The final French newspaper Hawker has obtained order of merit after 50 years

He was the last newspaper in France Hawker; Probably the end of europe.

Ali Akbar spreads the pavement of the left bank of Paris over 50 years, the papers under the arm and his lips are the newest headlines.

And now he must be officially recognized for his contribution to France culture. President Emmanuel Macron – which of a student personally purchased newspapers from Mr. Akbar – is to decorate his month in the order of merit, one of the highest honors in France.

“When I started here in 1973 there were 35 or 40 of us in Paris hips,” he said. “Now I am alone.

“It is very disturbed. Everything is digital now. People just want to consult their phones.”

These days, in his stages through the cafes of the stylish Santos, Mr. Akbar could hope for sold 30 copies of Le Monde. He maintained half of the selling price, but no charge for return.

Back before the internet, he will sell 80 copies within the first hour of publication in the newspaper.

“In ancient times people would be with me looking for paper. Now I need to chase clients to try to sell one,” he said.

No longer the reduction in trade honoring Mr. Akbar, saying he continued to go to the most joy of work.

“I’m a happy person. And I’m free. With this job, I’m completely independent. No one gives me orders. So I do it.”

The sprully 72-year-old is a familiar and more lovely favorite figure of the neighborhood. “I first came here in 1960 and I grown on Ali. He was like a brother,” said a woman.

“She knows everything. And she is very happy,” as another.

Ali Akbar was born to Rawattindi and run by Europe in the late 1960s, leading Amsterdam where he worked on a cruise liner. In 1972 the ship entered in the French City of Rouen, and one year ago in Paris. He got his home papers in the 1980s.

“I, I’m not a hippy before, but I know a lot of hippies,” he said to his ridiculous.

“When I was in Afghanistan on my way to Europe I arrived at a group trying to make me smoke in ashes.

“I told them I’m sorry, but I have a mission in life, and it doesn’t spend next month sleeping in Kabul!”

In the former intellectual hub of Saint-Germain he reached offers and writes. Elton John used to buy him with the brinseie lipp tea. And selling papers before the famous science – Po University, he knows generations of future politicians – like President Macron.

So how was the left side of the bank left bank because he first held a copy of Le Monde and beat it in auction (with a shout)?

“The atmosphere is not the same,” he wept. “At that time there were publishers and writers everywhere – and actors and musicians. The place had a soul. But now it is the city.

“The soul is lost,” he said – but he laughed as he did.