Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-12-25
NV he boulevards of Paris, which

v
extend for length of four kilo-
I'LL meters and a half from the
Madeleine to the Bastille in a
semi are the rendezvous
Of the world; picturesque crowd,
composed of the most heterogeneous
types of humanity, promenades cease
lessly the wide sidewalks, where the
terraces of innumerable cafes lend an
air of good-humored 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
first 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 Boulevards.
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
traoted by the looming mass Of the
state prison, and by the beautiful resi-
dence of Beaumarchais, which played
a part JIM the Revolutionary drama.
One soon reaches the Boulevard du
Temple, today so calm, and essential
ly commercial with it's 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 gay, laughing crowd
paused to listen to the songs Of Cole
and Piron-sung by the lovely Fan
chOn la Velleuse-and amused itself
with the antics Of Nicolets 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
eral steps. 1t extends to the Porte
st. Martin, erected in 1874 by the
municipal corps of Paris to the glory
of Louis XIV. At nightfall the Boule-
ward st. Martin acquires certain ami
nation when the public presses
around the doors of the Ambigu
Comique, the Renaissance and the
Porte ST. Martin theaters. The Porte
st. Martin was built in 80 days by Lee
moline, at the end Of the reign of
Louis XVI, to serve as a temporary
opera house.
But the sidewalks suddenly cease
to be terraced and slope gently down
ward until they reach their normal
height, and the noisy Boulevard st.
Denis extends between the two monu-
mental gateways, the beautiful bas-
reliefs 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
Of the provinces by Louis XIV-ex-
ploits Of which the "Sun King" was
Justly proud. 1t must be remarked
| that the escutcheon Of the Porte ST.
Denis with its fleur-de-lys Is the only
royal emblem which was respected
| by the Revolution Of 184S.
Landmarks Along the Way.
The Boulevard Bonnie Nouvelle has
| preserved q number of old-fashioned
houses presenting a strong contrast
to the modern construction, which has
considerably spoiled the charm of the
old boulevards so essentially Partisan.
Facing the aggressive stores, which
occupy a whole block, one can still
zee a picturesque corner distinctly
reminiscent of old Paris; the angle
Of the dark old Rue de la Lune, where
still exists famous pastry shop, "a
"a Renommee de in Brioche," in which
,or more than century, Parisians
have eaten the famous cake. The
3ymnase theater few steps farther
town. was built in the early part of
The last century and is still one Of
he most fashionable theaters Of