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rights acknowledged and defended； flocked to the 〃Sacred Mountain；〃 as
Montmartre began to be called； other establishments of the same character
sprang up in the neighborhood。 Most important among these were the 〃4
z'Arts；〃 Boulevard de Clichy； the 〃Tambourin；〃 and La Butte。
Trombert； who； together with Fragerolle； Goudezki； and Marcel
Lefevre； had just ended an artistic voyage in the south of France； opened
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the 〃4 z'Arts；〃 to which the novelty…loving public quickly found its way；
crowding to applaud Coquelin CADET； Fragson； and other budding
celebrities。 It was here that the poets first had the idea of producing a piece
in which rival CABARETS were reviewed and laughingly criticised。 The
success was beyond all precedent； in spite of the difficulty of giving a play
without a stage； without scenery or accessories of any kind； the interest
centring in the talent with which the lines were declaimed by their authors；
who next had the pleasant thought of passing in review the different
classes of popular songs； Clovis Hugues； at the same time poet and
statesman； discoursing on each subject； and introducing the singer；
Brittany local songs； Provencal ballads； ant the half Spanish； half French
CHANSONS of the Pyrenees were sung or recited by local poets with the
charm and abandon of their distinctive races。
The great critics did not disdain to attend these informal gatherings；
nor to write columns of serious criticism on the subject in their papers。
At the hour when all Paris takes its APERITIF the 〃4 z'Arts〃 became
the meeting…place of the painters； poets； and writers of the day。
Montmartre gradually replaced the old Latin Quarter； it is there to…day that
one must seek for the gayety and humor； the pathos and the makeshifts of
Bohemia。
The 〃4 z'Arts；〃 next to the 〃Chat Noir；〃 has had the greatest influence
on the taste of our time； … the pleiad of poets that grouped themselves
around it in the beginning； dispersing later to form other centres； which； in
their turn； were to influence the minds and moods of thousands。
Another charming form of entertainment inaugurated by this group of
men is that of 〃shadow pictures；〃 conceived originally by Caran d'Ache；
and carried by him to a marvellous perfection。 A medium…sized frame
filled with ground glass is suspended at one end of a room and surrounded
by sombre draperies。 The room is darkened； against the luminous
background of the glass appear small black groups （shadows cast by
figures cut out of cardboard）。 These figures move； advancing and
retreating； grouping or separating themselves to the cadence of the poet's
verses； for which they form the most original and striking illustrations。
Entire poems are given accompanied by these shadow pictures。
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One of Caran d'Ache's greatest successes in this line was an EPOPEE
DE NAPOLEON； … the great Emperor appearing on foot and on horseback；
the long lines of his army passing before him in the foreground or small in
the distance。 They stormed heights； cheered on by his presence； or formed
hollow squares to repulse the enemy。 During their evolutions； the clear
voice of the poet rang out from the darkness with thrilling effect。
The nicest art is necessary to cut these little figures to the required
perfection。 So great was the talent of their inventor that； when he gave
burlesques of the topics of the day； or presented the celebrities of the hour
to his public； each figure would be recognized with a burst of delighted
applause。 The great Sarah was represented in poses of infinite humor；
surrounded by her menagerie or receiving the homage of the universe。
Political leaders； foreign sovereigns； social and operatic stars； were made
to pass before a laughing public。 None were spared。 Paris went mad with
delight at this new 〃art；〃 and for months it was impossible to find a seat
vacant in the hall。
At the Boite a Musique； the idea was further developed。 By an
ingenious arrangement of lights； of which the secret has been carefully
kept； landscapes are represented in color； all the gradations of light are
given； from the varied twilight hues to purple night； until the moon； rising；
lights anew the picture。 During all these variations of color little groups
continue to come and go； acting out the story of a poem； which the poet
delivers from the surrounding obscurity as only an author can render his
own lines。
One of the pillars of this attractive centre was Jules Jouy； who made a
large place for himself in the hearts of his contemporaries … a true poet；
whom neither privations nor the difficult beginnings of an unknown writer
could turn from his vocation。 His songs are alternately tender； gay； and
bitingly sarcastic。 Some of his better…known ballads were written for and
marvellously interpreted by Yvette Guilbert。 The difficult critics； Sarcey
and Jules Lemaitre； have sounded his praise again and again。
A CABARET of another kind which enjoyed much celebrity； more on
account of the personality of the poet who founded it than from any
originality or picturesqueness in its intallation； was the 〃Mirliton；〃 opened
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by Aristide Bruant in the little rooms that had sheltered the original 〃Chat
Noir。〃
To give an account of the 〃Mirliton〃 is to tell the story of Bruant； the
most popular ballad…writer in France to…day。 This original and eccentric
poet is as well…known to a Parisian as the boulevards or the Arc de
Triomphe。 His costume of shabby black velvet； Brittany waistcoat； red
shirt； top…boots； and enormous hat is a familiar feature in the caricatures
and prints of the day。 His little CABARET remains closed during the day；
opening its doors toward evening。 The personality of the ballad…writer
pervades the atmosphere。 He walks about the tiny place hailing his
acquaintances