Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-12-27

Ecrases, situated at the point where
the boulevard crosses at right angles
the Rue and Faubourg Montnartre,
the Rue de Richelieu and the Rue
DrOuot, there extends a sort of neu-
trail zone-the Boulevard Montmartre
which one might almost define as
the yestibule to the Boulevard des
Italiens. 1t 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 its 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 faces" of
| French aviatiOn--such as FOnck and
Nungesser when on leave-is beeOm-
ing transformed.
The Cafe de Mulhouse has been re-
placed by the Musee Grevin, of wax
work celebrity. Fhe Theater des Vari-
etes, with the columns of its old-fash-
toned portico, is a souvenir of the past,
as well as is the Passage Verdeau Of
which many people would surely for
get the existence were they not forci-
bly, reminded of it when showers
oblige them to seek a 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
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-apd
that most banaI-a Partisan crowd
Another Famed Thoroughfare.
The Boulevard DIES 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 handles who
brought such laborious care to the
imitation of the extravaganees 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 favorite haunts. The Pa
vilion de Hanovre, facing the Vaude-
vile theater, now shelters the shop of
a prosperous silversmith but it is
of noble origin, having formerly be-
longed to the duke of Richelieu, who
had, so runs the legend, built it 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 ever
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 it's numerous
hotels, clubs and shops. It belongs in
some sort to history, for it was from
the garden Of the Capucines (which
has disappeared long since) that the
first pistol shot which transformed
the riot Of 1s4S into a regular reVo-
luton was fired.
PROFESSIONS and corteges Of all
kinds. both civil and military, peace
full, threatening or triumphant. have
through the centuries passed down
the boulevards. stamping history into
the very fOotway they followed. But
surely the old avenues never wit
messed a more solemn or symbolical
scene than the parade Of the allied
troops. which, on the 14th Of July,
preceded by their glorious, battered
banners, marched down the boule-
wards toward the Place de la Re
publique.