Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14

stone and 1t is rooted over with glass. A
frieze runs around the wall to the depth OF
three or four feet from the ceiling, pictur-
ing the Mother Goose legend of the queen
OF hearts who baked some tarts. A couple
of western girls did this decoration. which
ALI these restaurants have regular pa
irons. who on entering find their napkins
rolled In ring and set up in a rack near
the door like shaving mugs in barber
are as a rule the tidiest, not to say best
looking, persons present This Is true
though their faces are always heavily
Enthusiastically so their lips and eyes.
They smoke cigarettes after their dinner,
but in other respects appear to better
advantage than the American girl artists
another in extraordinary dress. The most
startling effect 1 have yet seen was ex-
hfbited by man who wore a~suit of white
corduroy clothes-the trousers wide and
Tapping; red sash curling about his waist;
q red necktfe with long flowing ends; his
curling black hair long to his shoulders
and-the really astonishing feature-he was
clean! He looked as If he had a tub every
day!
Each man, as he enters, makes the round
OF the room and shakes hands with every
one there whom he knows, often without
exchanging word.
After dinner recreation in the Latin quar-
ter takes various forms. The Concert
Rouge is popular. Here admirable music
Is TO De nodrQ, ana mere Sul StuOtHtS ~
frequently in twos or threes without male
escort. In the rear Of the room are tables
where one may smoke and drink during the
performance. Or by paying little more
one has an orchestra chair better placed for
hearing the music. Included with the price
of the char-about IS cents-one has the
choice Of several kinds Of drinks-coffee,
sirups, liquors. absinthe, grog.
Student Balls.
Students balls Of the Latin quarter are
not necessarily the frightfully depraved
performances which the casual American
tourist looking for the seamy side Of Paris
Is apt to find provided especially for him
by enterprising men Of business. But the
students ball is always unchaperoned. 1
have known eminently respectable Ameri-
can girls to go to these balls unattended,
coming home under escort arranged for
during the dance. Here. as at the cafes,
the professional model is much In evidence.
In this connection French and American
girls appear in singular contrast One does
see really respectable American gir.s in
queer: places in the Latin quarter. But the
French girls so appearing are always
models-models of almost anything but pro-
priety.
To offset the temptation of the Latin
quarter are several well-esta blished de-
vices. There is afternoon tea at the girls
club. freely dispensed to all corners, men
excluded Sunday nights there is re-
ceptfon at the club to which men are well
come, and for which a musical program
is provided. Also the American church
sends a salaried missionary to the Latin
quarter for the especial purpose Of de-
livering the students there from evil At
the very pleasant home Of the missionary
a reception Is held every Thursday evening.
and every Sunday evening a unique re-
ligious service is held in WHY'S atelier.
Here, where the walls are hung with stud
les Of the nude, and the usual parapher-
MALTA Of the studio abounds, from the mod
els throne prayer is offered, short ser
mon is preached and in between the relig-
ious feature there are songs, piano and
violin music by professionals.
When Hard Luck Comes.
The American missionary to the Latin
quarter also dispenses aims for the assist
ance Of American students. The demands
made upon him in this department of his
enterprise bring out one Of the two most
painful truths about the American girl
student She is wretchedly ill provided
with money necessary for her undertaking.
1 could fill book with stories have heard
Of American girls who come to Paris with
a meager amount Of money, who fall Ill,
who get into trouble of one sort or another
because of lack OF means, and are forced
finally to accept charity to avert worse
fate. Not a few cases are chronicled OF
American girls who have plunged into the
river rather than resort to begging help In
their misfortune, anu instances are Ire
Quent where from ill-suffcient food, hard
work, with here and there the further in
centive of absinthe drinking, American girls
studying in Paris go insane.
All this being true, might reveal no more
than the "red badge of courage attaching
to the American girl who. with great odds
against her, seeks to finish her education
in Paris, were 1t not also true-according
to high authority-that the great majority
Of American girls who come to Paris to
study could still learn great deal il they
stayed at home in Squeedunk. They know
little or nothing Of the art to be had in
their own country; they aspire to draw and
are utterly ignorant Of anatomy; they do
not know the first elements of French and
their general education provides them with
neither the mental poise nor the trained
faculties necessary for the work they seek
to do here. This is not said on the strength
of my own observation alone. 1t Is the
fact declared by French masters who have
years of experience in dealing with Amer
lean girl students. AS to these girls then,
the greatest pity is. not that they are
generally speaking-untidy, ill-housed, un-
derfed reckless; they are foolish. But
are they all orphans? Have they no moth
ers to spank them and keep them at homer
PAULINE PRY.