Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1899-01-17
FREAK CAFE OF PARIS.
Giants and Dwarfs Are Waters, and
Patrons Throng the Place.


known to all Parisians, is located on
the Boulevard de la Villette, in
modest building, the exterior attrac-
tions Of which consist mainly Of
gaudy placards setting forth the null
tifarious charms of certain dwarfs,
giants and other monstrosities, all Of
whom are attendants in this extraor-
dinary place Of entertainment.
The interior apparently differs in
hardly any respect from that of the
ordinary Partisan cafe, and yet there
lis vast difference. Here the guests
are served by "freaks" Of all kinds, in
stead Of by polite walters, and, as an
interlude, they have the family his
tories of all The freaks instead of
the customary restaurant music. The
proprietor, M Marichel, big, jolly
looking fellow, explains, when asked,
that he has been obliged TO advertise
his monstrosities in this peculiar way
because the police regulations IN re-
gard to public exhibitions Of this kind
are extremely strict.
Consequently, instead Of paying his
freaks to exhibit themselves to Che
public, be pays them to act as walters
Fin his cafe. Of course he attains the
desired resulI. The people throng to
his cafe. talk 10 the abnormal crea-
lures who serve them with coffee and
pbsinthe, listen to their strange
stories about their parcntage and past
life, and seldom 20 away before they
have spent FAR more than the price Of
admission to an ordinary circus or
show. OF course the freaks" are well
paid for their services. Some get as
high as so francs a day-a good sal
ary, indeed, but not enormous when
we consider that the proprietor of the
cafe takes in on an average between
900 and 1900 francs every Sunday
afternoon.
The attractions which he offers are
various. At the head must be placed
a child with a calf's head. A veritable
goldmi this lusus natura has proved
TO the proprietor. Last year a II
year-old giant was the great attrac-
tion. Ills name is Firmin Arudi, and
he is distinguished among mortals for
his great height and his enormous
feet. He now resides at Pantin, be-
ing the husband of a low-Sized young
woman, who frequently complains to
her neighbors that whenever she
wants to speak to him shehas to climb
up ladder.
Two colored women and an Irish
giant named Thompson Dilkens were
imported when Arudi left. One of
the women, who bears the lofty title
of Princess Campbell, weighs nearly
T500 pounds, and she has a chest and
pair Of arms which strike with awe az
beholders. Her leisure time is spent
with her young son, who promises
within a few years to become as pom
derops as his mother. The other wom-
an, who was known as "the Indian
Colossus" also weighed about 500
pounds. Unfortunately she was
afflicted with homesickness and speed
ily returned to her native land.
The Irish giant is nearly eight feet
tall, and his great ambition is to be
considered a dandy and a man of the
world He is fond Of travelling. and
special carriage has been built for
him, in which he makes frequent trips
to the country. During his absence
his place as first favorite in the cafe
is taken by a remarkable 1S-year-old
dwarf named EsmiIer. This little
urchin weighs nine pounds and is
only G5 centimeters high In the
words Of his employer, ''he is just the
height Of an ordinary newspaper aud
50 light that anyone can carry him UNI
der the arm"
Joseph Bullerbach is another
unique attraction His beard sweeps
the ground, and in the winter serves
its owner as a muffler. When Joseph
walks abroad his native modesty inn
pels him to hide the beard under his
waistcoat. He dislikes notoriety and
lis apparently totally unconscious Of
the fact that more than one young
woman has fallen in love with him.
His employer, nevertheless, is very
much afraid that he will go off and get
married some day, and therefore he
has engaged several new freaks" in
Guiding female monkey, who is COW
cred With wool from head to foot.
A novel feature in connection with