The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-12-20

old bOulevardS so essentially Partisan.
Facing the aggressive stores, which
occupy whole block, one can still
see picturesque corner distinctly
reminiscent of old Paris; the angle
of the dark old Rue de la Lune, where
still exists famous pastry shop, "a
la Ren0mmee de in Brioche," in which
for more than q century, Parisians
have eaten the famous cake. The
Gymnase theater, few steps farther
down, was built In the early part of
the last century and is still one of
the most fashionable theaters of
Paris.
From the famous CarrefOur DIES
Ecrases, situated at the point where
the boulevard crosses at right angles
the Rue and Faubourg MOntmartre,
the Rue de Richelieu and the Rue
Drouot, there extends sort of neu-
trail zone-the Boulevard Montmartre
which one might almost define as
the vestibule to the Boulevard des
Italiens. It was here, In the Passage
DIES PanOramas, that, in 1917. the eX-
pertinent of lighting Paris by gas was
first attempted.
The Rue de Richelieu marks the
beginning Of the true boulevard, which
privileged region spans the Place de
POpera to the Madeleine church. On
the crowded sidewalks, rather OBJ
structed by the terraces of innumer-
able cafes, one meets "all kinds and
conditions of men" In that most demo-
cratic of all conglomerations-and
that most banal-a Partisan crowd.
Another Famed Thoroushfare.
The Boulevard des Italiens was the
center of the brilliant, scandalous life
of the late empire and early '3Os.
There used to assemble at TortOni's
at the Maison d'Or-now transformed
into a post office-at the Cafe de
Paris, those French handles who
brought such laboriOus care to the
! imitation of the extravagances Of their
English models; at the corner OF the
Rue Lafitte was situated the Cafe
,Hardig, the meeting place of the agi-
tators at the fall of the assignats and
which Is celebrated as having been
the first Partisan cafe where luncheons
were served "a la fourchette," that Is,
| where meat was served. The Cafe
Anglais on the opposite side of the
boulevard was the most fashionable
restaurant of the second empire. II
was demolished recently, and Paris
sighed at the disappearance of anoth'
er Of its favorite haunts. The Pa
vilion de Hanovre, facing the Vaude'
vile theater, now shelters the shop OF
prosperous silversmith; but 1t IL
of noble origin, having formerly be
longed to the duke Of Richelieu, who
had, so runs the legend, built 1t with
the product of the golden and silver
laurels he obtained by hook or By
crook during the Hanoverian war
Hence the nickname which has evel
since remained attached to the beau
tiful and luxurious building.
The Boulevard DIES Capucines, which
starts from the Vaudeville and span:
the Place de rOpera, is always ex
tremely animated with its numerous
hotels, clubs and shops. It belongs II
some sort to history, for it was from
the garden of the Capucnes (whicl
has disappeared long since) that III
first pistol shot which transforme'
], the riot of 1S4S into regular revo
luton was fired
PROFESSIONS and corteges of nj
kinds both civil and military, peace
, ful threatening or triumphant, hav
through the centuries passed dow
= the boulevards, stamping history int
, the very footway they followed. Blu
surely the old avenues never wi
messed a more solemn or symbolict
scene than the parade of the allie
8 troops, which, on the 14th of Jul,
4 preceded by their glorious, tattere
t banners, marched down the boul
8 wards toward the Place de la R
Q publiQue.