The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-02

& extend for a length of four kilo-
I'll meters and n half from the
Madeleine TO the Bastille in
semi-circumference, are the rendezvous
of the world: a 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 repulsc
the much-dreaded attacks Of the Eng
fish who, having devastated Picardy,
the Christian Science Monitor The
first trees were planted in 1888, and
have been continually replaced since
then, although they have not ceased 10
struggle bravely TO live and thrive in
spite of the scarcity of light, air. and
sun.
Entrance to the 5ouievards,
The starting point of the bouIe-
wards can be located at the Bastille;
before the eighteenth century they be-
ran at the entrance Of the Rue 81.
Antoine, so that the attention of the
stranger who entered Paris by the
Porte st. Antoine was at once at
tracted by the looming mass of the
state prison. and by the beautiful resi-
dence of Beaumarchais, which played
part in the Revolutionary drama.
One soon reaches the Boulevard du
Temple, today SO calm. and essential
" commercial with its numerous
Once upon a time, however. and not 50
very long ago. it was called "the beau
tiful boulevard" for it WAS then the
favoTite meeting place of courtiers
and rich bourgeois of the Tout Paris, :
which even then was doCile in obey
ing the dictates of fashion. InnuIner-
able theaters and shows lined both
sides of the roadway, giving the boulc-
yard the appearance of a perpetual
fair in which gay, laughing crowd
paused 70 listen to the songs of Cole
and Piron-sung by the lovely Fan
chon In Veilleuse-and amused itself
with the antics of Nicolet's extraor-
binary monkey.
After the Place de la Republique
has been safely crossed, one saunters
ND the Boulevard ST Martin, the road
way of which is encased between high
sidewalks reached by mounting SCI
cral steps. 1t extends to the Porte
St Martin, erected in 1914 by the
municipal corps of Paris to the glory
az Louis XIV. AT nightfall the Boulc-
ward st. Martin acquires a certain AM
nation when the public presses
around the doors Of the Ambigu
Comiquc. the Renaissance and the
Porte st. Martin theaters The Porte
s.; Martin was built in 80 days by Lee
moine. at the end Of the reign OF
Louis XVI. to serve as temporary
opera house.
But the sidewalks suddenly cease
10 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 passerhy
8! Of the taking of Limburg and the Dc
! feat of the Germans. as well as of tho
| passing of the Rhine and the taking
of the provinces by Louis XIV-ex
| PLOTS of which the "Sun King" was
! Justly proud. 1t must be remarked
/ that the eScutcheon of the Porte ST
! Denis with its fieur-de-lys is the only
royal emblem which was respected
by the Revolution of 1913.
Landmarks Along the Way.
The Boulevard Bonnie NouveIle ha:
! preserved a number of old-fashionet
houses presenting a strong contrast
TO the modern construction, which Ia:
:. considerably spoiled the charm of ths
Old bouleyards so essentially Partisan
Facing the aggressive stores, whici
occupy a whole block, one can Sill
see u picturesque corner distinctly
reminiscent of old Paris; the angl,
of the dark old Rue de la Lune. wher,
stin aexists a famous. pastry shop. -
la Renemmee de in Brioche," in whiei
for more than century, Parisian'
have eaten the famous cake. Th'
Gymnase theater, a few steps fartheI
down, was built in the early part o
the last century and is still one o
the most fashionable theaters o
Paris.