The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17
THE BON MARCHE.
An Establishment that Feeds, Shelters, and Edu-
Gates lis Employees.
[From The Fashion Courier.


Almost every one knows this wonderful dry
g0odsstOre of Paris but think not many know
that it is q benevolent work as well as a sue
cessful business undertaking. Mr.. Boucicaut,
the founder, began life as poor boy, and when
able TO have little store of his own his atten-
ton was directed to the welfare of his clerks,
and he gave them, as soon as he was able, a
home in his own house. From this small be-
ginning the work has grown wonderfully. Mr..
Boucicaut died a few years ago. worth millions
OF dollars and to-day the bon Marche,"
carried on by his widow, employs 5000 people.
Two thousand of these people live in the
building aud the 5000 take their meals there.
The first thing to be noticed by party making
tour of inspection of this great concern is
large hall filed with desks, where great many
boys and young men are studying bookkeep-s
ing. They review all the books of the store,
and are paid a small amount for every mistake
they find. In the evening lessons. are given
gratuitously to the employees in English, Ger
man, instrumental and vocal music, and fcnc-
ing. Concerts are given by the store in sum-
mer, in the square by the side of the building;
in winter, on the ground floor, which can be
cleared by the portcrs in twenty minutes of
counters and goods, when it is needed for that
purpose or for balls. There are four dining
rooms one for the men clerks, one for the girls
one for the workmen, and one for the porters
messengers, and drivers. The menu for dinner
of one day consisted of soup, one kind of meat
one kind of vegetables, and dessert, and for
each person a half bottle of wine. Coffee is
extra; it costs two cents for small cup and
three cents for the large ones. Three hundred
people are employed in the kitchen and as
walters in the dining rooms. The Kettles arc
immense, three feet high, and no man could
meet his arms around one OF them. OF course,
when full and hot, they are beyond the ability
of man to move, so pulleys are arranged which
lift the kettles from the fire and place them
where they are wanted. For the clerks there
is a room for amusements where there are bill
lard tables, chess. checkers, dominoes &C., but
no card playing.
The lady clerks have pleasant little parlor
where there is piano, and where they can
spend their evenings when they choose. Each
girl has room entirely to herself, which is
plainly but very comfortably furnished. There
are rules to be observed by ALL but they are not
burdensome oppressive; the doors are not
closed on week days until IL, and on Sundays
until 124 at night but the occupations and en-
tertainments make it more enticing to re-
main at home than 10 go out. Every one in
the service of the Bon Marche" receives a
certain commission on everything sold or de-
ivered, and after a certain number of years
service each acquires an interest in the store
that increases yearly. 1t is one of the most COM
plete works of benevolence known. it would
be almost impossible to think of any details
that are not attended to. There is BARRIERS
shop in the building for the use of the en-
ployees, physician is employed by the store
and his services are free to all moreover, there
is an infirmary in another part of the city
where those who are sick are cared for; a pair
of boots is BACKED for every member of the
establishment every day. When asked if any
board was paid the answer was "no;" but !
suppose at least some difference is made in the
salary.
Efforts are being put forth to build church
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