The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1919-12-20

otu boufeNdruS SO eSSeHUuffy HdrlStdH.
Facing the aggressive stores. which
occupy a 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 RenOmmee de in Bri0che," in which
for more than century, Parisians
have eaten the famous cake. The
Gymnase theater, a 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 des
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 a sort of ueu-
trail zOne-the Boulevard Montmartre
which one might almost defiEe as
the vestibule to the Boulevard DIES
Italiens. 1t was here, in the Passage
des PanOTamas. that. in 1917. the ex-
pertinent of lighting Paris by gas was
first attempted.
The Rue de Richeiteu marks the
beginning of the true boulevard, which
privileged region spans the Place de
rOpera to the Madeleine church. On
the crowded sidewalks, rather OBJ
structed by the terraces of innumer-
able cafes, one meets call kinds and
conditions of men" in that most demo-
cratic of all conglomerations-an
that most banal-a Partisan crowd.
Another Famed Thoroughfare.
The Boulevard des Italiens was the
center of the brilliant, scandafOus life
of the late empire and early '30s.
There used to assemble at TOrtOni's
at the MaisOn dOr-n0w transformed
into a post office-at the Cafe de
Paris, those French handles who
brought such labOriOus care TO the
imitation of the extravaganceso of their
English models; at the corner of the
Rue Laffitte 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. 1t
was demolished recently, and Paris
sighed at the disappearance of anoth-
er of its faverite haunts. The Pa
vilion de Hanovre, facing the Vaude-
vile theater, now shelters the shop Of
a prosperous silversmith; but 1t is
of noble origin, having formerly be-
Ionged to the duke of Richeiieu, who
had. so runs the legend, built 1t with
the product 4 the golden and silver
Iaurels he Obtained by hook or by
crook during the HanOverian war.
Hence the nickname which has ever
since remained attached to the beau
tiful and luxurious building.
The Boulevard des Capucines. which
SIdrtS ITOul lllS NduueNille anu Spills
the Place de rOpera, is always ex-
tremeIy animated with its numerous
hotels, clubs and shops. 1t belongs Ia
some sort to history. for IT was from
the garden of the Capucines (which
aas disappeared long slnce) that the
first pistol shot which transformed
The riot of 1S4S into a regular revo-
luton was fired.
Professions and corteges Of NIL !
kinds. both civil and military, peace
'ul. threatening pr triumphant, have
through the centuries passed down
he b0ulevards, stamping history into |
he very footway they followed. But |
surely the old avenues never Wit
lessed a more solemn or symbolical |
scene than the parade of the allied |
roops. which, on the 14th of July. !
preceded by their glorious, tattered |
marched down the boule- |
'ards toward the Place de la Re.
)ublique.