The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-15
APARTMENT LIFE IN PARIS.
1t Is Not Utopia 10 the Comfort-Accus-
toned New Yorker.
New York Times.

New York Times.
A New York woman, who has sought the
land OF Trilby and Count de Castellane
since the new year opened, gives In pri-
vate letter a graphic account OF her quest
of a residence and her life after she found
Apartment hunting. she writes, always IA
serious matter. is doubly serious in Paris.
where one has been led to believe that
apartments are cheap. In the first place,
disabuse your mind OF their cheapness for
nothing is cheap in Paris. That is, nothing
is one thing-the cabs! But even they prove
expensive in the end, for you are con-
stantly persuaded into taking one rather
than wait an undeard-of length OF time 10
find a place in a Paris tram or omnlous.
However. hang the few shreds Of faith you
some days of experience, TO the cab
service, and dash out in search of place
to lay your head.
OF course, the woman of to-day. sojourn-
ing in Paris, with the aftermath OF Irilpy
delights still trailing through her mind.
Quarter Latin; and how the dream fades
when brought face to face with the reallty
Of smelly stairs, stuffy, dark rooms and d.
lapdated furniture offered over here TO the
usual applicant. For, of course, again II
is furnished apartments that one wants IT'S, ter
ness and dinginess and general undesirable
ness at a price in excess, much In excess.
of what has been set aside TO provide
So Notwithstanding that the expense OF
apartments and food has been quoted in
the Latin quarter as just half that OF New
Paris we take the remnants of a shattered
dreno owe, 10 New Paris, nothing dismayed.
Here of a certainty il must be an easy
matter to obtain an apartment. where from
at least every other house hangs sign
posing entrances, suave concierge, and
wild hope of success you toll up myriaus or
stairs, generally smelly, to find disappoint-
ing SURROUNDINGS at a disappointing price.
So, at the beginning, be prepared Tor the
end. which is to pay hundred francs nas more Sad
planned to pay for what you did want In
this way only will you come 10 the desired
haven of petite appartement
Having taken one by signing the c0nven-
tional French lease-whicn can be read
many ways. we are warned-be prepared TO
paw into the Golfer of the concierge every
month additional twerty-franc piece or
fifteen francs. as the case may be What
for? Well, for nothing in particular except
the bringing up of your letters or for polite
responses to any one who may come 10 gee
of the concierge. There is a saying In Paris
that you can fight the devil but you can
YOU twenty francs more to have an inyen-
tory made, and II behooves you 10 go about
every spot and mark upon the walls. every
scratch upon the furniture or hole In the
curtains or rugs and every nick in the
list. OF extras that in France swamp any
bargain with the people. Next, thc-e IS
linen and silver. which seldom come with
an apartment, to be rented at a round price.
Having set up your little establishment,
with the aid of man caretsker. who can
do anything. from making up your bed
chamber to rocking the baby. AZ the rate Of
20 cents an hour. and. having engaged u
maid at 40f a month and her daily liter OF
wine, or the money for II, there begins your
battle with fires IL II is cold weather and
your campaign with the tradespeople. OF
whom advice from every direction has made
you suspicious small bag OF coal or
coke. costing so cents or wood at the same
price, and the bundles OF pathetic little
twigs. called kindling; puny crates lurking
in out-of-the-way corners of drauEhty
roonls-these are your weapons In the strug-
gle in which these foreign people have been
:yorsted for ages in the fight TO keep warm.
The Frs nch breakfast of cafe lait and
rolls looks simple and suggests economy
until you find coffee ~ and 30 cents u
pound. and not good coffee at that. With
fe~ so cents and ham 1T % cents. and
Iat 50 cents a pound. with tea, very
.ea, at 81 pound, lamp oil al ~ cents
llon, eggs at 40 c. nts Gozen, ard
\ atches worth their weight In coin. with
canned ana preserved fruits and vegetables
entirely beyond modest purse, milk at
~ cents quart, and gas ore Of the lux
uries of fortunes favoTitas housekeeping
In Paris, unles you have an unlimited IN.
come or can live without the necessities OF
a fairly-ordered life, il not a state to be de-
sired
So. If your heart is set upon taking an
apartment ia Paris. IN order 70 have what
you want and that in reason, taEs the al
vice so freely and invariably offered tho
newcomer by every old habitue. and don't.
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