Davis (1864-1916) was an American journalist, war correspondent and writer of fiction whose influence extended to the world of fashion as he is credited with popularising the clean-shaven look with young men at the turn of the 20th century. This book of observations on fin-de siecle Paris was first published in 1895 and is illustrated throughout by Charles Dana Gibson who is believed to have used Davis as the inspiration for his dashing "Gibson man", the male equivalent of his famous "Gibson girl".