New-York tribune., 1911-03-23
A Students "SPREE"
Shrove Tuesday in the Latin
Quarter.
Paris. March {

The average tourist VINO NlSlts fdrls
| IN August or September. and wandering
up the Boulevard 81 Michel. Baedeker
in hand, asks the passerby. "Ou est
le quarter latin" IS invariably dtsap-
pointed. lie had vaguely anticipated
! seeing sprightly maidens quantity
dressed. skipping about arm In arm with
/ long haired youths clad in artistically
careless attire. lie also had secret de-
sire 10 be shocked by the license OF
French youth. Disappointed. he goes
off declaring that the Latin Quarter IS
not what it's cracked up 10 be- and
that Murger's book is pipe dream.
As a matter of fact, the Latin Quar-
! ter. inasmuch as its rea! character lies
in its population and not in its outward
aspect. does not exist I'm August and
! September since almost all the students
are absent. Moreover even during the
winter and spring. on ordinary occasions
the casual visitor might pass through
the Latin Quarter without noticing any
thing particularly remarkable beyond a
certain SANS gene" in the expression of
amorous emotion, even In the streets.
Though the long haired species is still
fairly numerous, one may be real "oo-
heme" and visit the barber regularly.
The essential characteristic OF the type
is the manner Of living rather than the
appearance.
During the fat days" however. as the
French significantly designate the DAYS
Immediately preceding Lent the youth
Of the Latin Quarter come out In ali
their glory. on the afternoon Of Mardi
Gras an expedition is made 10 the right
bank and they contribute 10 the show
ers Of confetti which fall coaselessly On
the "grands bouevards" from O'Clock
till dinner time Toward evening they
return 70 the left bank and set in for
nights enjoyment. The Bout Mich
the centre Of the Latin Quarter-always
animated. literally svarms with happy
faces on this occasion. The cafes are
even cayer than usual Needless Of the
adventurous bourgeois who have been
audacious enough, in their desire To see
the fun 20 penetrate into the quarter
its real inhabitants cit down 70 dinner
with their "petites amies" already half
-ipsv with the spirit of merryrakins
During the meal they evince their affec-
ton for each other in no uncertain fash
ION. united as they arc iu the JOY Of
youth and love-ephemeral though that
love must necessarily be.
After dinner = Bullier'" * tho CRY
heard on all sides We are acquainted
with Il RAJ Butler through Aphonse
Daudet. who frequented il in his youth
ful DAYS with Francois Copp@e and other
afterward famous young men o. that
generation Many romance was begun
thin its walls. and not . few literary
works received their first inspiration
from its contagious gayety Though
now on certain DAYS OF the week its pre-
cincts are desecrated by that most pro-
sale Of modern attractions" the cine
matograph. Bullier RECEIVERS itself on
Thursdays and on such festive occasions
a the one We are spea king 81.
The hall takes on ar unwonted brill
fancy. owing 70 IN fancy costumes #
"Tu ne sauras iamals." and of start
hundred couples into the mad whirl ~
the French waltz The most amusing
dance is the so-called polka. which IS az
ecrted in q very spec'al fashion in hlont-
uartre and IN the Latin Quarter-a kind
Of half-timo two-step with variations,
s,ch IS a 'ow Dip every ten bars and
others il Is impossible 20 describe Then
there is what is fat,eringly termed the
"Cuadrille Amfrican'--a most eccentric
specles If lanCiers. which has certainly
never been danced within The borders Of
the United states. Why IL is termed so
is q mvstery-for the same reason,
doubtless. as the so-called American
bars. which arc perhaps tho most
Partisan thing in Paris. with thei- or
chostras of Tziganes and amorous
females dancing in and ont among the
tables.
Dancing is kept up till long after mid
night. Then orce more 10 tho cafe,
without which the Partisan would he the
most wretched q mortals. After par
taking If the generous wine Of ia douce
France" or Of the various exotic drinks
now in high favor, all but the 'noceurs
-ndiahlfs" return ~ their respective
ranates The latter class consider the
night incompleto without supper
breakfast at the "Hallcs centrales."
where have arisen of late years num-
her Of night restaurants which, though
on the right bank. virtually form part
Of the Latin Quarter. Most of the res
taurauts II tho quarter close at the Gor
the "roctar7buleO unreasonable hour of
= a. m. so he is obliged 70 emigrate.
Thus from 10 & a. m. the Latin o. -
tor is well represented chez Mathis
or al the "Pere Tranquille."
A. davbreak the journey home is made.
preferably on foot. IN order TO enjoy az
leisure the incompatible sight of the
Seine vered by the early morning mist
and tho impressive majesty ~ Notre
Dame as (, stands out against the fast
brightening sky. its domes C.lded Win
tho orst rays Of the rising sun-for the
soul Of the "noccur" IS often that OF an
artist. - l. H.
WHAT IS GcING ON TO-DAY.