The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-17
Wild Night of Celebration, the
First Since 1918, Leads to
Trouble When Poor HoOt at
SpenderS.
CAFES CLOSED AS RESULT
OF LENGTHY ORGIES
Official on Tour Of ReStau-
rants and Stands AghaSt at
Terrible Waste Of Money,
Then Takes Action.

afanCs Is the amount OF money spent
IN Paris In one wild might Of yarOusing.
lt was the first big celebration since
1878 and even Paris vas shocked So
shocked. indeed. that the project Of po-
lice issued orders within iS hours after
the last jewellers had staggered out OF
their haunt that no cafes, restaurants
or dance halls could remain open all
night for another celebration.
Never before has Paris seen such a
eaturnalia Of spending and drinking
n dancing as hat which occurred be-
tween 7 o'clock In the evening and II
O'Clock the next morning. for It was
just before o 10 when the last Of the
eelehraters trickled out OF their favor
lite resorts In Montmartre, one big
restaurant alone o In more than
SOC, GOO francs. by serving two sup
pers, n at midnight and another at
3 o'clock in the morning.
Aghast at Spending,
Shortage OF coal Is the official reason
given for the decision of the authorities
70 force all restaurants. theaters, dance
halls, bars and other places to close at
ll:S0 pm. But those behind the scenes
know differently. They know, for ex-
ample. that NJ, Klotz, minister OF fin
anee, made a tour OF a number OF the
leadlng restaurants, n was aghast at
seeing money being spent like water,
lie Is said TO have recommended the
closing In the hopes that part at least
~ the. money thus saved win be sub
scriped toward the new loan which viii
shortly be issued.
simultaneously his bureau issued a
semiofftcial statement, reminding the
French people that for nearly IA months
EVER since the armistice was signed
they have been too wasteful and too
prodigal, that In the coming year they
must buckle down TO hard work, and
economixe and invest savings in gov
ernment bonds.
And the attitude Of the poorer classes
had something to do with the police or
30 poor people gathered outside the
large restaurants and hooted and booed
the fur~draped limousines. In the
race Ptgalle, In the heart Of heartless
Montmartre,' IS II has been called, a
hnge crowd collected and shouted re-
tated regions a. theater-goers were
piling into the Abhaye. the Dead RAJ.
Monico's. the Pigalle. the Savoy. and
Inc Royal at midnight.
Call Police Reserves.
Women with wonderful zIbellne cloaks
snrown over their nearly nude torsos,
looked In fear at the angry crowd that
seemed TO menace them, and their es-
|corts. in evening dress and opera hats
peered about nervously as they piloted
Their beplumed charges to the door
VAC iium tHtlT duIDElODlleS.
Police reserves were rushed TO the
Place Ptgalles in motor cars and, with
the use OF nightsticks, cleared away and
dispersed the crowd. But the same
tnihg a been going or In a smaller
way. outside the big restaurants down
town along the grand b~ouleyards.
Thoughtless one dismissed the dem
onstrations with the explanation that
she people were merely apaches TRYING
70 start trouble so they would have an
opportunity to seize the layallieres and
pearl necklaces and diamond dog collars
ana rings that flashed from the bare
t-foats and from dainty fingers. But
the police reported differently. They
noted the ugly temper OF the people,
without coal, with the cost of living
soaring far beyond their increase In
wages, with the scarcity OF lodging
lockout facing them through the en-
|forced closing Of all factories because
lei lack Of fuel and motive power in
the near future.
Waste Is Enormous.
They. advised that henceforth, the
people be not tempted again with this
wealth, through reaping war profits
thrust under the noses OF these people,
1all OF whom had lost husbands, fathers,
sons In the great war.
An american officer, just returned
from Austria, who dined and supped in
Maxim's. asserted that enough food
was wasted In that one place that night
10 supply all Vienna with fats and meat
2for a week. Sumptuous repasts Of from
eight. to 20 courses. were offered
lat all restaurants, and dancing places
Int midnight. But the clientele, which
n had dined and wined heavily at or
p O'Clock, and then passed the inter
vening couple OF hours in a theater
ioge. a no appetite FOR the oysters.
cold consomme, lobster, chicken, pate
de fois gras, asparagus, salad, ice
8cream, fruits and fancy cakes, that was
&offfred them at midnight.
Champagne flowed steadily, through
3out the night, however. Ciro's estimates
THAT an average Of three bottles per
head was consumed by the 5000 per.
sons who f%requented that restaurant on
2that night. La Rue's restaurant actual
Ily received more than 500 and 1000
Francs notes in payment Of checks on
3that night than they did 100 franc notes.
Everywhere, even in the dancing pal
Faces. extra tables had been stuffed
everywhere to provide for the constant
&stream OF late Corners so that II was
practically impossible to dance. The
tango flends had to content themselves
with weighing along between rows of
Itables AMI humping into walters. II
twas not until 4 or 3 o'clock in the
morning that any Of the places thinned
9out enough TO permit the removal Of a
few tables to protide a tiny square for
dancing.