The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-08-10
THE PARTISAN LANDLORD.
A Word of Warning to Americans
Who Visit the Gayest City.

There are many things that Ameri-
cans should be cautious about in taking
apartments in this city-one thing in
particular, that of demanding dupli-
cate inventory of all the articles in the
room and to be certain of noting every
crack, stain, or scratch in porcelain, on
carpet or furniture; other wise. when
giving Up the apartment, there is sure
to bs some trouble with the landlord,
saws a Paris correspondent of the
Argonaut.
To prove how we Americans are in
the power of French landlords after
signing lease and inventory, will
tell the experiences of friend OF ours
who just returned to his native land
thoroughly disguised with France and
the inhabitants. Mr.. F. signed lease
for an apartment on the Champs
Eiysees for two years. went carefully
over the inventory with the landlord,
and when they came to The dining room
he told the proprietor that he did not
wish any of the glasses or tableware
| in it, as he had plenty of his own that
| he had lust purchased and was anxious
| to use it so as to lass it free of duty
| when he returned to America. The
| landlord asked the privilege of placing
the dinner and breakfast sets with the
two or three dozen glasses in a closet
that was not to be used. OF course, our
| friend agreed to this arrangement aud
did not even look at the abandoned por-
celain. At the end of the two years
the inventory was again taken, aad on
arriving at the dining room, the long
closed closet was opened and all the
china and glass taken down ON the
shelves where 1t lay, covered with the
dust of months. Mr.. F. asked in aston
ishment, what use there was in even
looking at it all. . Why, to see if it has
been broken, the landlord replied with
a gracious bow. "But have not used
it, and most certainly would not be re-
sponsiole for any breakage:' But.
monsieur, the inventory calls for 1T,
and We must look at it" and down
came piece after piece. The result was
a charge of 500 francs against Mr.. +.
tor badly-used dinner aud breakfast
set and a dozen and a half cracked
glasses.
| Naturally IAo1O "oS
row, a rush to lawyers Office for retri-
button, but all in vain, for Mr.. F. was
actually obliged to pay this exhorbitant
demand of 500 francs. But before
signing a check for the required
amount, be asked, in meek voice, II
the two sets and glasses would be his
if he paid this sum, tor the landlord
had said they would be of no service to
him, being so badly damaged. Ger
tainiy, if monsieur so desires it. but OF
course monsieur would not think OF
taking it to America in such bad con-
dition." mo matter what would do
with it." Mr.. F. replied, and wrote out
the check without further words. Alter
| the door had closed on the satisfied and
smiling landlord, our friend ordered
his servants to lay all the china and
glass ON the floor in the ante-chamber,
and wait his return, after which ne
rushed to hardware store close by,
purchased four stout hatchets, and re-
turned to the apartment with beam
ling cnuntenance. And now to WORK.
He called to his servants, and setting
the xample, ne began to chop the array
Of china aud glass into a thousand
pipt es-iu very few moments nothing
but a heap If crushed porcelain and
glass remained as evidence OF the de q,
and our friend heaved sigh OF salts
faction as he surveyed his work.