The First Cigars

1895

The Havana Variety Was Smoked In Paris as Long Ago as 1813.

When were cigars first smoked? According to a French authority who has been making investigations in this subject, the weed in this shape was not introduced into France till the return of the French army from Spain in 1823. This fact is on the authority of Hippolyte Auger, the dramatic author, who writes thus in his memoirs:

"Our return from Paris was by way of Orleans. On the route we met quite frequently officers returning from Spain. They had generally cigars in their mouths — a new habit, since become general. From this point of view the campaign of 1823 had the good financial result of establishing a new branch of import trade."

Another document, however, carries back the use of the cigar to a slightly earlier period. The "Hermit of the Chassee d'Antin," 1813, going to see his nephew, a young officer at Paris, finds him at his hotel in morning costume and smoking a Havana cigar. The taste for cigars seems at this time to have been sufficiently extended to make them a common article in the stock of every grocer who was careful to cater to the wants of his customers. — New York World.

Suicide in France

1895

Poverty Every Year Drives Four Thousand People to Seek Relief In Death.

Statistics of suicide, alluded to by the London Standard's Paris correspondent, show that during the last four years 26,000 persons have in France put an end to their own lives. In Italy, with a population almost equal to that of France, the number of suicides during the same period has not exceeded 8,000. In seeking the reason for this great difference the well known Parisian journalist, M. Henri Fouquier, explains that in Italy the Roman Catholic religion is still strongly rooted in the population, and that it acts as a deterrent against self destruction.

Formerly in Italy the body of a suicide was dragged through the streets and then exhibited on a gibbet. Moreover, if Italy is not so rich a country as France, poverty there is less severely felt and more easy to bear than in France, thanks to the Italian sunshine and blue sky. It is estimated that perhaps a quarter of the population of Naples, for instance, live in a state of poverty which could not be borne by a workman in Paris or in the towns of the north of France. In addition to this, mendacity is not in Italy regarded as either shameful or humiliating.

Therefore, notwithstanding the extreme poverty prevailing in Italy, M. Fouquier is not astonished that it should lead but few persons to commit suicide. M. Fouquier points out that in Italy self destruction is in most cases the denouement of a love drama, whereas in France, out of an average of 6,500 suicides a year, there are not more than about 300 that can be classed as suicides of passion. In France money, or rather the lack of it, is the cause of self destruction.

M. Fouquier considers that some 2,000 suicides a year may be due to insanity, but he points out that it is now demonstrated by the statistics that in France 4,000 persons a year — that is to say, about ten persons a day — hang, drown or stifle themselves with the fumes of charcoal or blow out their brains because they are ruined, because they are prosecuted by their creditors, because they cannot earn enough to procure food and are dying of starvation.

Jean Antoinette Poisson

1895

In reply to the question, "What man or woman, not monarch or acknowledged ruler, has wielded the most despotic power?" a writer says no single individual has ever equaled or even approached Jean Antoinette Poisson, the most famous among the train of Louis XV of France, who was created Marquise de Pompadour and for 20 years swayed the whole policy of France. She filled all public offices with her own nominees and made her own creatures ministers of France. She it was who brought Belle Isle into office, with his vigorous policy, and introduced the Abbe de Bernis into office to work her own pleasure. Previous to 1756 the policy of France had been to weaken Austria by alliance with Germany.

This she arbitrarily changed because Frederick the Great lampooned her, and because Maria Theresa wrote her a courteous letter entered into an alliance with Austria, ultimating, as it turned out, in the Seven Years' war. She, moreover, corresponded with the generals in the field, prepared all business for the king's eye and daily examined the letters sent through the post. The king was a mere puppet, who assisted at the spectacle of his own reign and the people for the time being "bowed down and worshiped" her. — Chicago Tribune.

Clever French Potters

1895

They Imitate the China of All the More Famous Makers.

Entering a china shop recently, I asked the dealer the price of a small and very beautiful piece of Delft which had attracted my eyes for weeks whenever I happened to pass the window. Knowing it must be very expensive, I had so far resisted the temptation. Much to my surprise, the dealer named a very moderate price.

