DOI Heft:
Nr. 115 (October 1902)
DOI Artikel:Holland, Clive: Student life in the Quartier Latin, Paris
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19877#0051
Student Life in Paris
Still is the BouP Miche made to re-
sound with song and merriment late o'
nights: still—though alas! altered — do
the Cafe d'Harcourt and Taverne Lor-
raine give hostages to fortune at the
Temple of Venus, and resound with
songs and boisterous merriment toward
the small hours. And Bullier's garish
facade marks the Temple of Terpsichore
patronised by the charming if errant Mimi
Pinsons, Marcelles, Suzannes, Yvettes,
and Maries of the Quarter life — belles
amies many of them, sunshine or rain, il
the right chord in their hearts has been
touched. Bullier, still patronised by
students, models, grisettes, artists who
have arrived, and others, survives ; and,
' near the ilk de la cite" from a photograph on Thursday nights and Sunday nights,
by clive Holland is one of the gayest spots in the whole
of Paris, gay with good spirits and the
and helpful, the discussions which take place when abandon of youth not yet crushed either by respon-
the light has grown dim, and the day's work is over sibilities or failure. But how dull to the outsider !
in the studios, or later on in the evening, over the —the tourist who comes expecting wickedness
tops of little white tables in the favourite cafes, are unheard of, and who goes away disappointed. It
worth hours of debate of a more academic sort, is only when one is within the magic circle of the
are more suggestive than mere teaching, more elect, knows a little of the argot, is acquainted with
inspiring than the perusal of biographies of sue- some of the students, models, and habitues, that a
cessful artists. dropped word or two unfolds a romance, tragedy
Then there is the American Art Association, with or comedy, or it may be a mixture of both, such
its genial secretary—popular, " cute " in Quarter as exists in like form only within the precincts of
ways, helpful to the nouveau and the old inhabitants this wonderful Quartier Latin, of which the nouveau
alike—an encyclopaedia of Quarter lore and so soon becomes a unit—nay, even a part.
Quarter celebrities, artistic, literary, and social. Far different from the feverish delights of the
The nouveau will find the reading-room on the dancing-hall aie those of the Luxembourg
Quai de Conti, a harbour of refuge in his salad Gardens—exquisite tree-shaded gardens, in which
days a tender link with the world at home through the students and their amies, models, bonnes, poets,
the medium of paper and printing ink. He may and bourgeoisie gather of an afternoon to gossip,
not go there so often when he feels his feet, but he quizz their neighbours, and listen to the band,
will always turn up occasionally, and regard the What student romances have commenced (and
place with something akin to affection. " Papa " perhaps ended) there ! How longingly the nouveau
Bigelow is well known to the " boys," and the little during his early nouveau-hood regards the merry
Expositions he and the committee organise three or little groups and pairs sitting under the shadow of
four times a year hold much that is good, exhibit the leafy chestnut trees. He will join them sooner
the most modern trend in painting, are a welcome or later, of course ; perhaps the very afternoon
opportunity for even the " arrived," and a godsend following the engagement of his first model. Who
to those who have not yet attained to that happy knows ? For models love sunlight, gaiety, and life,
position. even though they pose at a couple of francs an
That serious work is done by a large number of hour (or less) for Henner-like Magdalens, Sainte
the students, either at (he schools or at their own Genevieves, " Conte7nplations," or "First Sorrows" ;
ateliers, is, of course, undeniable; but the Quarter, and the band in the Luxembourg plays well, and
ever noted for its somewhat irresponsible gaiety, sets little feet tapping on the gravel walks beneath
its amours "impropres"—shall we say, its "life"?— the trees, and Suzanne's or Marcelle's blood cours-
has changed in most of these things only in degree ing ecstatically through her veins. So, after the
since Murger's time. pose, she will tie the artist's cravat, smooth his
39
Still is the BouP Miche made to re-
sound with song and merriment late o'
nights: still—though alas! altered — do
the Cafe d'Harcourt and Taverne Lor-
raine give hostages to fortune at the
Temple of Venus, and resound with
songs and boisterous merriment toward
the small hours. And Bullier's garish
facade marks the Temple of Terpsichore
patronised by the charming if errant Mimi
Pinsons, Marcelles, Suzannes, Yvettes,
and Maries of the Quarter life — belles
amies many of them, sunshine or rain, il
the right chord in their hearts has been
touched. Bullier, still patronised by
students, models, grisettes, artists who
have arrived, and others, survives ; and,
' near the ilk de la cite" from a photograph on Thursday nights and Sunday nights,
by clive Holland is one of the gayest spots in the whole
of Paris, gay with good spirits and the
and helpful, the discussions which take place when abandon of youth not yet crushed either by respon-
the light has grown dim, and the day's work is over sibilities or failure. But how dull to the outsider !
in the studios, or later on in the evening, over the —the tourist who comes expecting wickedness
tops of little white tables in the favourite cafes, are unheard of, and who goes away disappointed. It
worth hours of debate of a more academic sort, is only when one is within the magic circle of the
are more suggestive than mere teaching, more elect, knows a little of the argot, is acquainted with
inspiring than the perusal of biographies of sue- some of the students, models, and habitues, that a
cessful artists. dropped word or two unfolds a romance, tragedy
Then there is the American Art Association, with or comedy, or it may be a mixture of both, such
its genial secretary—popular, " cute " in Quarter as exists in like form only within the precincts of
ways, helpful to the nouveau and the old inhabitants this wonderful Quartier Latin, of which the nouveau
alike—an encyclopaedia of Quarter lore and so soon becomes a unit—nay, even a part.
Quarter celebrities, artistic, literary, and social. Far different from the feverish delights of the
The nouveau will find the reading-room on the dancing-hall aie those of the Luxembourg
Quai de Conti, a harbour of refuge in his salad Gardens—exquisite tree-shaded gardens, in which
days a tender link with the world at home through the students and their amies, models, bonnes, poets,
the medium of paper and printing ink. He may and bourgeoisie gather of an afternoon to gossip,
not go there so often when he feels his feet, but he quizz their neighbours, and listen to the band,
will always turn up occasionally, and regard the What student romances have commenced (and
place with something akin to affection. " Papa " perhaps ended) there ! How longingly the nouveau
Bigelow is well known to the " boys," and the little during his early nouveau-hood regards the merry
Expositions he and the committee organise three or little groups and pairs sitting under the shadow of
four times a year hold much that is good, exhibit the leafy chestnut trees. He will join them sooner
the most modern trend in painting, are a welcome or later, of course ; perhaps the very afternoon
opportunity for even the " arrived," and a godsend following the engagement of his first model. Who
to those who have not yet attained to that happy knows ? For models love sunlight, gaiety, and life,
position. even though they pose at a couple of francs an
That serious work is done by a large number of hour (or less) for Henner-like Magdalens, Sainte
the students, either at (he schools or at their own Genevieves, " Conte7nplations," or "First Sorrows" ;
ateliers, is, of course, undeniable; but the Quarter, and the band in the Luxembourg plays well, and
ever noted for its somewhat irresponsible gaiety, sets little feet tapping on the gravel walks beneath
its amours "impropres"—shall we say, its "life"?— the trees, and Suzanne's or Marcelle's blood cours-
has changed in most of these things only in degree ing ecstatically through her veins. So, after the
since Murger's time. pose, she will tie the artist's cravat, smooth his
39