New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-10

CHRISTMAS. AND THE QUEER MARCHE
DU TEMPLE.
SOME GOOD BARGAINs-THE PLACE WHERE THE
ARTISTS BUY DRAPERIEs AND COSTUMES.

SOME GOOD BARGAINs-THE PLACE WHERE THE
ARTISTS BUY DRAPERIEs AND COSTUMES.
Paris. December ?6.
Christmas Eve Is a fete in Paris. and the Grand
Boulevard possesses a character distinctive OF the
occasion. Late In the evening the cafes become
crowded, and the cafe-restaurants that are to
keep open all night for the Christmas "reveillon'
begin to arrange their tables. many of which have
been engaged IN advance The "reveilon. or
Christmas Eve supper at midnight. Is more i'm
portant to the Frenchman than the Christmas
dinner. and the indulgence In II may somewhat ac-
count for the general atmosphere Of almost gloomy
abstinence that seems 10 hang over Paris on
Christmas Day. oysters represent the favoritc
first course. and any one interested In statistics
may like to know that half million dozen oysters
sold at the Halles last Wednesday and Thurs
day, and of ecrevissc. that appetizng crawfish.
COCO represents the number consumed during the
"reveillon" Impecunous clerks and reckless Latin
Quarter students 90 dinneress. I'm the first in
stance a week beforehand and in the second often
a month afterward. that they may partake OF a
proper "reveillon' In restaurant that Is usually
closed to them by apparent bars OF gold. The
thoroughly up-to-date Partisan divides his Christ
supper into many courses. taking each at a
different place. and perhaps reaching home for the
last cup OF coffee served in place OF the petit
deeuner."
Apropos Of the "reveon." there is an amusing
story current just now that didn't. as many
Quarter Latin stories do, come out OF Murger =
Scenes de la Boheme." because the Scene Is
only a few days old and concerns American stu
dents. young man, recent arrival in Paris.
subrented. few months ago. a furnished studio
from acquaintance who was leaving Parls Tor
a while As he came to Paris via London, he had
invested heavily in clothes. and on his arrival
here wonderful bargains In rugs. draperies and
,,la a1 ip, n
plunge deeply into his remaining capital. few
days before Christmas his concierge kindly but
firmly informed him that his happy -go-lucky
friend from whom he had taken TIE atelier was
a year behind In his rent, and unless 1t was PAID
that week not only the furniture but his own
effects would he taken. After ascertaining that
the proprietor legally right IL not morally so
in regard to his belongings. he confided his plight
10 several friends. who determined to come to his
rescue They did not invite him to Christmas
''revellon" but invited him to invite them to one
at his studio. Every came. wearing large
listers or the voluminous cloaks that students buy
of the shepherds in the South OF France ana wear
with grace I'm the streets of Paris. 1t was a
bounful supper that the host provided, but IL d'o
no, account for the extra bulk that appeared on
the shadow of each departing guest. Even the
fox terrier who had too much sense to bark wore
a new cloak which inspection appeared much
like an Indian blanket strapped about with an
antique girde. The next morning the locatare
went out on an early spin with his dress clothes
tucked up under his bicycle rig. leaving merely an
empty trunk and coffee pot as Christmas
"etrenne" for the sleepy concierge
have mentioned the bargains at the Marche du
Temple and am reminded that this Is spot that
is irresistbly attractive to the foreigner in Paris
1t sounds very far away in point OF time 10 rerer
TO the Knights Templar. and the mighty citadel
they erected In what was then an environ OF faris
the citadel which afterward became prison
whence the hapless Louis WI ana Marie An
toinette made their journey TO the euiio'h'c' pue
we refer TO the Temple in a fippant manner
,owadavs and IT has meaning quite remote
from that surrounding the home OF the warrior
priosts of the Middle Ages Although nothing TO-