"It is not Holland Delft, you know," he said. "The same piece in Holland Delft would cost twice that at least."

"Well, what is it then if not Holland Delft?' I asked. "To be Delft it must be made in the Holland potteries."

"That is no longer true," said the dealer, smiling. "Strictly speaking this is not Delft, for it was made in France. At the same time we call it Delft, and even an expert of the first order would find it difficult to distinguish it from the genuine article except by the mark of the pottery on the back. To all purposes, artistic and otherwise, it is Delft. Now, here is a piece of real Holland Delft, and I will wager you anything you like you cannot tell the difference."

This was true, though the pottery marks were different. The dealer went on:

"Modern French potters are the cleverest imitators in the world, and of late years it is next to impossible to distinguish their imitations of famous Dutch and German and even English wares from originals except by the marks. You can always depend on the marks, for the French seek to imitate, not to defraud.

"Their industry and cleverness, however, are in a certain sense unfortunate, notwithstanding the excellence of their wares, for they make famous glazes and patterns cheap and common and thus lessen the value of originals.

"The many potteries at Limoges and elsewhere in France, besides making innumerable original creations of wonderful beauty, imitate about every other well known china in the world.

"Here is the flower pattern of the Royal Dresden, for instance. The time was when great prices were charged for that Dresden ware. The pattern was found in royal palaces and the homes of the wealthy almost exclusively. But nowadays the Limoges potteries turn out this pattern in a thousand forms and shapes till it is becoming one of the commonest on the market." — Exchange.

Women Venders In Paris

1895

The streets of Paris, particularly old Paris, are vocal with the mournful cries of women venders. They sing out the merits of newspapers, toys, fish, vegetables, fruits, flowers and small wares. Existence with many is a pitiful struggle, and poverty makes thief inventive.

After the marketing hours the greatest anxiety is caused by the perishable foods. Nothing is left untried to keep them from spoiling but ice, which is not to be had. One way of keeping up the appearance of the fish is painting the gills with cochineal or vermilion. Even the fresh fish are painted to quicken sales: Every now and then an unfortunate fishmonger is arrested, but she meekly takes the judge's lecture, pays a $10 fine and touches up her stock the very next morning. — Paris Letter.

Not to Be Reached

1895

The people of the extreme south of France, in the neighborhood of the Pyrenees, have a hard shift to live. Some of them gain a livelihood by taming bears.

Many others take to begging, which becomes a trade by itself, reasonably remunerative and not exactly dishonorable. Baron Haussmann, in his "Memoires," cites the case of one of these professional beggars who amassed a good property and finally became mayor of a large commune.

Even then he continued to ply his trade, especially in the bathing season, when many tourists visited the country. One of these outsiders was so taken aback at the sight of the mayor begging on the street that he remonstrated with the mendicant.

"I should think you would be ashamed," said the stranger, "you, a man holding so honorable an office."

"Office," said the mayor, "my office! Why, man, this is how I gained it." — Youth's Companion.

Fine Manners

1895

At the court of Marie Antoinette all emotions and passions were veiled by a mask of politeness. Even the children were taught to speak with wit and tact and courtesy and to bear pain in silence. The little Duc d'Angouleme, 8 years old, when the old Sanbrun entered his presence unexpectedly, said, touching the book in his hand: "Ah, monsieur, I am in the company of Plutarch's men. You could not come at a moment more apropos!"

The Count de Pallance, beheaded in his tenth year, stood erect and calm in the cart until he reached the guillotine. The headsman lifted his long curls. "Merci, monsieur," said the boy, with a bow and a smile. The next moment his head rolled in dust.

The man or woman who showed any signs of pretention or self conceit was not received at court. Profound deference was shown to women and to the aged. Well bred men heard of their own ruin with a bonmot and went out to fight each other to the death with such grace and courtesy that the duel seemed a sacrament of friendship. — Family Magazine.


Her Father's Say

He — What do you think your father would say if we were to run away and get married?
She — Really I don't know, but I imagine he would say I was a bigger fool than he thought I was. — Detroit Free Press.

Wins French Bride in 13 Minutes

1920

Yank Voted Speed Demon of A. E. F.

