Year: 1876




There are few down -towners OF this
recollection Of old Matte, the fashion
able barber. OF Royal street, where the
Creole bloods for the past twenty-five
years were wont to repair for tonsorial
operations. We'll, to those who did not
know Matte it must be said that Matte
was type, physically and mentally.
For twenty-five years, although when
he first came into prominence, he was
comparatively young. he has been note
able for the extreme whiteness of his
hair and beard, which he even refused
to dye, in utter defiance Of the exactions
of his profession. As u man of taste he
was recognized, and his cozy little
shop was n perfect gem, its ele-
gance being nnequaled by anything
that has. ever been attempted in
his line of business, and clean, withal,
enough to put TO shame the efforts Of IN
Amsterdam housewife. Mentally, Matte
was u wit Of the first water, and pos
sessed remarkable memory of men
and things, which. his gift of CAB"
never failed to improve when opportu4
nifty presented itself When it didn't.
Matte could make 1t. Matte 8 shop, or
his saloon, as it became to be called,
was rs much the centre Of the bon ton
of the lower districts rs tue st. Charles
Hotel is now Of the entire community.
II was there that all great events, a
first performance at the opera, the last
duel, Mrs. -'s grand reception
and the political events OF the day
were discussed It was there that
a shave could be had with oil
the luxuries Of the French art,
for the paltry sum Of ten cents :
when hair cutting had not yet risen
from twenty-five cents to forty-amid
the perfumes Of clean linen and the ex-
tracts of In Societe Hygienigue. It was
there that Matte reigued supreme, and,
rs an amiable monarch, treated his sub
Jects as his equals, yet never STOPPING
beneath his dignity He combined sew
eral occupations. Besides his occupa-
tion rs public barber. he was also the
hair dresser Of the Opera House. and,
further, chcf de cinque. Many tenor or
chanfeuse iegere owe their first triumphs
10 Matte, for he was ever to be found at
his post in the pdrteyye ready to give
the signal to his afliliates to begin the
applause. His whole soul seemed to
be rapt up in his devotion to the Opera,
and when 7 o'clock had struck it would
have been rs impossible to obtain the
services OF this modern Figaro, for love
or money. He made money in his time.
but where 1t all went nobody. not even
his most intimate friends, could tell
although it was whispered that he was
oveffond of the fair sex. Within the
past few years Matte has shown signs
of deerepitude and his quiet yet ardent
spirit has been on the wane Misfortune
knocked ut his door, and found him so
weak that he became an easy prey to
its denoralizing influence After lead
ing a quasi-nomadic life for couple OF
years he found his way TO the city in
sane asylum; not however. as a patient.
but as d guest Of the superintendent, in
whom he found benevolent host. 1t
was no longer than q week ago that
appeared TO be in excellent spirits.
spoke quite pleasantly about old times.
and seemed not to be displeased with
his condition, which he pailosophieally
considered to be the natural coDse
quence Of life. Yet on Friday last poor
Matte wandered away from his asylum.
ostensibly to take stroll. He went to
visit some friends down at the Slaugh-
terhouse. but reaching there he threw
himself into the river to shuttle off his
mortal coil. Fortunately he was fished
out in time by Messrs. Lemonnier and
Girard, who accomplished their gen
erous task with no little peril to them
selves. Poor Matte had not the courage
to quit this world through which he
had lived so smoothly. 1t took several
long draughts from bottle of spirits to
urge him to this act of desperation :;
and Matte was ever known TO be man
Of strictly temperate habits Yet he
now says he is Of no use to the world,
and, therefore, should rid it Of useless
being Like the Spartans who drowned
their imperfect or deformed children. as
we drown our extra pups, he thinks that
old people are an incumbrance an1 were
made to TO die young. He further de-
clares that he has made up his mind to
bring an end to his existence and will do
so rs soon he gets an opportunity.