, 1874-08-16
Americans Charged Double Rates Every
There-io Shop Without It's
English-Speaking Clerk.
How an American Lady Was Thrown
into Prison on Charge
Of Shop!ifting.
No Legal Redress to Be Had--.What
the American Colony Did.
Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribune.

"1sa to say something. Haldly afruilfu; theme
! dwell upon, one would think for one would no
expect to tlnd poor Americans in this fairy-lan
iof tne 2ch, where our conntrynlen are cor
stantly throwing away thousands, br1ngin
money out OF all the channels where it is Il
much needed at present and draining the re
sources which have already been dl laiued 90 DR.
tHat the Whole nation IL, os it we're. lookin
round 10 see who eau pay for the next meal, Q
III least where the next meal il coming from
whether 1t be paid for or not. You would no
come to such Mecca for small shopkeepers tt
fnd poverty-stricken Americans. And indeed
speaking of this national weakness to
putting money out OF the way. ono woult
almost believe our people had as consideration.
T9ews on the subject Of sustaining the nationa
reputation rs that follow travelling from Jer,,
salem to Damascus who. when relating 1is ad
ventures to the club after his return, told o
being Waylaid by band OF Arabian robbers
After stealing everything We had. the Chief
came to me and demanded check on mY bank
ers at Alexandria, 1 cheerfuly gave him u
check for S100. He looked at il in disdain, and
with the assistance Of knife which lie carried,
made
SO FoRC1BLE AND CONVINCING An ARGUMENT
in favor of my adding two more cyphers 10 my
original order that was compelled to DO Bo.'
But you never pald it," exclaimed an inter-
ested colleague
Never paid it! What do you take me for,
Sir? Am tie man to allow heuthen Arab the
chance Of saying that Americans are not only
stingy, but have no honor?"
II can easily be believed that there is yery lit
tlo reason 10 think the heather French will over
get the chance to say that the Americans arc
stlngy. And. when I spoke OF poor Americans, it
Was not their poverty that WIS ALLUDED to, but
their oppressed condition. They are the
SLAVES OF SHoPKEEpERs.
and their own naCds forged their chains To
put it i'll feminine way, they have made geese
of themselves by their ext1ayaSance. Paris il
almost unbearable. They have not only made it
uncomfortable for the representatives of every
other nationality who t,avel. but they have sue
cseded in becoming the lauslling-stock OF tho
whole French people. There is ~ indescrbablc
air about our countrmer. something which
marks their nativity as plain if it were written
on their forehecds. The honest truth is orr
men are 80 handsome and our ladies so lovely
Il do not expect anv Indignant denials OF this
statement-and one and all dress so we'll that q
shopkecper marks them the instant they enter
his store Let them speak French ever 10 we'll,
they cannot be anything but American. Each
one has the air OF Prince, and never requests,
but alwars commands. The usher Lurries out
W AuGck AAEtA kuSJ DcSltl III HlE LuG1F tTGUCu az
once. and are at once answered in the mos, cor
rect English; 1t pays to speak English il yon
keep shop iu Paris. Never we're such oblg1ng
shopkeepers heard Of in creation the innocent
Americans ara ready to believe ali that they have
heard in regard to Frouch poIltenehs; but let
them
VENTURE TO GO OUT
of the store without Euying ANYTHING and thev
will 1iud that 1t is much piea5anter to coma iu
than it is to depart, and that the cndeariug
f4o-o o+rhi f.,3I ftarno
acier to give them pleasant impression of the
place.
went to shop to test this trait, about which
l had heard good deal from some French
friends. lady-trlend had purchased some very
cheap grenadine. and my heart was 6et upon
having some OF the same quality. We went to-
the shop together, having previously concluded
u solemn compact that I was to examine the
goods, and thai, ,vhen the right piece WAS shown
Madame vas TO give me signal. She, By tlaa
way, was
TO PLAY TIE AMERICAN
BY keeping 1er mouth shut till the proper tin.,
This is hardly one Of our characteristics to b 9
sure; but in this case it was necessary precau
tiou, as her speech would have be.rayed hez
We met with cordial receptions from very gen
ElemBnly ush2r. who might have been mist taken tbs
Tue late e1-Emperor -certaluly be was the e1-eat
lud latest of all the Empel ors, he IVES so like
ls pictures. Still it is to be hoped that the last
Napoleon il now engaged ia more ho1,eat bus;-
ness than keeping Ficuch shop. That wouAl |
>e scarcely better than his former employment,
and, even With The G Dds PERMISSION. he could !
hardly be menner than llo WAS. We were taken
% the proper department, aud there put under |
he care of one Of the State Ministers, in black |
'roadcloth and white tie, both tribe passe but |
What is one to expect OF dress-sult Which il /
yorn 3G5 days III the year? Down comes one
'iece after another OF the grenadine. I am Eli
american, and therefore nothing but the very t
ost is shown me. insist upon something
heaper; the State Minister looks at mo again
No,
SHE IS NOT ESaL1aH;
ertainfy American" Que piece after another
esired, until finally the right one is arrived At.
" This suits me; what ia the price"
Is Five fraucs,"
Il Too much"
But would look at the qualitv?'
"les had even taken that into considers
lOn but francs WAS too much."
''What will Madame giye?"
- Two"
1.-Two! mon Dieu; Madame must be crazy. We
i'll sell it for 1"
"Ill 60 to some other place before pay that"
Now 1t Is my friene's turn. why not sell it
r to-day; you did yesterday. aud here is tbs
"we!l, if Madame insists. but it is ruinously
cap"
Ny grenadine is measured of and sent home.
This is tho way Americans arc universally
rived. They are
CHARGED DOUBLE FOB THEIR BOARD
nat the French arc asked, aud the shop
epers are pihless. There is no law
are misuscd, or imposed upou, |
must take it as the penalty OF our lmprudcnce
going away from home, and loo1 for 10 re-
ess. unless re get mp National Indignation
cieiy and do ns some people At the Grand
,sel did some weeks ago.
4 young American lady who WAS shopping at
, Louvre had finished her purchases and | =
.rted to leave, when two officers caught her By
arm and took from the side Of her dress, |
ere it WAS clinging to the trimming, = band
ne lace parasol-cover. This they
ACCC6ED HER OF STEALING,
i deliberately marched her of to prison. In
ne her feelings st being shut up in such u
ce to await her trial. Troubled at the thought
alarming her lady friends, she summoned
gentleman to come to her assist Z
,e He came, but, instead OF being !
ovedfto obtain for her the hoped-for relief, |
was himself popped into jail. And there /
$50 people remained until they could get word !"
our Minister the following morning. Then
y were released with blood boiling for re-
lge and we're still further outraged By the
N declaration that there WIS no redress for
m in France. The Law could put Americans 4
jail, but could not punish Frenc chmau who Y
,ngfully put them there. It Was rather un-