SOMERSWORTH, N. H. — Paul J. St. Jean, wounded hero of this town, has returned with his French bride whom he met for fifteen minutes in Angouleme, France, while on his way to the front in 1918, wooed by mail and made a special trip to her home to marry.

Now the citizens of this ordinarily quiet village vote unanimously that Jean can claim the A. E. F. record for a speedy courtship. And Jean says nothing. His record speaks for itself.

Mrs. Paul J. St. Jean has settled down to learn the English language.

Private Paul J. St. Jean left Somersworth in 1917 with the Yankee Division for France. He went thru every battle from the engagement at Seicheprey to Chateau Thierry, where he was felled with a machine gun bullet in the first American push. Out of the fighting, he was invalided to Camp Hospital 5, near Bordeaux. For over two months he hovered between death and life, and on Sept. 29th left again for the front to join his division.

Could Speak Language.

Then Cupid got in his work. While serenely traveling by train at the rate of three knots an hour, the French Limited stopped at the town of Angouleme. On the platform watching the train pull in were three French mademoiselles. Jean had the advantage. He was the only doughboy on the limited that knew French without the aid of a "French Made Easy" book, so he engaged the young women in conversation.

Two of the girls talked. The other didn't. Thruout the fifteen minutes that the train waited, a quiet French maiden of 16 summers hung back, saying nothing but thinking a whole lot. That young lady is now Mrs. Jean.

Jean, like any enterprising Yank, took their addresses and corresponded from the front. The shy young miss, whose name was Gabrielle Deleichelle, and whose father was at the front during the war, made it known to Jean thru her sisters' letter that she wanted to write.

Kept Writing to Girl.

The soldier came home with his division and started on a course of vocational training in New York. Altho unable to visit his young friend on his way home, he kept up the correspondence, which grew more interesting with each succeeding letter. In June, 1919, the obvious happened. They became engaged with the aid of a 5-cent stamp and several pages of uncensored French.

The vocational training complete, on April 10th of this year, the Yankee hero sailed from New York, arrived at Angouleme, and on May 17th married the young lady who had kept the postmasters at Somersworth and Angouleme busy for nearly two years.

Mr. and Mrs. Jean then came home. They visited New York and spent three days in Boston. But the big cities displeased Mrs. Jean. She liked the quietude of country places like Somersworth, and So they arrived home on her eighteenth birthday.

Mrs. Jean admires her soldier husband, is amazed at the progressiveness of America, but says with a far-away look: "I will always love my old France and expect to go back some day," and Mr. Jean, who is of French descent himself, is quite willing to go, too.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 1.

Kansas Wheat For France

1901

The enormous wheat crop in Kansas and Oklahoma is bringing grain buyers of foreign countries to Kansas, says a Topeka dispatch to the New York Sun. Alon and Jean Goldschmidt, importers of Paris, came recently to negotiate for shipments. They declare that there is little promise of a big wheat crop in France this year, and France always turns to the United States when her own crop is short. Kansas wheat is famous in France for good flour. It is the product of Russian seed, but the wheat of Russia does not compare with the Kansas product. The French importers will arrange for shipping by way of the gulf of Mexico.

Earlier London Summary

1916

London, Sept. 20. — Chief of Staff von Hindenburg's vigorous efforts to turn the tide both east and west have met with indifferent success or plain failure during the last two days in all theatres of the war except southern Transylvania.

In France from 9 o'clock this morning until night the Germans threw wave after wave of infantry in heavy assaults against a three-mile front at Bouchavesnes, on the French line, half way between Combles and Peronne. At 1 o'clock the Germans after several failures reached Bouchavesnes, but were immediately driven out at the point of the bayonet.

On all other parts of this field the Teutons, broken by the French fire, ran back to their trenches, leaving great numbers of dead.

In Transylvania the Rumanians have met with serious reverse in the region of Hatszeg, whence they have been driven back to the Transylvania Alps and the town of Petroseny and Szurduk pass have been recaptured from them, according to Teutonic reports.

