Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-12-19

IN HE boulevardS Of Paris, which
extend for length Of four kilo-
Isl meters and a half from the
Madeleine to the Bastille 10
semi-circumference, are the rendezvous
Of the world; picturesque crowd,
composed of the most heterogeneous
types of humanity. promenades cease
lessly the vide sidewalks, where the
/ terraces of innumerable cafes lend an
air of good-humered if rather vulgar
familiarity to the whole scene.
The Paris boulevards may be said
to have originated in the deep muddy
trenches which were hastily dug
around the city in 1886. to repulse
the much-dreaded attacks of the Eng
fish who, having devastated Picardy,
were now threatening the capital, says
the Christian Science Monitor. The
arst trees were planted IN 1858. and
have been continually replaced since
then, although they have not ceased to
struggle bravely to live and thrive in
spite of the scarcity of light, air, and
| sun.
Entrance to the Bouievards-
The starting point Of the boule-
wards can be located at the Bastille !;
before the eighteenth century they be-
gan at the entrance Of the Rue st.
Antoine. so that the attention Of the
stranger who entered Paris by the
Porte st. Antoine was at once at
tracted by the looming mass of the
state. prison, and by the beautiful resi-
dence OF Beaumarchais. which played
/ part in the Revolutionary drama.
One soon reaches the Boulevard du
Temple, today so calm. and essential
/ ~ commercial with its numerous
baker butcher, and grocer shops.
Once upon time, however, and not so
very long ago, it was called ''the beau
tiful boulevard" for it was then the
| favorite meeting place of courtiers
and rich bourgeois Of the Tout Paris. !"
which even then was docile in obey
ing the dictates of fashion. Innumer-
able theaters and shows lined both
sides Of the roadway. giving the boule-
ward the appearance of a perpetual
fair in which a gay, laughing crowd
paused to listen to the songs Of Cole
and Piron-sung by the lovely Fam
chon la Veilleuse-and amused itself
with the antics Of Nicolet's extraor-
binary monkey.
After the Place de la Republique
has been safely crossed, one saunters
up the Boulevard st. Martin. the road
way Of which is encased between high
sidewalks reached by mounting sew
| aral steps. 1t extends to the Porte
ST. Martin. erected in 1914 by the
municipal corps Of Paris TO the glory
u Louis XIV. At rightfall the Boule-
Fard ST. Martin acquires certain ami
nation when the public presses
around the doors of the Amhigu
| comioue, the Renaissance and the
Porte st. Martin theaters. The Porte
81. Martin was built in 90 days by Lee
! moline, at the md of the reign of
Louis XVI, to serve as a temporary
/ opera house.
But the sidewalks suddenly cease
to be terraced and slope gently Gown
ward until they reach their normal
height, and the noisy Boulevard St
Denis extend between the two monu-
mental gatewayS. the beautiful bas-
feliefs of which remind the passerby
Of the taking Of Limburg and the de-
feat of the Germans. as well as Of the
passing of the Rhine and the taking
# the provinces by Louis AIV--ex-
ploits IF which the ''Sun King" was
Justly proud 1t must be remarked
that the eseutcheon of the Porte st.
Denis with it's fieur-de-lys is the oaly
royal emblem which was respected
by the Revolution Of 1913.
Landmarks Along the Way.
The Boulevard Bonnie Nouvelle has
preserved number o. cld.fashioned
houses presenting a strGue contrast
to the modern construction. witch has
considerably spoiled the charm 0t the
Old boulevards 50 essentially Partisan.
FACING the aggressive stores, which
occupy a whole block, one can still
zee 8 picturesque corner distinctly
reminiscent Of old Pari1: the angle
IF the dark old Rue de la Lune where
still exists famous pastry shop, a
q Renommee de in Brioche, in which
FOR more than a century. Parisians
lave eaten the famous cake. The
aymnase theater, a few steps farther
7orn. was built in the early part Of
he last century and j. still one Of
he mosr fashionable theaters Of
Paris.
FyoD he famous Carrefour de-