The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-03-16

The BON MARcHE

The Paris correspondent of the New
York World writes: Let me tell you of
revels that, in so far as / know, have
never been described. Let us leave the
palace OF the President, ii you please,
cross the water, and after rather long
journey, pause at the door OF a linen
Diapers shop. Do not turn away; we
are at the world-renowned Bon Marche,
an establishment which might put all
but the largest Of your own stores to
shame. The Bon Marche is giving a
concert after business hours to the elite
of its customers, and the singing, trump
citing, fiddling. and piano-playing are
done tor the most part by the employees
of the house. That young. fellow who
has just rendered a piece from Faust"
with so much taste is the very one that
served me with a strip Of ribon this
morning, and will find no end of similar
surprises in store for you, if you are at
piece. NJ. Boucicault, the proprietor,
| seems to have started these concerts by
way of showing that nothing comes
amiss to the Bon Marche. 1t is his way
of laying claim to the destruction of uni
versatility. You may find everything
there. In the daytime picture gallery
is open to the inspection of those who
have completed their purchases Of fancy
goods. The politician may at the same
time find his paper in the reading-room,
and the gourmand of tender age may be
| supplied with cakes and sirups and even
wine at discretion and tree OF charge,
at the retreshment bar. The assistants
ought to lead happy life. When work
| IS done dozen different modes of
amusement are offered to their choice.
They may join a dramatic class, and re-
hearse pieces for future representation.
They may study languages or sciences
indeed almost anything included in a
university course. Once fortnight they
give a concert to the customers, and
once year they give ball. On this
last occasion the hosts keep themselves
in one part OF the establishment, assign
ing another to the guests. Caste has its
laws and its obligations even here, so
many years after tho most formal de-
claration OF the rights of men, and many
persons who are perfectly ready to hear
linen draper sing might not like the
idea of joining him in his dance. The
odd thing is that invitations for these
novel ietes are much sought after, Bouci-
cault naturally enjoys much influence
among his work-people, and at elections
they have been known to vote in body
| in compliance with his wish. In the
great contest that by its result proved
| decisivs OF the fate OF NJ. Theirs, the
whole establishment voted for Barodet
1t has been said that they did this not
because their patron was Radical, but
on the contrary. because he was in the
hands of the priestly party who wished
to provoke reaction against Liberalism
by securing the return of the advanced
candidate The rumor is worth giving,
with this to accompany it-namely. that
Boucicault has ever been but mere
man of straw in pecuniary sense. and
that the proprietor OF the Bon Marche Is
the Society of Jesus. The society then
has made an investment in the highest
degree credtable to its astuteness, for its
reputed shop is one Of the most flourish
ing concerns of Paris LANDoR.