The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-10
PLANS TODESTROY
PICTURESQUE SPOT
Friends OF Paris" Urged to
Rescue Old Village From
Pick Of Demolishcr.
COSMOPOLITAN RESTAURANTS
Wcll-Known Advcnturcr Again
Is in the Public
Eye.
ny GEORGE puFREsNE.

Especial Cable to The imes-Dispatch.)
Paris, December 9.-Lovers of the
old and the picturesque will learn with
regret that one OF she most attractive
corners Of Montmartrc. the very heart
OF the butte sacrcc." is threaten,i
; with destruction. Now is the time for
that society known as THE Friends Of
Paris to Justify their title and rescue
FROM tho pick of the demolisher the
! old village, whose every stone has its
history. and the gardens which lend to
| this coin de Paris" the fresh and YER
ddnt smile of nature. In Justification
of their sacrileeious plans, the archi-
tccts alleEe that 1t is necessary TO en-
large the Rue Junct, but according to
/. those who arc most competent In tho
matter. the city functionaries ara
about to destroy for the mere sake OF
destruction. This section of Paris. or
the tor of a steep hill. with its ancient
gardens and venerable wells, its cen
tury.old mills and charming Earaens.
is Ill httcd to he the theatre OF pusy
traiiic. no matter what improvements
may be carried out. Why then, Is IL;
not let alone?
Some Of the finest artists France has
ever known have drawn their inspira
ton from Montmartrc. which accord
ing to one legend was called mons
OF ST. Denis. the patron saint of the
city The story is that after being
heheaded AT the foot of the hill. he
rose. picked up his head. and carried
1t to the summit. where he was buried
The hill OF A1ontmartre rises 10
height OF $50 feet above the Seine. and
during the Franco Prussian war and
the Commune IL played an important
part in The history of the city The
4 IL.
cannon on Montmartre. but they werc
afterwards dislodged and the batteries
OF the heights which they had taken
were directed against them. The most
prominent feature of the butte is
the famous Church of the Sacred Heart.
which dominated the city. 1t has been
erected at enormous outlay, the foun
daUons alone having cost over $500.
600 and the building, up-to-da:e &c.
nearly sd'23o,oeo' though yet incom
pletc.
During the summer months tho
Sacre Caeur is visited by pilgrims from
all parts OF France. and | have seen
some very odd looking groups making
the rounds of this Mecca with its mar
row little streets and the hall where
the pilgrims may rest and eat the food
they bring With them. II Is curious to
recall that Montmartre was Mt one
1890 'uSi vineyard ana In ll3t.
when the monks at ST. Martin -des-
Champs coded the church of Montmar-
'rc TO Louis VI, the vines were In
Guided in the property. 1t Is also on
record that in 1871 the Abbess lisa
belle des RieuN signed lease for
seven "arpents de vignes" situated at
Monimartre.
One OF the most agreeable features
OF Paris Is its cosmopolitan eating
houses Personally, have never been
able to understand why any one should
prefer the cooking Of other nations to
ia cuisine franchise" But taste in
regard TO the things Of the kitchen Is
a matter that does not admit Of dis
russion, and the Partisan shows his
wisdom by catering for all nationali-
ties The homesck German. who finds
no satisfaction in "A "tournedos a Ia
fichelieu," served with petite pois a
la franchise" and half-bottle of
Bordeau%, has only to enter any Of
the numerous German brasseries in
the city. and he will get as much
faucrkraut as he wants. accompanied
by Tcu'onIc jugs of cooling Pilsner or
LOwtnbrau.
There ere several Italian restaurants
In the apiial, more than one house
mat rn~kcs specially of Turkish