The New York herald., 1922-04-09
Cour du Dragon,
Paris apartments,
Appeals to A merica
Only United States Dollars
Can Save Famous Landmark
From Auction.

Special Correspondence 10 THE NEW YORK
HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, March 2s.
Paris is never likely TO succeed in
initiating New York. All the more rea-
son that 1t remembers to be Paris.
And the Cour du Dragon is one OF the
last memories OF what Paris used
to be-"
Such was the obiter dictum given
to THE NEW YORK HERALD by NJ. A.
Lemaitre, well known Paris archi-
tect, regarding the present movement
for the purchase of the famous old
Court of the Dragon, SO called from
the spirited carving of dragon. due
to some unknown sixteenth century
artist, which overhangs the entrance
archway, by the Paris Municipality,
with view to its preservation. Fail
ing it's Transformation into a his
toric monument" under the care OF the
authorities, and that within the space
Of a few days it is doomed to early
1
breaker.
1t is striking proof that not only in
America do cities renew themselves con-
tinually: that although the Cour du
Dragon Is In fact only some two CEN
turies old 1t is, with the exception OF
| individual houses. such as the Cluny
Museum, the Place des vosges and one
or two medieval mansions in the Marais,
actually one OF the oldest domestic
relics In city whose history goes back
two thousand years. There are. of
course. the churches. Notre Dame and
the rest, but so far as domestic life Is
concerned the Cour du Dragon stands
almost alone in recalling the life OF the
| plain man in the Paris of the "Senti-
mental Journey" and the old days be-
! fore the Revolution. Incidentally It
serves as reminder of what very un-
pleasant-not to say nsanitary-places
old European cities used to be before
the doctrine OF public health came to
them from across the Atlantic. Not only
Is 1t still paved with huge cobblestones
but the gutter still runs down the mid
die of the roadway just as it did in the
days before the garbage can, when every
kind of unpleasantness was heaped into
the gutter and left there for sun and
dogs and pigs to regulate.
FIRST Apartment Street.
This Court of the Dragon is interest
ing to the modern American city dweller
from yet another point OF view, that it
represents a very early example of the
street given over entirely to apartment
houses. 1t was built In 1890 on the site
OF an old royal menage. or riding school,
where for at least a century previously
had been taught riding and fencing and
similar accomplishments to the young
bloods of the court When 1t fell upon
evil times the site was bought by a
contemporary speculator in real estate,
Antoine CroZat, Marquis du Chatel BY
his orders the architect Jacques Cartaut
rebuilt it in its present shape. Its name
incidentally comes from the fact that It
opened upon a street then called the
Rue Sainte Marguerite, after the virgin
martyr of Antioch. who. as pious legend
has 1t, outdid Jonah by betting eaten
alive by fierce dragon and afterward
emerging. safe and sound from his in
nards.'
The Dragons Court consists OF a mar
row streetway some hundred yards
long by seven wide. with six houses on
each side, built on the same plan, OF
three stories with two apartments"
of three rooms each and shops or work.
rooms on the street level. Each end OF
the court is closed by a gateway that
at the southern end being particularly
notable for the quaint medieval tow
ers. relics of a still earlier building
which flank II. To-day just as at any
time for two centuries past the gates
are closed at . p. NJ. and if you wish
to enter later you must pass through
little postern gate as though into
a medieval stronghold.
Housed Quack Doctors.
From its earliest days the court was
given over almost entirely to artisans
Of the better class. Some intruders
there were, such as the poet Dorat.
the surgeon Duffaut and certain quack
doctors. one of whom was even more
lavish in his promises than modern
patent medicine proprietors In that his
Capital Powder" which you could
buy for livres the packet, guaran-
teed you against any kind OF death
whatsoever, though 1t was especially
potent against headaches and bad colds
For the most part. however, II was
given up 10 metal workers and their
practical monopoly IS explained by an
old writer who was unlucky enough
TO live among them for n time. 'It
is.' he declares. "the home of the
Cyclops, where hammers clank from
morning to night and beat out without
pity the most robust brains. Black
smiths, locksmiths. kettle members and
stovemakers ply their noisy trades and
so drive out all others"
The greater part Of these noisy gem
try have long quilted their noisy way
or life, though even now there are three
or four OF the workshops opening di-
rect on TO the street whore you can
see metalworkers OF the humber sort
busy over their anvils. But the greater
part OF the shops are closed and the
rooms above them are inhabited by tho
very poor. whose habits. IL they still
lend picturesque flavor OF medievallsm,
are not I'm consonance with the dictates
OF medical officers OF health.
Doomed TO Auction.
Even so 1t might have endured for
years to come but for an exterior cause
the death of one OF two joint pro-
prietors and the consequent necessity
Of realizing the estate. Failing some
public purchaser. IL viii be sold by
auction at an early date. and. as in
It's present condition It Is difficult to sec
how II could he made commercially prof
table, there Is little doubt that it will
be pulled down and new apartments
erected on its site.
Failing action by the Government or
-.