The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-17


ON the Premises-An Idea which
Has Paid.
From the Chicago News.
The refectories Of the vast department
stores, or 'bazaars" of Paris are among
the most curious sights of the French cap
ital. AS soon as the Bon Marche and the
Louvre-dear to the hearts of all Ameri-
can women who make the grand tour
and prototypes of the colossal establish
ments in New York and adjacent cities
began to assume great Importance their
projectors were confronted with the ques-
tion: How shall we organize the meal
times Of these thousands of men and
women2'
In France, lunch as understood here,
is unknown. Every person, gentle and
simple, makes of the morning repast sim
ply breakfast and no more. A bowl
of coffee and a large piece of crisp bread
for the workingman and woman; the
smoking chocolate in Sevres cup and the
brooches which melt in the mouth of the
millionaire-those are the only distinc-
lions. For many generations the French
have recognized that it is unhealthy to
take a hearty meal at g. T. or In the
morning. So they walt until II or r. and
millions wait until o'clock before tast-
ing the first substantial meal of the day
Dinner, second meal of two or three
courses, ana in no wise resembling the
light repast which Americans know as
supper, comes at Z, s or even g. accord
ing 10 the circumstances of the person.
SOnclergeS, or house porters, generally
dine at 9, winter or summer and sit over
their meal an hour or two chatting and
Laughing. Al that late hour the whole
family is united, and it's little affairs are
discussed and settled
WIN the organization of the bazaar
came the need Of keeping a constant out
Iook over the hundreds of young men and
women IN each department, and economic
ing each in each department, and econo-
MIXING each moment of their time be-
tween the opening hours and the letting
doWn OF the great iron shutters before
the immense windows at D. m. precisely
1t was with a view of this watch over the
employees, rather than because of any
phllantnropic tendencies, that the own
ers and managers Of the largest "ba-
zaars' decided to make II obligatory for
all employees to take their meals at noon
ana night upon the premises.
This had many advantages for the pro-
prletors. IL saved them all trouble
about fines" for coming in late from
the midday meal, it enabled them to or
fer small wages because board" was
thrown in and IL brought 10 the estab-
hshments good class of men and
women, especially the latter, glad to be
rid of the annoyances and irregular ex-
pense of living in restaurants.
The bazaar proprietors said: I'VE must
do tbs, as we do everything else, with
an eye to the advertisement" And so
they decided to install their refectories
very handsomely and to feed their en-
ployes well. The idea has paid from the
start.
At the Bon Marche spacious and very
handsome halls on the fourth story of the
enormous edifice are devoted to the res
taurant for the employees. Twelve thou
sand meals are served daily between II
and O'Clock. Men and women eat in
separate halls, and are served with the
same pofiteness and attention that they
would receive in restaurants or lunch
counters'-if lunch rounters had ever
been inflicted on the French.
At the Louvre about the same number
of meals is served and the arrangements
are wonderfully complete. The kitchens,
with their seductive array of copper GAUGE
pans. and the pantries. with the thousands
upon thousands Of plates and cups mark
ed with the trademark of the house-a
majestic lion couchant, with his paws
hanging over the letter land the lit
tie army Of uninterrupted and aproned