New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-04
FAIRS In PARIS.
of Them There Is No End and
Scarcely 4Ry Beginning
Paris. March 2l.


Outside the vast sheds of the Temple which
for nearly century have stood on the site of
the old State prison where many victims of
the Revolution. including the little Dauphin son
Of the Inflated Queen Marie Antoinette. Ian
guished and died. huge placards bearing
mendacious device. The First Paris Fair are
floating to-day. Only in one particular. how
ever. does the First Paris Fair hear out its
title it is a temporary gathering of merchants
and wares, and is in truth commercial
enterprise, having little in common with those
institutions associated for centuries with the
name of a fair.
For fairs in France, and in Paris in particular,
there is end. and indeed scarcely any begin
ming. OF indigenous and almost spontaneous
growth, since that instituted by King Dagobert
in 500 A. D.. In the priory Of st. Denis they
have been the hardest Of ANNALS The great
Foire Jambon CHam Fair)-which by special
privilege. held every year until recently
the Parvis de Notre Dame though relegat-
ed to the more distant Boulevard Richard Lee
noir. has assumed constantly greater Importance
a mart, and the still popular Fore
Pain d'Epice Gingerbread Fair) maintains even
more consistently the old traditions of the me-
di=val fete The impromptu stage laid upon
trestles which the actor Of those days went
through his bits Of business" to the immense
admiration of his simple audience is represented
lights and curtain: the booths in which the fat
baby and the mermaid may be for a few
sous cunningly draped and lighted
with electric lamps; Aunt Sally is gor-
geously attired as to be scarce recognizable. and
1t is with thrill OF surprise that the irreverent
performer with the balls finds that she conde-
sends fall when hit for all the world like the
unadorned black figure of country village.
1t is not only Aunt Sally" who has. however.
been improved almost out of knowledge In the
Gingerbread Fair. The real "clou" OF the fair
IS not these side shows, the stalls at
which the savory cake can be purchased in the
form of every beast known and unknown to the
keepers Of the Geological Gardens. on which
you have your name added in crisp, white
or pink sugar. If you like; the cake has given
its name to the show. but II is the roundabouts,
turning To music. centres Of brilliant light and
perfectly irresistible in their modern dress, which
the principal attraction of the fair. Under
deliberately painted canopies and in a blaze of
electric lamps those plungng dolphins. fat. pink
pigs and rearing horses spin dzzily round and
round. amid shrieks Of laughter from spectators
and riders alike. Far into the night the enter
tainment is kept UP. and lively trade in re-
freshments is carried the small hours Of
the morning approach. The little old Bretonne, in
her pretty lace cap. who makes such wonderful
cakes which melt in your mouth with velvety
softness like nothing else on this side OF the
water, does the most business. Eaten hot from
the stove. her "gaettes'' taste very good, and
they are the origin OF the popular American
waffle.
The Gingerbread Fair. however. with it's me-
diRval air. has nothing I'm common with the
fair which has for years past been associated
with the Temple. Here in the long alleys set
out under the dngy and bare roofs Of those
enormous sheds the rag merchants OF the capt.
tai have been accustomed for nearly century
to set forth their curious Apart from a |
small sprinkIing OF foreigners attracted by
curiosity TO OF the sights OF Paris there !
were here none but bona ide purchasers OF the
cheapest and humbest kind OF household goods. |
young persons OF the poorest classes. about TO |
set up housekeeping on nothing year. and that |
uncertain, and able only to aspire to the worn |
out goods Of others. Here were ancient beds, |
rickety chairs bits OF threadbare carpet dilapi-
dated cupboards; in another alley were the rag |
women. properly called. with a fearsome col |
lection of wornout fnery, venerable mantles. !
moth eaten furs; here and there bit OF bro !
cade telling a story OF past splendor: little |
soiled kid dancing shoes Of old fashioned cut and
finish, which probably played an active part in |
long past ball-odds and ends such as |
these daily hunted through by the poor. |
who looked upon the place veritable mine |
OF treasures to be had for old song.
The Temple Fair has been institution since |
the early days of the nineteenth century. but its
demolition had been determined upon when the |
scheme Of the First Paris Fair was preached. |
To sweep away the rag women and utilize their
location for a serious Industrial enterprise. in
which all kinds OF goods made in France should
be exhibited. and. indeed. If possible. 10 try 20
interest other nations of Europe in the affair
and make the show in some sort international
this was the plan proposed by the syndicate
which took the matter in hand. Merchants on
their way from the Lepsic Fair might, II was
hoped, be induced 10 bring samples of their
wares to the Temple. and a great FLIP to trade
be thus obtained. In this. however. they failed.
The First Paris Fair contains nothing that is
not of home manufacture. The monographs,
graphophones. cylinders. all OF French
make; the scientific toys. displayed upon stall!
after stall, are OF bewildering variety and in
genuity, and none are made in Germany;
stoves, porcelain, furniture. bronzes-almost
every department of industry is represented.
The place is a vast collection OF samples. with
an air of business over all. There is nothing
that suggests a fair. The title is a misnomer. |
but II is certain that none could have been
chosen which could have enabled the First Paris
Fair to rival In the affections Of the populace
the brilliant gingerbread fair OF vincennes and
Neuilly c. l. b. |