New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-25
MAY FAIRS In PARIS.
Markets for the Sale of Birds, Dogs,
Models and Old Clothes.
Paris. Nav IA.

leaves and plants-that is TO say, about the
middle of May-there is a general renovation in
Paris OF the markets devoted to birds. dogs
beauty and old clothes. which just now excite
d curiosity and attract American and German
tourists in great numbers. Partisan women are
IN some ways the most conservative creatures
IN the world They cling 10 traditions and Gus
toms that may be traced back TO the Mloole
Ages one Of these is the way in which they do
their marketing. The department store with
immense varieties of wares, popular In Eng
land and Germany has never been really
adopted in France The old fashioned open air
market still hourishes in Paris and other French
towns and continues TO be a national insutu-
ton In no European city. not even excepting
Antwerp are there many Gagged birds 10 be
seen or heard as in Paris
Scarcely a family. however modest, but has
canary or a finch in a cage There is bird
shop on the quays. but the bulk Of the citizens
prefer the Bird Market. which is held Sun
davs on the He de la Cite, where hundreds of
birds of all kinds are exposed for sale under the
iron sheds shaded by young chestnut trees. If
Won patronize the omnibuses a Sunday after
noon coming from that region you will notice
that most OF the passengers have little paper
bags pinned to the breasts Of their coats. These
bags have the power TO hypnotic the foreigner
by tie little Jerky movements made by them
from time time. They contain. OF course, a
pair OF love birds. canaries, a Hnnet. In
his wide pocket your neighbor IS probably
ryng Z jachdew, its head carefully tied IN q
paper bag. or & neditative rabbit, which ap-
pears 20 be regretting its native heath-for rab-
hits are generally included in the Paris Bird
Market.
To buy dogs you must go much further than
the lie de ia Cite Close to the vas: Salpetriere
Hospital on the southeast side Of the city. near
the Notifications. is the wide graveled Enclosure
which IS the scene OF the Sunday Dog Market
Here handful of women in blue aprons. with
checkered herchiefs bound closely around their
heads, stand abou: with one. two more
young dogs which they offer for sale to visitors
A few men hold in leash terriers spaniels or
hounds. which they prepared TO sell at
about one-twentieth Of the price they start by
asking with immense volubiIity they pour
forth all the qualities and points Of their
charges, inventing pedigrees as long as from
Paris 10 New York. and adroitly substituting
one for another, according as the eye Of the
client wanders from one animal 20 another. II
the deg takes your fancy. and there is a pros
pect Of the bargain being made, the seller leads
TIE customer across the market place to the
wide. bare looking bar at the back, whose long
wooden tables. painted green supplied with
ink bottles and pens for the Use Of the market
bock OF beer for himself and another for the
actual owner Of the dog. and that individual,
producing from his pocket q leaf of paper. pro-
ceeds 20 write certificate. This certificate is a
perfectly worthless document which sets forth
The quality and description Of the dog. and de-
clarss that ne has had distemper No conf
dence whatever can be placed IN this guarantee.
which IS generally signed by some name I'M
known the registers Of the city. II your dog
happens 10 be fox terrier, and young. and you
hesitstlngly examine the length Of his tail, the
seller VIII volunteer 10 operate before your eyes.
Drawing a large clasp knife from his pocket he
viii inquire what amount Of tail you think
should be left. and you Will have difficulty
IN saving Jour from the pain of Witness
ing the surgical operation. There IS no doubt
that good many Of the dogs thus sold at the
SuuLey market are Of doubtful origin; the
oihe- hand, they are much cheaper than those
you would get from the elegantly arranged
shops for dogs OF luxury near the Rue de Ia
Pai1. and the market is largely patronized.
Another amusing market is the Beauty Mar
ket, held every Saturday in notorious little
street in the Latin Quarter. Here artists come
10 find living models for their classes and little
Italian boys and girls. clad in ostentatiously
picturesque rags old men with flowing boards. /
young girls Of all types. blondes and brunettes,
are prepared 10 accept offers. Prices vary &C
cordng 10 the degree of undress required: 1t is
80 much for the head and little more for the
altogether" Five dollars a week is the average /
sum given 10 the artists model.
This little market is held outside Carlo Rossrs
Academy. in the short, steep street which was
celebrated century ago the scene OF a
riotous students ballroom. To-day the queer I
oiapdated looking old house in which the school |
held seems 10 threaten instant dissolution /
raising however, through the outer door, the /
visitor VIII find himself in pleasant green
garden. side Of which is the atelier Sit !
ting and standing at their easels around the /
models platform students of all nationali- /
lies and both sexes. for this is one OF the two
mixed academies of Paris
The Interesting Old Clothes Market held in /
NE revolutionary Temple Quarter. has this year
Teen abolished. There is still at the back OF the /
pantheon & small Rag Fair which has been 1
heo every Sunday without interruption for /
several centuries. It occupies a narrow medic |
val looking street. called the Rue Gracieuse |
which bellies It's name by being one Of the !
oIruest, the narrowest and most unwholesome /
" me capital. 1t is moreover exceedingly |
snort but at $50 on a Sunday morning II is /
.leo with booths covered with wonderful col |
scuon of old clothes collected by the mar
e-ahos habits or old clothes men, who may /
&c heard uttering their piaintive little cry in |
''fy part OF the capital throughout the week !
= 1le seventeenth century the Rue Gracieuse /
S '4e site OF q handsome mansion belonging
:, Oh honorable French family OF that name |
.'O" IL is covered with miserable tenernent |
-'uses' OK which about a dozen stand in the |
Aue Gracieuse itself and the res, IN the Pine 81 |
49, paved gutter with old and filthy |
Pr. c.a - On either side. opening into the |
"a fao,,