The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-12
FAMOUS
CAFE OF DEATH.
Gruesome Scenes Which Greet the
Startled Stranger.
MADE PARIS TALK OF THE WORLD
Everything About the Place Reminds
One OF Dcath-Graphic Description
Given by Visitor OF Remark
able Experience.

Probably everybody has read descrip'
lions of that famous cafe OF Death
in Paris. where tle gruesome is used as
an attraction. a contributor 10 the
sketch, however, very graphically re-
lates his experience on a recent visit, and
cmDeAlshes ais account win pictures on
the scene, Wnlcl Is the nrst ,e such
views nave appeared in pubic INT
Welcome 10 she house OF death. rake
a seat either on the right OF the lell.
5uch ls tue strange greeting tnal ldii1
upon your ears when, having pushed
aside tne neaVy black curtain mat hangs
over the doorway, you nlsl and your
self IN the dimly -IgnlCd .00m beyond.
The voice, slow. solemn and cndntlns,
proceeds from the gloom iu Wnicn inc
farther end of the chamber ls enFeloped.
and impressed already, you mechanically
drop down on the low straw cnalr lAal
Is nearest 20 YOU.
a GRUESOMB TABLE
After the first few seconds OF surprise
have passed, and you have grown some
what dccus coined 20 the strange atnlp1-
pherc. YOU begin 90 observe your SUR
roundings more closely and cafefully.
The form Of the polished oak table be-
fore which you are sitting, and the top
of which Is almost on level with your
chin, seems unusual The top at one
PARTICULAR place Is broader than u la
az either or the cXtremiues. one oL
winch tapers away almost 20 point
the sides are much deeper than those
OK a table generally are. and your knees
inform you that they are united no The
bottom as they are at the tOD-that the
table, In fact Is not q table Dut d box.
on glance underneath; 10 is supported,
not on legs. but on trestles. Another iapld
survey OF the whole, and, by an instau-
taneous process of induction. you sud-
denly realize that YOU are sitting Zoo front
Of coffin. Barely have you made this
discovery ere you axe startled by "a
sepulchral Brother" uttered 1t your
elbow. What poison do You prefer
urotnerE Then YOU recOilect that you
are IN q cafe, Partisan cafe. "Cate du
Meant was inscribed over the door the
care OF NiAiAty, OF Death. II ls but nat-
utal tnat IN cafe there should DE
Waltots. This man addressing you, how
ever, IS as unlike an ordinary Wutor as
me taole IS unlike am everyday table.
ms tail black, crape-bound glazed nat
rusty suit OF broadcloth and white neck
t4e an proclaim him 10 be a cr0Que mort
the mute of France
Having placed a glass of beer in front
OF YOU and lighted a wax taper. which
ne iiNes upright IN a small hole arranged
Tor the purpose In the ia OF the coffin,
ne informs You now many SOUS beer ana
taper cost, pockets the money and re-
tires rs sOlemny as lie approached. hav-
ing hrsl told you Ia a gloomy whisper
that the deceased died OF cholera
DEATH AND DECAY.
10 IL all done In such a perfectly nat
ural manner that your hilarity Is never
Tor moment aroused the inc0ngruity
of the situation now hardly strikes you.
the other visitors 20 the cafe. seated at
the dozen collins or so ranged up potn
sides OF the room. are evidently as much
impressed as YOU are Everything tends
10 heighton the Illusion. on the black
walls IN gulse OF ornaments. hangs skulls
ana crossDoues, funeral tablets speaking
90 death and decay, pictures the figures
IN which change suddenly into death S
heads and skeletons Depending from the
ceiling Is a chandelier composed entirely
OF human bones. though the room Ia Hue
minated principally by the lickering Ia
pers fixed In the coffin lids. The voice that
babe you welcome when you entered has
ever since been mumb.ing a sort OK m
tefminable burlesQue sermon on the fra
gllity OF human existence. the speaker
attred I'm clerical garb-long black coat,
high white ccilar-and with clean. plump,
rosy face. on which there Is never tie
rnost OF a smile. be thu absurdities ne
utter what they may.
At length all the straw chairs being oc-
c,ipied. the sermon comes 10 an abrupt
termination and the 'mourners" are in
v,teA 10 enter the vaults Taper In hand,
vOu form one or a procession through
several torturous. winding passages. cum
rineiv hAed 20 resemble underground
stone corridors. The walls are covered
WIN half-oblitersted Inscriptions and
tie surface Of the stone IN places, IL
nesiing on. the work 81 damp and years
heing clsvscly simulated a rnou.dy,
ssrthy odor has even been provided. that