In Dobrudja, where the Russians and Rumanians have been heavily reinforced, Germanic accounts say the battle is fluctuating. Sofia reports successes for the Bulgars at certain points, while Bucharest claims a victory for the Rumanians near Enigea, 19 miles south of the Constanza railway.

Russia's heavy pressure, despite desperate counter blows, is steadily crowding the Germans, Austrians and Turks through the Carpathians south of the Bystritza River, where Berlin and Vienna admit Russian gains for the third successive day.

West of Lutsk in Volhynia, where a great battle is in progress, the Teutons say Russian troops that penetrated their lines were thrown back again.

Tonight's British official report says:

A captured order of Gen von Falkenhayn, dated Aug. 24, says the wastage of German cannon and ammunition in the last few months "has been considerably in excess of production," and there is a serious diminution in the reserve supply. The Army is ordered to preserve material, "for, otherwise, making good the losses and placing new formations in the field will be rendered impossible."

Bucharest's claim regarding the Dobrudja campaign is partially corroborated by the following German statement:

The Allied fleet is blockading the Greek coast occupied by BUlgaria. British aircraft have raided Deama and French aeroplanes attacked Monastir.

French Flyers Drop Bombs

1916

Depots of German Troops Violently Attacked.

PARIS, France. — The French war office issued the following statement of an air attack on German depots by French aviators:

"During the night ten of our aeroplanes dropped sixty bombs of heavy caliber on important military factories south of Bruges. The bombardment was carried out from a height between 400 and 800 meters and was very effective.

"On the same night 104 bombs were dropped on ammunition depots and other military establishments north of Somme-Py. Violent explosions were heard.

"Finally one of our air squadrons attacked the barracks and aerodrome at Saarburg (in Lorraine). Twenty well aimed bombs of heavy caliber inflicted serious damage."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 2.

How Falkenhayn 'Got In Bad'

1916

Advice to Kaiser Said to Have Led to His Dismissal.

LONDON, England. — According to reports from Germany received here, says a dispatch from Berne, Switzerland, the dismissal of Gen. Erich von Falkenhayn as chief of the German general staff was due to his suggestion of a complete change in Germany's war plans, which Emperor William indignantly rejected.

Predicting the complete downfall of Bulgaria, as the result of converging attacks from the north and south, and in the end a consequent interruption of communications with Turkey, General Von Falkenhayn urged that the whole Balkan campaign be abandoned, that the Eastern line be shortened and that the occupied territory in France be evacuated.

The general expressed the opinion that the transformation of German strategy into a purely defensive campaign on a shorter front would paralyze the Entente Allies and make it impossible for them to crush Austro-German resistance unless they fought with unlimited resources and then for years. Persistence in the present plan of campaign, he said, would lead to disaster.

Field Marshal Von Hindenburg denounced this advice as childish, cowardly and unworthy of the Germans. Emperor William took Von Hindenburg's view and dismissed Von Falkenhayn.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 2.

Sees Spain Aid of Allies

1916

Former Premier Says Nation Must Soon Make Choice.

PARIS, France. — Spain must decide in favor of one or other of the groups of belligerents in the opinion of Antonio Maura, former premier and leader of the conservative party, according to news dispatches from Madrid, quoting an address delivered by Senor Maura.

The address was delivered at Beranga, near Bilbao, at a meeting attended by 6,000 Mauristas. The former premier declared, according to the dispatches, that the conditions of the war made Spain's isolation henceforth impossible. He is quoted as saying that it was moreover essential that France and England should not be hostile toward Spain.

The Madrid dispatches predict that Senor Maura's speech will cause a strong impression thruout the country, as his prestige was never so high as at present. The majority of his followers are supposed to be pro-German in their sympathies.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 3.

A Voice From The Tomb

1901

More of Marie Bashkirtseff's Interesting Confessions Printed.

Once more Marie Bashkirtseff and her "confessions" are leading topics of interest in the literary world. The last of the "confessions" have just been issued in book form, and they are attracting almost if not quite as much attention as those which preceded them several years ago.

Readers familiar with the literary ideas of 12 or 15 years ago scarcely need be told who Marie Bashkirtseff was. To younger readers the name of the brilliant, erratic young Russian artist, scholar and authoress is not, however, very well known. Although she left no permanent impress on the world of art or letters, her diary, which reveals with fidelity the workings of her heart and mind, will always possess an interest for the student of human nature.

