The Topeka state journal., 1900-02-09
REsORTs FOR PARIS poor.

[Paris Cor. of the Pail Mall Gazette.
The municipal authorities are taking
special measures to cope with the suf-
fering caused by the present intense
cold. Owing to the facts that the work
house system does not exist in France
and that there is no exact equivalent
in Paris to the common lodging houses
of London, the shifts of the Outcast
population to provide themselves with
a nights shelter are very different in
the two capitals.
For such of the destitute as possess
a few sous there are two principal re-
sorts. The more luxurious is the Aigie
dor, a sort of beggars' caravansary,
installed, by the irony of fate, in the
spacious and ancient building that was
once the mansion of De la Raynie, who
in his lifetime was the sworn enemy
and terror of all vagabonds. This es-
tablishment is kept by a well known
character, NJ. Andre Belval, who is
feared by his clients on account of his
herculean strength, but liked for his
good nature, which often leads him to
give credit to old customers. For four
pence a night NJ. Belval provides each
conner with bed to himself-an ap-
preciable luxury. The ground floor is
strictly reserved for the old and infirrn.
and is known to the habitues as THE
Senate" 1t is preceded, curiously
enough, by a courtyard, known from
time immenorial as the High Court
NJ. BelVal is renowned for his StrictneSS
ling is allowed in the dormitories. At
the first signs of a disturbance the gil
ant proprietor is on the spot, and the
celerity with which he evicts decalei-
trant customers is said to be a sight to
witness.
A still more famous establishment is
that of Fradin in the Rue Saint Denis.
In a three storied house, supplemented
by two Easements, nearly a thousand
ragged and forlorn individuals are ac-
cOmmOdated every night in winter.
They pay four sous, or twopence, for
either a bowl of soup, a cup of coffee
or a glass of beer, and the right to sleep
as best they can, huddled together at
the tables or stretched on the floor.
Those who visit this inferno in the
course of a Summing expedition through
Paris carry away with them the recol-
lection of an odor that it may be hope 4
has no known equivalent. The business
done by F'radin, who is proud of referring
to the big dowry he proposes to give his
daughter, is most profitable, and it is
surprising that there should be prac-
tfcally no rival establishment. The oft
described "Pere Lunette" used to be
conducted on much the same lines, but
it has greatly fallen in prosperity, if not
in reputatiOn-Which would be difficult
and has degenerated into a mere cafe
of the lowest class though it is still
shown to ingenious tourists as a typical
''dosshouse."
The official arrangements for giving a
nights shelter to the absolutely penni-
less are very inadequate. There are only
four night refugees maintained out of the
public funds. Those, however, who are
able to obtain admittance are well
treated, as they are given a good bowl
of soup and a bed similar to that of
the French soldier. A bath is obligatory
on all applicants for shelter, and they
are given a sort of uniform to wear
while their clothes are disinfected. To
supplement these refugees the authorities
are issuing gratuitOuS lodging tickets,
the recipients of which are quartered
il the low class hotels. The flaming
brasiers which were a picturesque fea-
ture of the populous districts of Paris
on winter nights are to be suppressed
this season, the municipality having de-
cided, for reasons that are not very ap-
parent, that they do little good. This
did not seem to be the opinion of the
shivering unfortunates who used to
crowd round them.