The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-12-23
UP-TO-DATE FRANCE
Gallo Method of Extracting
Dollars from Penurlous
Worsh1pers.
WOMAN, LOVELY WoMAN
Unrivalled as a Church Collector
How to Give Castor Oil-The
Cherries Hall Room.
WOMAN, LOVELY WOMAN

In France, when any charitably in
clined folk wish to raise money for
some worthy object. they do not resort
to bazars, subscription lists or even wo-
mems editions, says the Philadelphia
Press"
The French know susceptible mankind
far better. and they employ the best
and surest method of touching the
hearts, n so reaching the pocketbooks
of he fellow citizens, and the only ar
gument they use in the smile of a pretty
woman, for the custom of quoting has
been revived again.
The word, which is derived from the
same root as the English guest or re-
quest, signifies literally in this instance,
the asking Of aims. The supplicant is
always the most attractive woman who
can be induced to undertake the task OF
appealing to the sympathies of the rich
in order that the larders of the poor
may be replenished.
Years ago, when France. was noted
for those beautiful women whose names
will forever be honored in her brilliant
history, even such great ladies as Nine.
Recamfer turned beggars in this aristo-
cratic variety of vicarious begging.
All. men valued beauty in those days
as now! Strange stories are told of the
wild scenes in the churches when these
gentle dame condescended to carry round
the velvet pouch. On one occasion, It is
related, when that favorite of the great
Talleyrand quoted" every bench and
chair in the church was broken by the
crowd, eagerly struggling to get a sight
of her.
That must, indeed. have been a picture
well worth remembering: The crowded
church with its background of high affairs
and glancing candles. the portly. digni-
fed old beadle r~esplendent in gold lace
and now walking Town the aisle, pre-
serving order with the quick rap-rap of
his long staff, and then the centre of all
interest; Madame Recamier herself, in
her white gown as always, daintily ex-
tending the money-bag at the end of its
long stick first to one of the moving
crowd and then another, bowling and
smiling with her inimitable cold grace,
as the enthusiasm waxed warmer and
reached it's height.
The matter of fact folk of today would
critically admire such a scene, then go
their several ways and forget it. Those
ducts of more troublous times. with
quick ungovernable emotions. and they
gave ful1 vent to their admiration ana
delight, with the result that the cause
of charity was enriched in that one hour
by 10000 francs.
Although those excitable days are over,
the value of a smile remains the same,
and the pretty girls who quote now
a-days do it most successfully.
Each year on the stairway leading to
the galleries of the old salon are to be
seen a half dozen or more blushing little
French maidens, fresh from their con-
vent schools, and always accompanied
by their chaperons, who extend to the
visitors their f1ower-trimmed baskets,
asking for aims for the poor.
"Queting'' is, after all, a delicate and
pleasing custom, and it meets with far
reader a response than sdo the elusive
bargains of ~ruinously expensive fairs, or
the annoying persistence of subscription
lists. Why not do it over here?
AS this is eminently a time when wom-
than ever, there is little reason why
quoting, shouldn't be a success.
The feminine portion of the nations
community lave proved that they can
run newspapers, collect fares on the
street cars. sell their own photos-alI
for sweet charity's sake. Why, there
fore. can they not delegate the prettiest
or most attractive women to take
around the plate" on one especial Sunday
morning and evening? That the plates
would be full to overfiowing there is
small question.
Recommend the idea to the next enter
prising body of gentle money-makers.