The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-01-10
BY A. w. L'Amoureux.

Grand Due Alexis recalls the oDce fam
Gus "Tour1ee des Grands Dues of
which the deceased was a leading
figure. For years past educ Alexis,'
as Parisians called him, was constant
visitor to this city. He delighted to
roam about the Latin quarter or in the
billy streets of Montmartre, and even
in more disreputable districts of the
capital, which he, with other aristo-
cratic companions, first visited under
the protection of French detectives.
That takes one back a good many
years, as Detective Jaume remarked to
press representative to whom he con-
fded his recollections of those nocturnal
rambles about Paris slums, ultimately
popularized under the name "La Tour.
nee des Grand Dues Rossignoi. as
famous member of the French police
as Jaime, is now living a retired life
in the country village where he was
born, but Jaume, though no longer in
active service, can not tear himself
away from Paris, its mysteries and
crimes.
Began With Supper.
Reverting to the past, he related how
the historic "Tournee des Grands
Dues" commenced with an exquisite
supper chez Laperouse, Quai des Grands
Augustins. Thence the whole party
went to the notorious Chateau Rouge,
in the Rue Galande, one of the most
dangerous slums in Paris. The aristo-
cratic visitors, under the protection of
Jaume and colleague or two, were in
troduced into the various dens COM
posing the Chateau Rouge, which, de-
spite it's pompous name, is in reality
lodging house of the lowest class, and
the professed haunt of night providers
and criminals.
7 There was at that time, as there still
is, the "dark room,' specially set
apart for drunkards of both sexes, who
are left there without light or fire till
they are sobered down. On the first
floor the grand dues were shown the
sleeping accommodations provided for
applicants who could pay only couple
of sous. For this sum they had
right to stretch themselves on the
till 2 o'clock in the morning, when
they left the hospitable "chateau' in
quest of an odd job at the central
markets, or something of less reputa
BILE description. Before leaving this
haunt Detective Jaume relates that
liberal distribution of tobacco and beer
was made, the "1adies' in the estab-
lishment being treated to cherry brandy
or some such delicacy.
To Frodin's Hotel.
From the chateau the next move was
to the notorious cabaret of Pere Lun-
cite, which still exists, although il has
become somewhat more modern in its
aspect and surroundings. Here among
a motley crowd were long haired poets
and Ministries, who recited verses to
pass the time, or for a couple of francs
took the portrait of any visitor with
half an hours leisure at his disposal.
short halt followed in the Rue Maitre
Albert, where at the time a most curl
Gus ''brasserie' existed, in which, on
payment of a few cents, one was shown
q distinctly original collection of
women from all parts of France,
women of the most degraded type, who
after weeks, months, or years of i'm
prisonment, had come to the capital in
the hope of finding among the Grim
inal class protectors or chums.
Thence move was made to Frodin e
"hotel," where the outcast. the thief
or the assassin could pass the night or
payment of four sous. Of course the
place was always exposed to the danger
of being raided by the police, but the
landlord of the den was a sharp fellow
who had all his wits about him, ant
knew how to hustle down into the eel
lars such gentry as might be wanted BY
the police. individuals who were thu
protected" by the landlord were ex
pected to reward him handsomely ou
of the produce of their first successful
robbery.
Leaves Sinister Impression.
The grand dues with their escort
says NJ. Jaime, were never molested il
} such places as these. At Frodin $ ''ho
- tel, - for instance, so numerous were tn
dodgers of night that people in rag
. were sleeping side by side on the floor
and on every step of the dilapidate
staircase was a human being Althoug
the visitors in their passage necessar1l
disturbed some of the sleepers, the
were neither sworn at nor cursed in tn
foul language so common in the sium'
Towards daybreak the nocturnal ran