Marie Bashkirtseff was born in Russia in 1860 and died in Paris on Oct. 31, 1884. She was well born and well educated, possessing a knowledge of Greek and Latin as well as of the more important modern tongues. She was a talented painter and in 1878 went to Paris to study. In 1880 she exhibited a picture at the Salon, and from then until her untimely death she worked eagerly at her art. One of her pictures was purchased by the French government.

During her brief career in Paris Marie Bashkirtseff mingled with the brilliant life of that period and numbered among her acquaintances many famous people. She frequently wrote anonymous letters to famous literary men, and the charm and brilliance of the epistles induced those to whom she wrote to sustain the correspondence. The letters which passed between her and Guy de Maupassant, the brilliant romancer, form the most interesting phase of the last "confessions."

Marie Bashkirtseff was a genius in many ways, a painter, a musician, a writer and, above all, a woman of the most intense emotion. It may well be held, as it is by some, that the world lost much by her premature death.

U. S. Boxers to Sail for France

1920

Frenchmen who are keen to see their boxers stand up against those from the United States will have further opportunities to do so, for Al Lippe sails Jan. 14 with nine fighters, having arranged terms with Theodore Vinne, French promoter. Jeff Smith, Tom Cower, K. O. Loughlin. Frankie Brown, Eddie Moy, Max Williamson, Johnny Alex, Joe Mendall and Johnny Liggett will make the trip.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

He's Willing Now

1920

But Champion Is a Late Late, Says Georgia Poet.

The following was received by the sporting editor of The Saturday Blade from Atlanta, Ga.:

Our Champion.

He's willing to fight in France, they say,
For half a million or so;
But he passed up a chance at a buck a day
When they called on us all to go.

I think I speak for a million chaps
Who went to France with a vim,
Ready for anything — death perhaps —
So —
Hope Georges whales hell out of him.

—Jack Converse.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

Note: This poem concerns Jack Dempsey, whose reputation was tainted when it was alleged he was a draft dodger during World War I. There's some details at this link. "Georges" was Georges Carpentier, a French war hero. Dempsey had a match against him in 1921, called the "Battle of the Century."


Canadian Boxer Challenges

1920

Brousseau Wants to Meet Carpentier In Montreal.

The Canadian Hockey Club has cabled a challenge to Georges Carpentier's manager in London for the French boxer to meet Eugene Brousseau, Dominion's middleweight champion, in a boxing exhibition in Montreal, July 1, Dominion day, at one of the race tracks.

Brousseau has recovered from a slight attack of paralysis, which followed his bout with Chip, in Portland.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

Wouldn't Sell the House

1901

The house in which Joan of Arc was born is still faithfully preserved in pious veneration at Domremy, where it is looked upon almost in the light of a shrine. Passersby invariably cross themselves and utter a prayer for protection as they go by.

The story goes that a rich and eccentric Englishman tried hard to buy the place in 1837. It was at that time the property of a farmer named Girardin. The Englishmen offered to let him name his own price, but the old man held firm. "No, no, no," he cried. "I would not sell it even to a Frenchman, much less to a foreigner and especially an Englishman. People here would call me a traitor and a coward were I to part with the house from which Joan of Arc set out to serve France."

The Englishman convinced himself that further bargaining was useless and went his way.

Soon after an officer from the king's household arrived in the village and asked to speak with Girardin. Before the whole village, assembled in the street, he said: "Girardin, the king has learned that you have refused to sell your house to an Englishman. He desires to reward you, but not in coin. He knows that you no more want the money of the French than of the English, therefore has he commanded me to present you with the cross of the Legion of Honor."

Had Forty Homes

1901

Vollon, the painter, was a unique personage even among the old characters of Paris. While he was essentially a Bohemian there were times when even his patience was taxed to the utmost, and to obviate the necessity of meeting unwelcome people he conceived the idea of multiplying his lodging places.

