New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-20
CAB DRITERS.
A SCHOOL FOR THEM IN PAHiS-"ii"
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO LEAN


There has Just gone into effect In Paris ne"
seres of regulations concerning the driving OF ca
r,ooos I'm tho CITY regulations which have spe ia'
reference 70 the increasing crowds In the streets ~
the autumn season draws 10 IT'S helght, an" ny
cially TO the throngs that are expected NJ uie ''
OF the Car. A curious part Of these reguHi.'o'' -
that which applies to the QUALIFICATIONS Oh '''''
who desire licenses as cab drivers. Inese u,P
are 10 he had only after the most rigid khd OF 81"
oxorni,at,op in which the applicant must show
that he Is familiar with all the out-of-the-way cor
ncrs of Paris that he can driv" without o'e'"'''
on his style that he never hooks In cro"u' an"
even that he is perfect master OF MS temper ~
such a degree that even the worst blockhead OF
bourgeois who runs i'm front OF ms carrlase WI"
not bring about an explosion
But. II poets born. not made can drivers GER
tainly are made Where do the students OF the art
pursue their studies? That Is question that every
Partisan has asked himself after he has maze
trip IN a cab without accident behind driver
whose village manners have not yet dlsappeareu'
but who yet drives Ike an Engshman ana KNOWS
Paris like little Gavroche Chance led one Parisian
in = drive back of Montmartre to discover about
large old carriage gate this sign School for CAP
Drivers" The director Of this school informed MN
az to the course OF studies there ana the ooJects
of IT.
He learned first of all that Limousin AuVereHe
and the Department of Aveyron furnish Paris with
months study and practice these fine fellows. fresh
from their provinces. become excellent Partisan
drivers, capable of competing with the NorHah''
the Parisians and the Gascons. Tor "hoh
five or six days study seems TO suffice SIX nun
dred pupils come every day to the establishment
from to II o'clock in the morning ana IN the
afternoon from . to o'clock.
The instruction Is oral and practical. the oraI
lessons include questions the topography OF
Paris and Its rroundings, visits to the places
studied, and in law as 1t anects can driV-
ers The student coachman learns. first OF all
about the monuments and show places or Paris
the palaces, churches. railway stations, embassies
and legations. hospitals. prisons. big shops; then
the location OF the theatres. concert halls pahHs
and museums lie must know Paris by "arrondisse-
ments" by bouevards, by avenues, by large anu
small streets The law course imparts knowledge
Of the police regulations which the student must
know by heart and De able recite. also knowl-
edge of the legal scale OF charges which Is not
complicated-the day rates the night rates, the
rates for places outside Of Paris the rates for bag
gage , $500 nd, an ~ tho
The practical studies which are carrieI on IN me
school itself require the of cab and a horse
The horse a mare named Louise, IS admirably
adapted to the made of her. sometimes she Is
calm and mechanical. for practice in harnessing
and embarrassing; sometimes she IS capricious ana
perIences Of a drive through Paris. She has AL
ready had a share in educating 1900 cabmrn since
he opening of the school and yet IS entirely VIII,
out evidences OF pride she ambles between me
shafts Of the old cab used by the studentS. t h
cab which formerly bore the number losl4 Is ms
toric Il carried General Boulanger-it Is not t0ld
whither-and once conveyed Cornelius Herr 70 lhe
Northern Railway station. - +,
The practical part of the instruction also IN. IN,
cludes "A knowledge Of the names and uses OF tne
various parts Of harness. the duties OF guide
and finally the lesson Of "a drive through fails
that il to say of the innumerable street incldents
he difficulties and embarrassmentS OF whch boi-
Ieau enumerated two centuries ago and when nave
enormously increased In number and compieXity
since. ,, -. .aA.,o,
q nd such is the apprenticeship which the cahdii-
date for the proud position must haze gone tnrou5n
vim before he can present himself before the TX.
aiming Commission Of the Police Department Il
Paris.