A RENOWNED CABARET.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1267, 11 June 1896, Page 10

A RENOWNED CABARET.

Paris, April IS.. Paris is in danger of losing one ol its most characteristic features, the famous cabaret of the Chat Noir, for tho lease of tho premises of the Rue Victor Masse expires in April, 1597, and M. Salis, whose health is rather delicate, is more inclined to retire on his laurels than to take the trouble of starting a new establishment. The story of tho Chat Noir, as told by its founder to a reporter of the Temps, is a most interesting one. M. Salis began life as a painter, and even went to Calcutfca to decorate tho residence of a hiyh official. On his return to Paris ho received a commission to paint a series of panels illustrating Edgar Allan Poes tales, among them that of tho Black Cat, and it was this circumstance that gave the name to his future enterprise.

AT A PRIVATE OATHEKING. Tho Chat Noir was not at first open to tho public. Salis’ friends used to gather m the ‘shop oil tho Boulevard Rochcshouart, which served him as a studio, recite verses, sin" and drink together, and this went on for some time before, in 1881, he conceived tho idea of making his studio a sort of cabaret, though still a private ono. Tho arrangements were not luxurious, but tho company which assembled every night was a brilliant ono and included Kollinat, Ilaraucourt, Villiers do l’lsle Adam, Gondeau, Jean Lorrain, Charles Cros, Metenici, d Esparbes, Jean Rameau, Jules Jouy, Mac Nab, Caran d’Acho, Moreas, Henri Lavedan, Alphonse Allais, then a chemist’s apprentice- Auriol, Henri Riviere, Grasset, Stoinlen who made designs for cotton prints ; Fragorolle, Zo d’Axa, Desehaumes, Sapeck -md others who have since become famous. Such as it was the Chat Noir was tho first artistic cabaret, and when a piano' was started the police came down on M. salis for a license. In tho meantime its fame spread, and shortly afterward it was opened to tho public. Jouy, Mac Nab and many others first made themselves a name there, find it was there that Bruant may be said

to have laid the foundations of his reputation, Ho was then singing in an obscure concert hall in Clichy, but, being brought in by Jouy, adapted ouo of the, songs he heard and converted it into “ A la Villetto,” his first success. Hence-forward ho was a regular frequenter of the Chat Noir. A week after the opening of tho cabaret M. Salis started his paper, the Chat Noir, the motto of which was :—“ Qu’est-co quo Montmartre? Rien! Quo doit-il etror Tout! ” Tho principal collaborators were, for tho illustrations : Henri Pille, Willette, Eernand Fau, Does and Despaquit, and for the letterpress Alphonse Allais, Auriol, Gaudillot and Gineste. The paper bore a sub-title'“ Organes des interets do Montmartre,” “ which,” says M. Salis, “ was certainly true in a sense. Not only did we create the cabaret artistique, but we transformed the physiognomy of Montmartre. I may say that it is thanks to us that Montmartre has become an artistic centre.” DISADVANTAGES OF MONTMARTRE. The bad characters who frequent tho outer boulevards gave M. Salis not a little trouble. One night a number of them insisted on being lot in, and when he attempted to close the door against them stabbed him and his waiter, wounding the latter so severely that he died during the night. M. Salis was actually accused of having killed his unfortunate employee, and was charged with manslaughter, but was, of course, acquitted, and tho real murderer was arrested shortly afterward. Ho had had enough of the Boulevard Rochcshouart, however, sold his lease to Bruant, and in 1885 took the house in the Rue Victor Masse, in which Stevens had his studio. “It was an ordinary bourgeois bouse,” continued M. Salis, “and the ground floor was divided into three rooms. I knocked away the partitions, and did my best to decorate tho large room which I thus obtained. Grasset designed the great lanterns in the front, tho lustres and the chimney-piece. Gharpontier carved the cat, and tho stained glass window, representing tho triumph of tho golden calf, was by Willette, as were also most of the pictures. “ Wo moved house one evening in great state. My two chasseurs, in knee breeches, headed tho procession, and then came our banner, or, a cat rampant, sable, followed by my porter, in a gorgeous gold laced costume, which had been left ou tho hands of a tailor by an Ambassador, and which, though it was worth at least HOOOf., 1 had obtained for next to nothing. Next came my major domo, dressed as a sub-prefect, and myself, iu tho uniform of a prefect. Tho dignified subprefect waved back the crowd and told tho astonished policeman to maintain order. We wero followed by several musicians from the Conservatoire, playing for all they were worth, and by my four waiters, dressed as academicians. I may say, by the way, that three or four years ago 1 had to givo up the academicians’ costumes. I used to get them for 30f. or 40f. from the dealers in old clothes, but the Institute was scandalised and bought them all up, and new uniforms would have been too dear. “Hutto return to our demenagement. Tho rear was brought [up by a number of friends bearing torches, and were, of course, followed by an enormous crowd, to whom I had to make a speech to prevent them forcing tho dooro in tho Rue Victor Masse.” IN ITS NEW QUARTERS. Things went on much tho same for a time in the new quarters, but one day Henry So min introduced a guijnol, and a little later ombres chinoiscs, in which the Grevy family were made fun of. Then Caran d’Acho gave a sketch of “ l’Epopee,” which he entitled “ Wagrain.” Progress was now steadily maintained, and on December 27th, 1880, tho press was invited to the first performance of “ l’Epopre,” which proved an immense success. M. Salis took advantage of the situation to advance the price of tho bock to 50c., for there was then no charge for admission, and, as his audiences continued to increase, to 80c., If. 25c., If. 50c., 3f., and finally of. People who did not understand that it was an indirect way of paying for their scats grumbled at the latter charge, so M. Salis did away with tho bock and fixed the price of admission at 5f., which was subsequently raised to luf. whim “La Marche a l'Etoile,” the greatest of the Chat Noir’s successes and the work which first brought mysticism into fashion, was produced. I ragerolle was the first poet composer who ”ang his own work. It is a curious coincidence that the star of Uctholem, which only appears in the sky about once in a hundred years, shone on January 0, 1890, tho evening of the premiere. _ From that tiinetheChatNoir was famous and it would be impossible to enumerate all the distinguished men who have frequented it. General Boulanger was there on the night of tho Sclmaebole incident. The Empress Frederick has been there, accompanied by Lord and Lady Lytton, and other royal visitors have been, tho Prince of Wales, the King of tho Hellenes, King Milan and King Alexander of Servia.