Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/131
PART II.
Midnight.—M. Marcel, historical painter, will execute with his eyes bandaged an impromptu sketch in chalk of the meeting of Voltaire and Napoleon in the Elysian Fields. M. Rodolphe will also improvise a parallel between the author of Zaire and the victor of Austerlitz.
12.30.—M. Gustave Colline, in a decent undress, will give an imitation of the athletic games of the 4th Olympiad.
1.—Third reading of the essay on the “Abolition of the penalty of tragedy,” and subscription on behalf of tragic authors who will one day find themselves out of employment.
2.—Commencement of games and organization of quadrilles to last until morning.
6.—Sunrise and final chorus.
During the whole of the entertainment ventilators will be in action.
N.B. Anyone attempting to read or recite poetry will be summarily ejected and handed over to the police. The guests are equally requested not to help themselves to the candle-ends.”
Two days later copies of this invitation were circulating among the lower depths of art and literature, and created a profound sensation.
There were, however, amongst the invited guests, some who cast doubt upon the splendor of the promises,made by the two friends.
“I am very skeptical about it,” said one of them. “I have sometimes gone to Rodolphe’s Thursdays in the Rue de la Tour d’Auvergne, when one could only sit on anything morally, and where all one had to drink was a little filtered water in eclectic pottery.”
“This time,” said another, it is really serious. Marcel has shown me the programme of the fête, and the effect will be magical.”
“Will there be any ladies?”
“Yes. Phémie Teinturière has asked to be queen of the fête, and Schaunard is to bring some ladies of position.”
This is in brief the origin of this fête which caused such stupefaction in the Bohemian world across the water. For about a year past Marcel and Rodolphe had announced this