The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-01
DICTIONARY SNYDER.
A UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE LATIN
QUARTER OF PARIS.
Nm American Who IL "A Typical Bohemian.
How He Lived During the Siege of Paris.
Bold Dash For Cheese and Beer-Be Yves
Equal To Amy Emergency.

America 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 entertainingly
told by Clinton Peters, the artist
Charles Snyder, who has lived for the
last 81 years i'm Paris, is well known to
the students i'm the Latin quarter as Die
tionary Snyder. This sobriquet is due to
his fund of information. He is not an art
list, but has for several years associated
with them. Snyder speaks seven languages
and has n superior education, which, how
ever, he has seldom been able to turn to
advantage so far as his personal benefit is
concerned.
SIN everything he is n typical Bohemi-
an, said Mr.. Peters, land Indifferent to
the future so long as his wants are pro-
vidcd for in the present. He is master of
expedicncy and has given innumerable IL
Illustrations of his remarkable resources In
practically living without 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 asked him once how he
| managed to survive on such small sum,
| and he replied that at the time the siege
| was announced he resolved to buy guam
| tity of food that no one else would think
| of, and which would sustain life for "a con
siderable Period. Prices were SO high that
| there were very few articles of food that
were left TO the choice of limited pocket
| book, but he solved the problem accurate
| ly 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 purchased small
| quantities of bread.
1.-The oil and bread were mixed togeth
err with water and made into sort of
soup, and on this limited though nourish
ing 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 bold stroke for a
change in the bill of fare. So he left the
city secretly and walked boldly up to n
| German picket OF course he was brought
to halt by the soldier. Then he explain
cd that he was not Partisan, but an
| American citizen detained in Paris AID u
very hungry one at that. He asked per-
mission to enter the German camp, but
the soldier told Snyder he had orders to
allow no one to pass. Convinced that Sny
der meant no mischief, but was really a
man in need of provender, he finally con-
scented to become party to ruse which
that fertile gentleman proposed This was
that Snyder was to take to his heels in the
direction of the camp, while the soldier, as
If in the full performance of his vigilance,
was to fire his gun in the air. 1t was car
ried out successfully, and Snyder 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
ised the guard who had first arrested his
bold flight to return within an hour. In
dulging in the foaming beer offered him
In the camp, he had overstaid the ailot
ted time and on reaching the out ost
found another picket.
Explanations followed, and Snyder
proposed that he be allowed to run for the
gate. through which he originally 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 astonished
Frenchmen regarded him as one who had
achieved n marvellous escape, and, as the
Germans had DONE set before him boun'
tiful repast.
although at many times in the great
regular employment. know of one offer
that was made TO him by a New York
newspaper to- take charge of its cable bust
ness at u salary of So, 900 per annum. This
offer was promptly declined by Snyder,
who said that it involved u certain amount
of routine work which would surely kill
him. He was then living on about cents
day.
"At the time was spending most OF
my carly days in Paris there was an art
student for whom Snyder had particular
fondness. He has since risen to promi-
nence, but in those days the student was
far from prosperous.
There was to be dinner given at a
restaurant celebrated in the quarter for
tho excellence of its menu, and of course,
this student 1 speak of was particularly
anxious to go. But he lacked most I'M
portant essential. He had no white shirt.
Snyder was called into the meeting of con-
dolence that was held and at once set his
inventive genius to work. He pondered ST.
lcntly for brief while, but his brow soon
lightened and he cheerfully asked, Have
you n Collar
The student responded in the affirma.
tive, but announced that he had no tie to
wear with il appropriate to the occasion
III la thdo ohSNNiNN OhJ wv
reassuringly as he went through the very
limited wardrobe of the art student. He
fished up vivid red stocking, and by
means Of sundry holes cut in thu collar
and artistic manipulation the flaming
stocking was twisted into 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
dinner progressed he forgot that in his
shirtless condition it was important to
keep his coat closely buttoned, and in an
absent moment he loosened that garment
and flung the lapels back against his shout
dcrs. You may well conceive what sensa-
ton the sight of his naked breast culini.
mating in stocking hung collar produced
ON the company. ''-Baltimor sun.
| A Warming.