The Tomahawk., 1919-12-25

the boulevard crosses at right angles
the Rue and Faubourg Montmartre.
the Rue de Richelieu and the Rue
Drouot, there extends sort Of neu-
tral zone-the Boulevard Montmartre
which one might almost define as
the vestibule to the Boulevard des
Italiens. It was here, in the Passage
des Panoramas, that, in 1917, the ex-
pertinent of lighting Paris by gas was
first attempted. The Boulevard Mont
martre has lost most. of its former
vogue; many of it's famous cafes,
which formed part of the life Of the
city, no longer exist. Brebant has
disappeared; the Cafe de Madrid
which played an important part In the
political history Of the second en-
pire, and during the war was frequent
ed by the most famous "aces" of
French aviation-such as Fonck and
Nungesser when on leave-is becom.
! ing transformed.
The Cafe de Mulhouse has been re-
placed by the Musee Grevin, of wax
work celebrity. The Theater des Vari-
etes, with the columns Of its old-fash'
ioned portico, is souvenir of the past,
as well as is the Passage Verdea1 OF
which many people would surely for
get the existence were they not forci'
bly reminded of it when showers
oblige them to seek refuge in that
haunt once so fashionable.
The Rue de Richelieu 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 "all kinds and
conditions Of men" in that most demo-
cratic of all conglomerations-and
that most banal-a Partisan crowd.
Another Famed Thorouohfare.
The Boulevard des Italiens was the
/ center of the brilliant, scandalous life
of the late empire and early 30s'
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 dandies who
brought such laborious care to the
imitation Of the extravagances Of theii
English models; at the corner Of the
Rue Lafitte was situated the Care
Hardig, the meeting place Of the agf'
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 it's favorite haunts. The Pa
vflion de Hanovre, facing the Vaude-
vile theater, now shelters the shop Of
prosperous silversmith; but it II
of noble origin, having formerly be-
longed to the duke Of Richelieu, who
had, so runs the legend, built it will
the product Of the golden and silve,
laurels he obtained by hook or by
crook during the Hanoverian war
Hence the nickname which has eve,
since remained attached to the beau
tiful and luxurious building.
The Boulevard des Capucines, which
starts from the Vaudeville and spans
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 Capucines (Which
has disappeared long since) that TIT
first pistol shot which Transformed
the riot of 1S48 into a regular revo
luton was fired. -. =.
Professions and corteges OF al
kinds, both civil and military, peace
ful. threatening or triumphant, have
through the centuries passed dowr
the boulevards, stamping history init
the very footway they followed. Bu'
surely the old avenues never wit
messed a more solemn or symbolica
scene than the parade Of the alliee
troops, which, on the 18th OF July
preceded by their glorious, tatteref
hammers, marched down the boule
wards toward the Place de la Re
publique. @.. -
Weird From the start.
49,