The Washington critic., 1888-04-21


consumed. Wine bottles lined tho
wall, covered the tables, and we,
we're told that in no school or pen
sion was such wine served. The
dining room was a model Of order
neat walnut tables extended the en-
tire width Of the room. This room
is used for the men, while beyond is
the refectory for women, with ma
hogany tables and cane-seated chairs,
A third room Is used by those who
have leading positions in the store,
but the menu is the same for all.
On the walls were cases divided by
partitions eaehi containing u NAPKIN
and throughout the whole building
perfect order andosystem prevailed.
Every provision has been made for
the safety of all employees in case Of
fire.
We now passed through a hall to o
room which amused us much. In
one corner were two mon, one before
strange-looking instrument, used to
clean the $1,000 knives, while man at
his-side wiped the same. Here were
seated men in blue blouses, having
great bags of potatoes beside them,
each busy with his knife pairing this
favorite vegetable. As our party
stood lookingat them, many q smile
was exchanged among these peelers,
and the man polishing knives
flourished them in the air, TO show
their shining qualities. Next to this
was the workmen's and coachmen's
refeetory and we arrived in time to
see them at their dinner. These have
three meals daily and they seemedto
enjoy their repast and paid little at
tention to the foreigners gazing at
them
There was small room used for
making tea and coffee, while those
who are indisposed have tisane fur
nished, drink much used here for
invalids. A doctor is daily in attend
ance, and all employees can consult
him free of charge. -Four BARRIERS are
also busy every morning shaving the
men and arranging the coiffeurs of
some of the women. There was one
large room devoted to receiving and
carrying out orders to foreign lands
and throughout France. These
amount on an average to 5000 day.
OF course this does not include Paris.
THE GIRLS APARTMENTS.
We descended four flights of stairs
and crossed the street TO see the apart
ments provided for girls without
parents aud who are earning q liveli-
hood in the "Bon Marche." We
passed through q long corridor lined
on either side with neat square rooms,
each containing one window, nicely
curtained, single bed, wardrobe,
washstand and chairs of dark stained
wood, without spot or blemish, and
polished floors. On the mantel. pieces
were pretty clocks and ornaments, and
they were such rooms as any one in
any station of life would find most
comfortable. Fuel is furnished to the
occupants every Sunday. In this
house there are 125 rooms, while
Madame Boucicaut, the proprietress
of the immense establishment pro-
vided accommodations for others in
adjacent buildings. Atthe end of the
| corridor was
Trt A'LARGE PARIoR,
having four windows, gilded chande-
liers, red velvet furniture, piano,
pretty tables and handsome book
case. The girls who live here must
| be unprotected by any one in Paris.
They are not permitted to go out
evenings without special permission.
No gentlemen callers are allowed, but
nevertheless many marriages take
place among the employees. Every
comfort is provided, as well as the
watchful eye to guide them and shield
them from harm. .... ..a..,i. ...e
The courtyard Of this building is
rooted with glass and used as a car
riage-house, which vehicles are
peculiar in color, being red, yellow
and black. The last place we visited
were the stables, which contained be-
tween two and three hundred horses.
The majority of them were black and
of uniform size, each having their
name over their head.
1 OVER THREE MILLION DOLLARS
were left by Madame Boucicaut ia
her employees, not one Of whom was
forgotten, no one receiving less than
| two hundred dollars. She was not
merely q business woman, but phil.
anthropist The "Bon Marche" is
now conducted by "Jules Plassart 6
Co." The partners number three
hundred persons, who were selected
among the employees of the estab-
lishhent by Madame Boucicaut some
| time ago. b.
"a.