The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-10
HISTORICAL CAFE is
EVIDENTLY DOOMED
French Resort Must Go Down
Before Progress
TO INVADE VERSAILLES
Pence of Town VIII BE Broken BY
TO INVADE VERSAILLES
Construction of Big Race Course
American Women Are Champion
Hand-shakers
BY MARQUIS DE CAsTELLANE


of old Paris.
"Progress!' shout the builders and ar
chitects and other successors of Baron
Haussmann
But when the smoke and dust of battle
will have cleared away 1t will be found
that the famous Cafe Anglais on the
Boulevard des Italians will have disap-
peared-
1t is merely following the fate of the
Maison Doree, however, and the Cafe
Richie and some other famous resorts OF
a by-gone generation. The Cafe Anglais
despite its modest appearance, is unques-
tionably the most expensive restaurant in
Paris. 1t has always been a favorite re-
sort for wealthy Americans, who were
not only willing to pay for what they or
dered, but for the traditions of the house.
In days gone by here dned these foolish
youths who decorated the supper room
with 5000 worth of violets to crafty a
whm of the famous Cora Pearl, and who
used to send Hortense Schneider Cliquot
champagne In huge cases for her daily
bath.
Here we're cellars that escaped the
raids of the terrible commune; here was
a famous banqueting hall where few but
kings or princes ever dined here the
head waiter might have been prime min
lister to Judge him by his dignity; here
the steward knew more about wine than
perhaps any epicure in Paris.
1t Is not In the Cafe Anglais, however,
but in a rival establishment near by that
William K. Vanderbilt found the cook to
whom he paid $4,000 a year.
There is a movement on foot to invade
the sacred precincts of Versailles by es-
tablishing a race course there At first
it was supposed an aviation course was
under discussion, though neither would
lnecessitate cutting down part of the ia
nous forest.
Practical people, and especially land
owners, do not think either the beauty OF
the charms of Versailles would suffer by
the enlivening influence of race track
They maintain that the forest Is so i'm
mense that what would be required would
not injure or change the form of the
great circular park. And then think
what It would do for the trade?
These good folk claim Versailles has
been practically dead since Marie Antoin-
cite and Louis XVI were brought thence
to Paris by the mob. They say the ole
town needs new blood Strange as 1t may
seem the two most violent opposers to this
scheme are two Amercans-James Cor
don Bennett and John w. Gates. Mr.
Bennett says that the very paving stones
would rise up and cry out against srcf
dissertation.
Now this is all very well, but then or
the other hand it must be remembered
that both Mr.. Bennett and Mr.. Gates OWL
shooting preserves near the forest of Yer
sailles. Here they invite their friends t.
help in the slaughter of the ,innocents
Even a Grand Duke oftimes lends a help
ing hand, so you see mems motives may
BE as mixed as their cocktails.
Mrs. Robert Bacon American Ambass
adress to Paris, and Mrs. Frank H
Mason, wife of the American consu-gen
eral are said to be the best hand-shakers
in Paris. 1t is said that these two charm
ing hostesses have not had their equal In
this respect since the days when Lore
and Lady Dufferin sent each and every
guest away rejoicing and feeling himself
o be the bright particular star.
Mrs Mason has just brought to close
| 4 series of receptions, which have giver
life and color to the whole American col
ony. These entertainments have beer
| conspicuous for good music and pretty
:
In receiving by Mrs. Arthur E. Valois
Mrs William Sprague, Mrs. Alexander
Thakara, Mrs. Clinch-Smith and others
we'll known as society favorites of the
American set. There Is no other foreign
colony which can bring together so much
beauty and wit and celebrity not tt
speak of wealth Here one meets brill
liant women like Mrs. Eddie Gwynn and
flashing Divorces like Mrs. L. Baxter
Tovis, or such charming hostesses q:
Mrs. Frederick Bell Mrs Griswold Gray
or Mrs. Spottisw ood-who is indeed ont
of the most beautiful women in Europe
md host of others.
Mrs Frank Mason herself Is a most re
markable woman. One sees her every
where and she seems to have time To-
every thing and every one She keep
open house and all Americans find {
| glowing welcome there. Mr.. Mason ha!
been in the consular service for thrt,
years and has successfully filled posts IL
Basic, Marseilles, Frankfort, Berlin ant
| Paris.
| France Is the garden spot of the orange
blossom and just now the maids anc
youths of Cannes are busily engaged ir
| harvesting them. One million and quar-
ter pounds of these beautiful and fragrant
blossoms have just been harvested and
in consequence quite a flow of gold has
| poured into the neighborhood.
Maids and youths sing and make merry
engaged in this pleasant task. 1t is IN
deed a pleasing sight. This region Is well
known throughout America, not only be-
| cause 1t Is the garden spot of the orange
| blossom, but because few years ago the
| place became famous owing to a do
| nestle drama, which had for its princi-
| pals Mr. and Mrs. Edward Parker Bea-
| con OF Boston.
Our great social danes have admins
| tered a severe rebuke to the Maharajah
of Kapurtala; and all because this ami
| able and modernized Asiatic married the
| girl of his choice, who unfortunately
happened to be dancer at her fathers
| cafe In Spain. She Is the sister Of that
other Spanish girl who married young
| Thomas Ross Winans of Baltimore, neph-
ew of Walter Winans of London The
| maharajah loves the enchanted banks of
| the Ganges and quits his three hundred
| thousand broad acres IN India to spend
a season each year in Paris. Needless
| to say young Winans' brother-in-law is
| an Indian prince. The question our
duchess have been called upon TO decide
Ia whether they would continue to re-
ceive him and give precedence to the ex-
| dancer from Andelusia. One lady drawer
than the others asked the princely pair
to dinner and invited a host of we'll
| known people to meet them Alas! She
had the newly welded pair all to herself.
But Thomas Ross Winans, the American
brother-in-law, says he never enjoyed a
| dinner SO much in his life.
/
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