Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-06
PARIS is NOT
THE GAY CITY
OFPRE-WAR
BY JOHN oBRIEN.

PARIS, May 6.-There was time in
the far-away, before-the-war days, when
anybody who wanted TO see Paris by
Night" could do so within two steps of
the Grande' Boulevards.
Night life was a normal part Of the
city's existence. None Of the big cafe
restaurants thought Of closing as long as
there was g customer who wanted an
other drink. Montmartre. now the home
OF jazzjoy unconfned, was remote place
where artists anu sculptors worked and
lived and sang in cabarets which were
just what the word indicate-resorts
where drinking and singing went on to-
gether.
This is rot the Paris Of today, or
rather Of tonight. War restrictions have
been abolished and the closing hour has
been made later and later, from the 80
p. m. of war times to 2 a. m, but the
people-the French inhabitants-have lost
the old habit Of staying up late at night.
Besides, most OF them live in the suburbs
and they have to think twice about the
price Of q taxicab, as this modern capt.
tai does not boast any other method OF
transportation after midnight.
The foreigner therefore is the needed
accessory Of life In the early hours And
nowadays foreigner" nine times out of
ten means American.
by Special Appointment to His Ma
jesty Americas" might be hoisted as
sign outside every night resort in Paris.
Formerly it was the Russian, or even the
German, who was known IN the slang OF
the night as a bon mlcheton," In other
words. good spender."
The Gentleman from Indiana" has
taken away the title and is holding It
ag-inSt all corners.
This makes it easier for the purveyor
Of amusement. He knows that the visitor
from the other side Of the Atlantic has
a very distinct. preconceived idea Of what
Partisan amusement ought to De. He
knows what his customer wants and he
gives It to him in large gobs.
A LITTLE WHIRL
AFTER DARK.
Let US, then. take little whirl around
Paris after nightfau. Our explorers have
dined and danced, yes, danced, because
they have certainly not gone to a French
restaurant where people Ike to make
dining and dancing two separate opera
lions. Thus they have probably struck
up a passing acquaintance with two or
three blond or blondined "petftes DANES"
whose knowledge Of United States Army
English is wide II not profound. This
restaurant closes at 1 or 2 o'clock and
naturally that is just the hour for be-
ginning. Therefore, the Joyseekers
readily fall in with the suggestion OF
their companions that they jump into a
taxi, or two, and have some more.
It matters not TO which one Of the
places in the rue Plgalle. or the rue
Fontaine. or the adjoining streets they
are piloted 1t will be the Monastery, or
Nelly's. or Cnarley's, or the Dog Who
Never Sleeps. or the Smiling Pig. 1t will
be the original of one of the places whose
names were introduced to New York by
the modern founders Of Greenwich vii
lage, but at least 1t will be real, as far
as Partisan night life can he real. 1t will
certainly be in Montmarre, because the
post-armistice mushroom resorts around
the Champs ysees or out in Neuilly or
-Passv went right out Of existence when
the Stars and Stripes were hauled down
for the last time from the roof of the
Hotel CrillOn.
ooh. give eem one louis" MARBLES one
of the blond guides as she hings herself
out Of the taxi on arrival and one of the
explorers hands over twenty francs. say
ing with an air Of great unconcern:
We'll, after all. it's only a dollars sixty at
the present rate OF exchange" If he had
taken a taxi on his own account for the
trip the chauffeur would have said
"merci' for five francs. The evening has
begun.