Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-15
A CLUB FOR BABIES.
Established on That Great Paris Rem
devious, Champs Elysees.
From Tit-Bits.

From Tt-Bits.
The latest thing in the way of clubs is a
club for babies. 1t has just been establish
ed in Paris, right in the heart of that fash
ionable rendezvous and playground of bet
ter class children, the green and glorious
Champs Elysees, where hundreds of
youngsters daily delight themselves fitting
at rings from the gentle steeds of hand
turned roundabouts, and enjoy unlimited
laughter at the rival Punch and Judy
shows.
The establishment of the Casino des En-
fants, as the club is called was the idea
of a wellknown Partisan journalist Judg-
ing from its success up to the present there
Is no doubt that it has come to fill a long
| felt want, for the club is daily crowded
with merry-faced babes, while on Sunday
| afternoons they throng there in their hun
dreds. 1t is select, too, for membership en-
! tails an expenditure OF f1vepence per day,
so it is only the children of the wealthy,
handsomely attired in the latest fashions,
| that are to be found there.
A carpeted corridor, lined with palms,
| gives entrance to the club room, a high,
| vast apartment with roof of beautifully
| stained glass. Large mirrors are ranged
| around the walls. and these in the evening
| throwing thousand reflections of the cleo
| trio candles in the high chandeliers. con-
| vert 1t into veritable fairy palace of bril-
| liant light
! 1t is a club for fun and not for serious
! thought, its raison d'etre being to provide
| a rendezvous where genteel children may
| derive the maximum of amusement with
| the minimum of discomfort in surroundings
| equal to those to which they habit
| uated: it combines all the joys and pleas
| ureS of the nursery, and a good deal more,
| with the advantage of mixing with equals
| in birth and manners Moreover, it is airy.
| light and beautifully cool for the children
| 70 play in, as contrasted with the heat and
glare of the outside in the gardens of
| the Champs ElySeeS.
Pleasure being its purpose, it is naturally
| equipped so that none of the members may
| know dull moment, but may be always
| happily amused. All kinds of games and
| amusements are provided. and these the
children can enjoy under the watchful eyes
of female attendants, there specially to adj
minister to their every want and see that
| they come to no harm.
In the center of the hall there is a small
| merry go-round of bicycles, and there are
also several small swings, inclosed for
safety within railing of bamboo. with low
| see-saws and gentle rocking horses Shut
| tlecock is favorite game and there are
others played with rings, swinging balls
| and spinning wheels. Between flower stalls,
stalls for sweets, Ice creams and cool
| drinks there are set all kinds of automatic
| machines whose games give pleasure to the
young.
| But undoubtedly the great attraction OF
| the club is the tiny lake, In whose clear.
| nmpid waters scores of goldfish dart about
| In wild endeavor to escape the nets welded
| by the members of both sexes. The lake
looks very real, surrounded as it is with
| rockery and bamboo ratings. The children
! pay their twopence to the attendant. dain-
/ tily attired as Japanese miss, and are
| provided with nets and allowed to fish as
| long as they like. They keep the fish they
| net and take them home in small glass
globes, but more often the haul is gravel
| and-signs of disappointment. There is
| always a crowd around the lake, and great
| is the joy when a golden-hued member of
| the hnny tribe is hauled from it's natural
| element.
"Guignor' is ever favorite with French
children; SO, of course, the club would not
1 be complete without its Punch and Judy
show. It is also provided with small
| theater, where simple ballets and small
one-act plays are performed by troupe
| of children actors. while children's or
/ chestra. containing no member over twelve
years of age. provides the music.
At the opposite end Of the hall is a small,
1 prettily furnished salon, wherein, seated on
tiny chairs at tiny tables. the children may
partake of the inevitable O'Clock tea from
cups whose size are in keeping with that
OF the users.