the ways of men(人们的手段)-第20章
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successful as this could hardly be inaugurated without raising a whirlwind
of jealousy and opposition。 The struggle was long and arduous。 Directors
of theatres and concert halls； furious to see a part of their public tempted
away； raised the cry of immorality against the new…comers； and called to
their aid every resource of law and chicanery。 At the end of the first year
Salis found himself with over eight hundred summonses and lawsuits on
his hands。 After having made every effort； knocked at every door； in his
struggle for existence； he finally conceived the happy thought of appealing
directly to Grevy； then President of the Republic； and in his audience with
the latter succeeded in charming and interesting him； as he had so many
others。 The influence of the head of the state once brought to bear on the
affair； Salis had the joy of seeing opposition crushed and the storm blow
itself out。
From this moment； the poets； feeling themselves appreciated and their
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 with some gay epigram； receiving strangers with easy
familiarity or chilling disdain； as the humor takes him； then in a moment；
with a rapid change of expression； pouring out the ringing lines of one of
his ballads … always the story of the poor and humble； for he has identified
himself with the outcast and the disinherited。 His volumes DANS LA RUE
and SUR LA ROUTE have had an enormous popularity； their contents
being known and sung all over France。
In 1892 Bruant was received as a member of the society of GENS DE
LETTRES。 It may be of interest to recall a part of the speech made by
Francois Coppee on the occasion： 〃It is with the greatest pleasure that I
present to my confreres my good friend； the ballad…writer； Aristide Bruant。
I value highly the author of DANS LA RUE。 When I close his volume of
sad and caustic verses it is with the consoling thought that even vice and
crime have their conscience： that if there is suffering there is a possible
redemption。 He has sought his inspiration in the gutter； it is true； but he
has seen there a reflection of the stars。〃
In the Avenue Trudaine； not far from the other CABARETS； the 〃Ane
Rouge〃 was next opened； in a quiet corner of the immense suburb； its
shady…little garden； on which the rooms open； making it a favorite
meeting…place during the warm months。 Of a summer evening no more
congenial spot can be found in all Paris。 The quaint chambers have been
covered with mural paintings or charcoal caricatures of the poets
themselves； or of familiar faces among the clients and patrons of the place。
One of the many talents that clustered around this quiet little garden
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was the brilliant Paul Verlaine； the most Bohemian of all inhabitants of
modern Prague； whose death has left a void； difficult to fill。 Fame and
honors came too late。 He died in destitution； if not absolutely of hunger；
to…day his admirers are erecting a bronze bust of him in the Garden of the
Luxembourg； with money that would have gone far toward making his life
happy。
In the old hotel of the Lesdiguieres family； rue de la Tour d'Auvergne；
the 〃Carillon〃 opened its doors in 1893； and quickly conquered a place in
the public favor； the inimitable fun and spirits of Tiercy drawing crowds to
the place。
The famous 〃Treteau de Tabarin；〃 which today holds undisputed
precedence over all the CABARETS of Paris； was among the last to
appear。 It was founded by the brilliant Fursy and a group of his friends。
Here
