The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-05-16
The Social Question In France and the
Founder Of the 'Bon Marcbc" Es.
fnbIfshmCut.

Within the past few years the number of
savings institutions, Joint interest," and old mems
rtovdent associations fOr the benefit VI every class
ol woIkngmcn, has largely Increased Throughout
France. II would as II that generous nation,
after scries Of great caaiullies, has finally settled
down to study the formidable problem called the
''Socla Question, - the solution of which Is probably
to he found only In more just conception and aprrc
ciation OF individual rights aud duties.
Respectable merchants and enlightened manufactu-
rcts have succeeded In creating aud putting into
working order divers systems on ihc tont-lnic
princpc, fostering closer tie of attachment on the
part of their workmen aud employees by admitting
them Ia more direct participation aud cndcayoriug
In the case Of Industrial enterprises 10 Improve The
quality of their products by abandoning share Of
the profits even to certain classes Of workmen least
favored Of all heretofore
Foremost among the merchants who grappled with
the dinicut problem, and who resoutoly facing The
same, speedily arrived at practical and lasting so.
lution thereof ought to he named The late Ars,lIe
Boncicaut Uhc elder the proprietor and founder OF
the great and world famed establishment of the Bcn
Marche, " In Paris. We need scarcely point 10 out To
Americans; the Bon Marche Is the warehouse specially
pntroniled by our countrymen The whole OF the
American colony In Paris count among its regular
customers. No American gentlemen, much less nm
Amercan lady, would think ol passing through Paris
whoui calling there Every foreign visitor, In fact,
Us famihnr WIN "; and, as n matter of course,
one Of their haunts.
We shall therefore but briefly refer to itis In
comparable commercial emporium as sucl to Its i'm
mense, airy, and wcl-lighed galleries, comfortably
arranged and admirably managed, the whole organ
ism especially intended for the retail trade In every
variety of ' nouvcautes, 80 called most advanta-
geously contrasting with other houses of similar
category. Many OF our fair readers have doubtless
inspected It's various and marvellous departments,
admired Tue nc picture gallery refreshed themselves
~ the 'hmiet, cast glance ut the spacious read
ing-room, with Its profusc supply of newspapers Of
| almost every nationality AMI visited the we'll stocked
and finely ykcpt stables connected with ibis vas, cso
lishincnt As regards their purchases we are con-
WINGED that they have noticed ut frst glance how
scrupnlonsy Is being carried out the founders maxim
engrnven over the front entrance of the building to
the effect that 'rhc system OF selling everything at
small prof! and In good faith Is the true aud only
guide In all the dealings of the Hon Marche.''
What we would more particularly dwell upon I'm
this sketch Is the thoroughly democratic organization
OF the h"nse,he Us .rsi one IN Paris and probably the
foremost IN the world In that respcct-the philnn-
throplc creation and legacy Of Its originator Ais-
tide Boucicant, having mounted step by step To the
pinnacle of fortune, was man universally kind and
aiiable to every one. Ills whole aud only ambition
was concentrated In the structure, which he had taken
pride In gradually building up. and which lc wished
To pefpetuac, as well In the constant desire of do
ing good TO his fcow-mei,. lie took heartfelt In
this particular branch OF business. Having arisen
from their ranks, he intimately knew their wants and
aspirations ltwas his ardent wish To improve their
moral as well rs their physical condition. lie began
by increasing their wages, reducing their working
hours to more reasonable limit and regularly closing
Next he established for them course Of instruc.
ton III foreign languages, music, fencing,
etc; n.,,,l,I Finally; he founded for their benefit
| a Provident Institution, to the capital stock of
which certain sum was annually to he added from
the profits of the house. "wthout in any way in-
ringing upon or diminishing the wages Of the em-
pioyes After an existence of only three years the
funds of this Institution amount to-day to about 3y7
400 francs (say SG7, 500. At his DEATH in Deccmer
1871, he leit an only son, AFFLICTED with u mortal
disease 1t Is needless to say that the loss of that ey
cellent man was profoundly and universally regretted,
TWO thousand employees mourned their benefactor
and for time II was feared that his noble work wonld
| not survive him. Arlstidc Boucicaut however had
not built on sand. His foresight lad long before
safely secured the foundation and stability of Ills cI-
ton by selecting, from among his empoyis those
who could and should keep 1t up. Pupils MS II were
anu CO. laorers of the founder those Interested In
and with him In the AFFAIR." of ,e Bon Marche-ail
oid employees OF the house. all having by their SER
vices won the confidence of their chief us well as that
ot the pullc-afer his death carried on The uauar
men OF the vast concern. under the direction Of Ills
widow the faithful guardian of the traditions left her
by her hnuband.
And to-day, notwithstanding her recent sorrow nj
the demise oil her sOil-a bereavement long autcj-
paieo, alas!-the philantlropc and commercial work
continues 10 progress and to thrive Far from slack
ing its pace II goes on Increasing and extending and
Mrs. Bouccaut the founders widow giving n re-
newed proof of her sanction of the phllanhroc ideas
mat form part of her noble Inheritance, has hut n
lew weeks ago, made to the most deserving of her
employees voluntary cesslOn of two ffths of the ell
IRE property OF the house, thus placing the future of
| the Bon Alarche beyond the probability of human
eventnalties.
The establishment, despite the gloom still over
hanging II, henccforth steadily puisles Its onward
marcn. Its extensive premises themselves viii be
greatly enlarged this year. structures are being
added to the old ones, and wonders viii soon meet
tie eyes oi Its customers and visitors.
AS "A commercial and philanthropic cutcrnrIsp the
house of the "Bon Mnrcle'' Is destined to remain n
stihg monument OF progress, conceived and carried
ont under the vivifying impulse of FERTILE practical
ana truly republican Ideas and principles!