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naugurated 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 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。
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 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 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