the ways of men(人们的手段)-第21部分
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the CAFE has become the common ground where all meet； for business or
pleasure。 Not in Paris only； but all over France； in every garrison town；
provincial city； or tiny village； the CAFE is the chief attraction； the centre
of thought； the focus toward which all the rays of masculine existence
converge。
For the student； newly arrived from the provinces； to whose modest
purse the theatres and other places of amusement are practically closed；
the CAFE is a supreme resource。 His mind is moulded； his ideas and
opinions formed； more by what he hears and sees there than by any other
influence。 A restaurant is of little importance。 One may eat anywhere。 But
the choice of his CAFE will often give the bent to a young man's career；
and indicate his exact shade of politics and his opinions on literature；
music； or art。 In Paris； to know a man at all is to know where you can find
him at the hour of the APERITIF … what Baudelaire called
L'HEURE SAINTE DE L'ABSINTHE。
When young men form a society among themselves； a CAFE is
chosen as their meeting…place。 Thousands of establishments exist only by
such patronage； as； for example； the Cafe de la Regence； Place du Theatre
Francais； which is frequented entirely by men who play chess。
Business men transact their affairs as much over their coffee as in their
offices。 The reading man finds at his CAFE the daily and weekly papers； a
writer is sure of the undisturbed possession of pen； ink； and paper。 Henri
Murger； the author； when asked once why he continued to patronize a
certain establishment notorious for the inferior quality of its beer；
answered； 〃Yes； the beer is poor； but they keep such good INK！〃
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THE WAYS OF MEN
The use of a CAFE does not imply any great expenditure； a
CONSUMMATION costing but little。 With it is acquired the right to use
the establishment for an indefinite number of hours； the client being
warmed； lighted； and served。 From five to seven； and again after dinner；
the HABITUES stroll in； grouping themselves about the small tables； each
new…comer joining a congenial circle； ordering his drink； and settling
himself for a long sitting。 The last editorial； the newest picture； or the fall
of a ministry is discussed with a vehemence and an interest unknown to
Anglo…Saxon natures。 Suddenly； in the excitement of the discussion； some
one will rise in his place and begin speaking。 If you happen to drop in at
that moment； the lady at the desk will welcome you with； 〃You are just in
time！ Monsieur So…and…So is speaking； the evening promises to be
interesting。〃 She is charmed； her establishment will shine with a reflected
light； and new patrons be drawn there； if the debates are brilliant。 So
universal is this custom that there is hardly an orator to…day at the French
bar or in the Senate； who has not broken his first lance in some such
obscure tournament； under the smiling glances of the DAME DU
COMPTOIR。
Opposite the Palace of the Luxembourg； in the heart of the old Latin
Quarter； stands a quaint building； half hotel； half CAFE； where many years
ago Joseph II。 resided while visiting his sister； Marie Antoinette。 It is
known now as Foyot's； this name must awaken many happy memories in
the hearts of American students； for it was long their favorite meeting…
place。 In the early seventies a club； formed among the literary and poetic
youth of Paris； selected Foyot's as their 〃home〃 during the winter months。
Their summer vacations were spent in visiting the university towns of
France； reciting verses； or acting in original plays at Nancy； Bordeaux；
Lyons； or Caen。 The enthusiasm these youthful performances created
inspired one of their number with the idea of creating in Paris； on a
permanent footing； a centre where a limited public could meet the young
poets of the day and hear them recite their verses and monologues in an
informal way。
The success of the original 〃Chat Noir；〃 the first CABARET of this
kind； was largely owing to the sympathetic and attractive nature of its
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THE WAYS OF MEN
founder； young Salis； who drew around him； by his sunny disposition； shy
personalities who； but for him； would still be 〃mute； inglorious Miltons。〃
Under his kindly and discriminating rule many a successful literary career
has started。 Salis's gifted nature combined a delicate taste and critical
acumen with a rare business ability。 His first venture； an obscure little
CAFE on the Boulevard Rochechouart； in the outlying quarter beyond the
Place Pigalle； quickly became famous； its ever…increasing vogue forcing
its happy proprietor to seek more commodious quarters in the rue Victor
Masse； where the world…famous 〃Chat Noir〃 was installed with much
pomp and many joyous ceremonies。
The old word CABARET； corresponding closely to our English 〃inn；〃
was chosen； and the establishment decorated in imitation of a Louis XIII。
HOTELLERIE。 Oaken beams supported the low…studded ceilings： The
plaster walls disappeared behind tapestries； armor； old FAIENCE。 Beer
and other liquids were served in quaint porcelain or pewter mugs； and the
waiters were dressed （merry anachronism） in the costume of members of
the Institute （the Immortal Forty）； who had so long led poetry in chains。
The success of the 〃Black Cat〃 in her new quarters was immense； all Paris
crowding through her modest doors。 Salis had founded Montmartre！ … the
rugged old hill giving birth to a generation of writers and poets； and
nourishing this new school at her granite breasts。
It would be difficult to imagine a form of entertainment more tempting
than was offered in this picturesque inn。 In addition to the first； the entire
second floor of the building had been thrown into one large room； the
walls covered with a thousand sketches； caricatures； and crayon drawings
by hands since celebrated the world over。 A piano； with many chairs and
tables； completed the unpretending installation。 Here； during a couple of
hours each evening； either by the piano or simply standing in their places；
the young poets gave utterance to the creations of their imagination； the
musicians played their latest inspirations； the RACONTEUR told his
newest story。 They called each other and the better known among the
guests by their names； and joked mutual weaknesses； eliminating from
these gatherings every shade of a perfunctory performance。
It is impossible to give an idea of the delicate flavor of such informal
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THE WAYS OF MEN
evenings … the sensation of being at home that the picturesque
surroundings produced； the low murmur of conversation； the clink of
glasses； the swing of the waltz movement played by a master hand；
interrupted only when some slender form would lean against the piano and
pour forth burning words of infinite pathos； … the inspired young face
lighted up by the passion and power of the lines。 The burst of applause
that his talent called forth would hardly have died away before another
figure would take the poet's place； a wave of laughter welcoming the new…
comer； whose twinkling eyes and demure smile promised a treat of fun
and humor。 So the evening would wear gayly to its end； the younger
element in the audience； full of the future； drinking in long draughts of
poetry and art； the elders charmed to live over again the days of their
youth and feel in touch once more with the present。
In this world of routine and conventions an innovation as brilliantly
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 Mountai
