Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-17


 Equal to Any Emergency.
 Stories of the unique characters that America contributes to the Latin quarter of Paris, tho section in which is to he found the majority of the art students in the gay French capitol are entertainingly fold by Clinton Peters, the artist.
 Charles Snyder, who has lived for tho last 31 years in Paris. Is well known to the students in the Latin quarter as Die tionGry Snyder This sobriquet is due to bis fund of information. He is not an art ist, but has for several years associated with them. Snyder speaks seven languages and has q superior education, which, how ever, he has seldom been able to turn to advantage so far as his personal benefit is concerned.
 "In everything he is typical Bohemi- an," said Mir. Peters, land indifferent to the future so long as his wants are pro vided for in the present. He is master Of expediency and has given innumerable il. lustrations of his remarkable resources it practically living without money.
 At the beginning of the siege of Paris Snyder had but 15 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 small sum, and he replied that at the time the siege was announced he resolved to buy a quan- 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 t ught of such an article of diet, and fl, day to day purchased small quantities of bread
 "Thc oil and bread were mixed togeth- CT with water and made into a sort of soup, and on this limited though nourish ing menu Snyder lived until the siege was nearly ended.
 Howard the close of the siege he be- came extremely weary of his monotonous diet and resolved on bold stroke for 0 change in the bill of fare. So he left the city secretly and walked boldly up to a German picket. Of course he was brought to halt by the soldier. Then he explain ed that he was not Partisan, but an American citizen detained in Paris and a 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 Shy der meant no mischief but was really g. man in need of provender, he finally con sented to become 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 soldier, as if in the full performance of his vigilance, was to fire his gun in the air. It was car ried out successfully, and Snyder reached the camp in safety.
 "Here he was regaled 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 be had prom ised tho guard who had first arrested his bold flight to return within an hour. h. dulging in the foaming beer offered him in the camp, he had overstaid the allot- ted 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 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 marvellous escape, and, as the Germans had done, set before him boun- tiful repast.
 Although at many times in the geat. est penury, Snyder would never accept regular employment. 1 know of one offer that was made to him by New York newspaper to take charge of its cable busi- ness at salary of S3, 900 per annum. This offer was promptly declined by Snyder, who said that it involved a 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- hence, but in those days the student was far from prosperous.
 "There was to be dinner given at a restaurant celebrated in the quarter for the excellence of its menu, and of course, this student I 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 E Inventive genius to work. He pondered si- lently for brief while, but his brow soon frightened, and he cheerfully asked, Have you collar?
 1.-The student responded in the affirma- LVe, put aIuOuuccu UntU ne nsitl uO Ule Up wear with it 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 fshed up vivid red stocking, and by means of sundry holes cut in ths 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 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 shoul- ders. You may well conceive what sensa- tion the sight of his naked breast oulni- hating in a stocking hung collar produced on the company. ."-Baltimore Sun.