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

&-AAASNso' o1Ndattl tttt punt LCAN
the boulevard crosses at right angles |
the Rue and Faubourg Montmartre, |
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 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 its famous cafes.
which formed part Of the life of the
! city. no longer exist. Breban. has
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
j NungeSser when on leave-is bccom
| ing Transformed
! The Cafe dc Mulhcuse has been re-
/ placed by the Musee Grerin. OF wax
work celebrity. The Theater des Vari-
| etcs, with the columns of its old-fasl,
! Toned portico. is a souvenir of the past.
as well as is the Passage VerdeaJ OF
which many people would surely for
/ get the existence were they not forci-
/ bly, reminded of 1t when showers
oblige them 70 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 dc
lrOpera to the Madeleine church. On
the crowded sidewalks, rather OBJ
structed by the terraces of innumer-
able. cafes. one meets sail kinds and
conditions of men" in that most demo
cratic of all conglomerations-nn
that most banal-a Partisan crowd.
Another Famed Thoroughfare.
The Boulevard des Itahens was the
center OF the brilliant, scandalous life
of the late empire and early 30s.
There used TO assemble at Tortoni's
ut The Mais0n d'Or-now transformed
into post office-at the Cafe de
Paris, those French handles who
brought such labor.ous care to the
imitation of the extravagances Of their
English models; at the corner Of the
Rue Laffitte was situated the Cafe
Hardig, the meeting place of the agi-
tatorS az the fall of the assiGnats and
which is celebrated as having been
the first Partisan cafe where luncheons
were served "a 10 fourchettc," that is.
where meat was served. The Cafe
Anglais on the opposite side Of tho
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. Tho Pa
vilion de Hanovre. facing the Vaudc-
vile theater. now shelters The shop Of
prosperous slversmith: but il is
of noble origin. having formerly be-
longed to the duke of Richelieu. Who
had so runs the legend built il 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 10 the beau.
tiful and luxurious building.
The Boulevard des Capucines, which
starts from the Vaudeville and spans
the Place dc l'Opera, is always ex
tremely animated with its numerous
hotels. clubs and shops. It belongs In
some sort to history, for it was from
the garden of the Capueines (Which
has disappeared long since) that the
first pistol shot which transformed
, the riot of 194S into regular revo
luton was fired.
Professions and corteges OF nj
kinds, both civil and military, peace
full, threatening or triumphant. have
through the centuries passed dow
the. bouleyards, stamping history iI:te
the very footway they followed. But
surely thee old avenues never Wit
{. messed a more solemn or symbolica
scene than the parade of the allied
I troops, which, on the 14th of July
preceded by their glorious, tatterct
2 banners, marched down the bouie
wards toward the Place .sde ID Re
! publique. ! 8s