At the time of his death he owned no less than 40 homes, all in apartment houses, situated in all the out of the way corners of Paris, plainly furnished and with just enough accommodation for himself. He changed from one to the another all the time, in order to escape importunate acquaintances and to take refuge from his friends. It was in order to throw them all off the scent that he engaged rooms all over the city.

He finally died in the Rue de Dunkerque, where he had as many as three different apartments, all within a stone's throw of one another.

There Always Comes a Settling Day

1920

By W. D. Boyce (W. D. Boyce's Talks)

A few days ago leading bankers of the United States were approached by confidential agents representing bankers who had invested in Russian bonds to the amount of $300,000,000. It was a feel-out to determine whether pressure could not be brought upon Congress to recognize one of the factions in Russia which is fighting the Reds, or Bolshevists. I believe they were pretty plainly told that it would be useless to introduce such a bill, that it would get nowhere.

Now a bigger and wider scheme is proposed (no doubt a bill to that effect will be introduced in Congress) to send to "starving" Europe three hundred million dollars and not to collect the interest on European bonds which our Government took during the war. The balance due is going to be $1,500,000,000 (one billion five hundred million), and the Secretary of the Treasury further is quoted as stating that he had not the heart to ask the European Governments to pay what they owe us. That does not sound very good, specially as the United States Government has the heart to ask everybody to pay four times the normal taxes. We spent our money to send our boys to Europe to fight for the freedom of the world, but we never agreed to finance and set on their feet again the countries at war. We had nothing to do with bringing the fight on in the first place, and we should not be punished for the lack of foresight on the part of the Allies in not observing that Germany had been preparing for forty years to establish a Middle Europe, a German country from the North Sea to the Gulf of Persia.

I cannot understand why we should, keep on adding to our taxes in order to quickly establish Europe as our competitor in the markets of the world. If the other countries would go to work like England did they soon would be on their feet again. England exported and imported during the last twelve months $1,000,000,000 more than did the United States, yet England had been at war far more than four years. Talk about "starving Europe" can hardly be true for the war has been over now for fourteen months and Europe has had time to grow a crop. If she could live without starving for four years and at the same time keep millions of men fighting she ought to be able to get enough to eat in times of peace.

I get tired, too, of hearing and reading about the debt we owe to France. During the American Revolutionary period France sided with us, it is true, when we revolted against England. But it was because France was having trouble with both England and Germany at that time and England had a German King on her throne. The only reason France sided with us was because she wished to help rob England and Germany of prospective colonies and thus weaken her own enemies. Some of the educated French may have sincerely wished us well, but ninety out of every hundred of them didn't even know there was such a thing as the United States. Few of them could read or write and their minds were taken up with the sole objective of earning their daily bread and sour wine. France at that time was a monarchy and as a political unit had no love for republics.

Today France is the richest country in Europe, but she is hollering so loud about conditions and whining so much that the yelp of the Daschund can hardly be heard. The United States has set herself back forty years to prevent France from being subjugated by the Boche and if any debt is due now it is a debt of France to the United States.

Always there comes a settling day, and until the United States demands that Europe pay at least the interest on the money we have loaned the different countries over there they will not go to work, either to raise food enough to feed themselves or to make money enough to pay us off. If we extend any further credit we will "bust" Europe.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 6.

Empress Eugenie Returns to Paris

Dec. 1919

Is Now Pathetic Figure, Bowed by Sorrow of Years.

PARIS, France — With bowed head and with face of infinite sadness, a modestly dressed old lady was seen walking through Tulleries Gardens today. As she walked she would stop to pick autumn flowers, seared and blasted by the cold, but no more faded than her cheeks. Passers-by, seeing her and knowing the regulations of the park, expected some policeman to admonish her, but she passed on, followed by a single maid, unchecked by the uniformed representative of the law.

It was the once proud Empress Eugenie, who, bowed beneath the weight of 93 winters, thus plucked withered flowers from a garden that was once hers. She was revisiting a scene poignantly recalling all the happiness, sorrow and terror which came to her during her years she was the chiefest jewel of the old palatial mansion.

Empress Eugenie left France on July 23, the fateful day when the then proud and haughty Austria sent an ultimatum to Serbia which was destined to dismember realms and change the whole face of history.