allotted
time and on reaching the outpost found
another picket. Explanations followed.
and Snyder proposed that he be allowed to
run for the gate through which he origi-
nally came while the guard pretended to
chase and fire upon him. Again was his
scheme agreed to and he re-entered Paris.
Once inside the gate the Frenchmen re-
garded as one who had achieved marvel
lous escape and, as the Germans had done
before him a bountiful repast.
Although at many times in the great
est penury, Snyder would never accept
regular employment. ] know of one Of
fer that was made to him by a New York
newspaper to take charge of it's cable bus
mess at a salary of 5000 per annum. This
! offer was promptly declined by Snyder
who said that ii involved a certain amount
| of routine work which would kill him. He
was then living on about four cents day.
Sat the time was spending most of my
earlier days in Paris there was an art
student for whom Snyder had particu-
! lar fondness: He has since risen to prom
| inence, but in those days the student was
| far from prosperous. There was to be a
| dinner given at a restaurant celebrated in
| the Quarter for the excellence of its menu
and, of course, this student 1 speak of was
particularly anxious to go. But he lacked
| a most important essential. He had no
white shirt! Snyder was called into the
meeting of coincidence that was held. and
at once set his inventive genius to work
| He pondered silently for a brief while.
but his brow soon lightened and he cheer
| lily asked. Have you a collar?
The student responded in the affirma-
| tive, but announced that he had no tie to
wear with 1t appropriate to the occasion
" I'll fix that easily, answered Snyder.
! reassuringly, as he went through the very
| limited wardrobe of the art student. He
| fished up a vivid red stocking, and by
means of sundry holes cut in the collar
and artistic manipulation the flaming
| stocking was twisted into a very clever
| imitation of becoming neckcloth. The
effect was satisfactory to all concerned,
and the student departed for the dinner in
| high feather.
but unfortunately for appearances. and
especially for the poor student, as the din
ner progressed he forgot that in his shirt
| less condition it was important to keep
his coat closely buttoned. and in an alb
sent moment he loosened that garment
and flung the lapels back against his
sensation the sight of his naked breast,
| eliminating in a stOcking-hung collar pro-
duced on the company.
Another instance of Snyders ingenuity
| in a desperate strait, and also another in
| stance of the Indulgence of the same art
student, now the head of great art insti-
I tuition in America occurred at another
| social gathering Such had been the inn
| provement in the Students fortunes that
he was able to afford a shirt, but had no
studs to ornament the front Snyder was
| once more consulted, and, as usual. repaid
| this tribute to his genius with a ready
| idea. He cut three black buttons from
| his shoes and strung them on a heavy
| thread. The buttons were hung upon the
| thread from the inside held them deftly in
| place They presented respectable APP
| pearance, and the student went boldly 10
take his part in the festivities.
Dancing was in order. and the student
was one of the gayest of those who danced
: But also the eXertion of his movements