Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-01
THE DRAGON EYED CONCIERGE.
Tho Presidin: Deity Of tho Partisan
Teuem cnt-Dividins tho Duties.

Tho Presidin: Deity Of tho Partisan
Tenemc ns-DividinS tho Duties.
Tho Enslishman by constitutional figure
Of speech, calls bis house his castle In France
thero is no figure of speech about it, the house
Is voritable castle built round court, hav-
ing thick walls, ponderous doors and a PASS
sage to the court, on one side of which lies in
wait for ever tho dragon eyed concierge. At
night the doors AFRO closed at en- arbitrary
hour, varying from Q to - The con-
cierge, OF tho garcon representing him, goes
to bed in his little room, perhaps four by six,
having first taken the precaution to closc the
doors and windows, where in a co-natose
state, bis hand close to a bell rope, be awaits
the late coners. The tenants arrive ono by
ono in a steady stream, touch the beil button
without, i-,ld one OF the great doors, OF q
smaller ono which forms part of it, swings
open. He enters and it closes behind him
with q crash. The half awakened concierge
gives him his candle and key and falls back on
lis pillow sound asleep while he is talking,
not retaining On the following morning the
slightas. recollection of the minute directions
in regard to awaking the stranger.
TO the easy classes in Paris, French or
strangers, the night is as day, only little
more so, and the last tenant is not safely
housed before sunrise, when it is necessary
for the concierge to rise and begin bis duties
as bootblack. So his Life passes, at nigh.
his hand on the bellrope in the fetid air OF his
clothes press Of chamber: in the morning
up before tho sun, during the day cleaning
the halls and doing the chamberworia, ct
meal times waiting on the guests at table, and
at odd intervals going Of messages, taking
care Of baggage, or even going to the station
to meet expected guests. l know Of no class
in America who would perform his arduous
duties for five times the money. The work OF
one day not ended till that Of the next begins,
never having the luxury OF sound sleep,
scarcely able to go into the street for an hour
during the day, unconscious Ok the meaning
of the word holiday, and paid only by pour
boires, varying in amount according to the
pleasure of exacting guests.
The duties Of concierge are often divided
between man and vita, the man doing the
rough work Of the house, acting as garcon, or
perhaps having other occupation without; the
woman all day on duty in the little lodge,
which serves alike as Office, dining room, sit
ting room and bed chamber. In this class Of
buildings there are usually several rooms
ranged round the narrow entrance, the two
largest large enough for bed, a table and
few chairs. The landlord and his wife sleep
in that at the right. The one at the left
serves as dining room and Office, while Of the
two remaining closets one serves as sleeping
and living room for the concierge and his
wife (who may also bear the names garcon
and bonne), and the other as kitchen, its
proximity to the stairway facilitating the
general diffusion of the steam and doors
arising from blended meats, onions and gar
lie throughout the halls and the bed cham
be-s-Paris Cor San Francisco Chronicle