The Portland daily press., 1896-01-02
THE BON MARcAE AND LOUVRE.
Happy Hunting Grounds of American
Shoppers in Paris.
(From the New York Times. }

happy hunting grounds of American
shoppers. The Louvre they perhaps
know best, it being nearer their Paris
haunts, and reputed more chic. But the
Bon Marohe is not neglected, since $50
English interpreters with difficulty
suffice. The French have never forgotten
the old unsavory reputation of the
Louvre, a reputation won in the days
when, as there was passage through the
shop to the apartments OF the Hotel de
Louvre, it became resort for intriguing
women. That is of the past. EStill today
1t draws so large custom from the fast
set that autooratio French husbands some
times forbid it their wives, a prohibit on
not always respected. Besides this moral
shadow under which the Louvre rests.
it is less obliglng than the Bon Marche.
Its clerks are apt to be disagreeably in
sistent, and, if ones purchases are not
equal to their expectations, impertinent;
a natural result Of their being largely
dependent for remuneration on percent
age of their sales, new clerks receiving
only that percentage and two meals the
working day.
The Bon Marche is the shop favored
by the Fauborg St. Germain and multi
tude less aristocratic, but eminently re-
spectacle. In the days Of the founders
the Bouoioaut, husband and wife--the
establishment won much good will by
their numerous charities M. Boucioaut
came from the people, OF which he was
proud, continuing to the END their
friend. His wife, who, after the death
of husband and son, undertook the man
agement Of the great enterprise, was also
faithful to her past. At her death her
fortune was distributed among numerous
French charities, "L'Assistance Pub
lique" being the principal legatee. Hus-
band and wife considerably smeliorated
the condition of their employees. Public
opinion has forced the Louvre to institute
most of these ameliOratiOnS
Both houses hava free medical attend
ance, sales women receiving for illness
from the Bon Marche 100 francs;
workwomen 60 francs. Savings of em-
ployes are received by the Bon MaIche to
the amount of 5000 francs, with interest
at per cent; by the Louvre to the
amount of 5000 francs at per cent. Both
Quitting on the liat last year "A men and
women. They receive from 800 to 1900
francs. THE Louvre manager recently
declared that he expected to abandon
the system, the pension being, in his
opinion, either insufficient or unneces-
sarv.
In 1875 NJ. Boucicaut set aside capital
which is today 2, 142, 932 francs Employ es
who have been with the house participate
in the earnings of that sum. These par
Elephants benefit in the entire earnings of
the house according to their position and
years of service. Language classes were
also started by M. Bouoicaut, the best
pupils being sent abroad TO perfect them
| selves at the expense of the Bon Marche.
Since the death of Nine. Boucicaut, the
Bon Marohe has been administered by
three directors and a council of Is chosen
from the heads of departments. The
management continues the charitable
tradition, more. perhaps, for ADVERTISE
ment than for love.
Every afternoon at $50 one may visit
the kitchen of the Bon Marche, the din
ing rooms and rooms rented TO unmarried
women. The Bon Marche feeds all its
1900 employees. The Louvre feeds many.
but not all. On entering the Bon Marche
kitchen one first remarks the nine enol- :
nous boilers, three of them holding each
800 liters of excellent soup. Next, grid :.
irons capable of boiling at time 300
steaks; stove for tine cooking of eggs,
served. There is also an ingenious are
| Iangement for the fry ing of 900 Kilograms
of potatoes. Coffee is made in separate
kitchen; 300 liters may be had in 40 min
utes. The grounds are sent to tho poor
houses. Each of the 4200 employees is
entitled to two meals day. For break
fast, meat-Uhere being chOice-ysgeta-
bes and dessert. For dinner, the same,
with the addition of soup and salad, no
matter what the season. The men are
given half-liter of wine or. bottle of beer
at each meal, but the women are not
limited. Those of the men employees
living In the house-rooms being rented
to unmarried men-are served soup for a
first breakfast All women employees have
a right to soup, coffee or chocolate.
Drivers and deliverers have three full
meals "a day. After the kitchens the
stables are shown, a delight for all those
who suffer at the misery of the Paris
working horse. The Bon Marche and
Louvre horses. are the sleek bourgeois of
the Paris animal world. Last are shown
the rooms rented to unmarried women.
These bear the mark of philanthropy.
Though good-sized and we'll kept, one
fee Is that the renters are inmates.
Shopping in these large establishments
at first seems impossi BILE. One is hewi1-
dered by the extent, but if not bargain
day, It is very easy with a "Nume1o. !"
which are detachable slips, each bearing
the number. AT each purchase the clerk
takes a slip and pastes it to his check.
The shopping finished, one may pay at
the desk or on delivery. An American
with much shopping, even though speak
ing French, does best to take an interpre-
ter. One meets with more consideration,
ana it is great saving of time and
strength to be led in SO immense an estab-
lishment from one counter to another
by the shortest route.
Neither tho Bon Marche nor the Louvre
gives credit, but If one is known one's
purchases are delivered and the bill pre-
sented later. In busy seasons the Bon
Marche sometimes waits a month before
making collection. The Louvre is less
oonfding. When one is unknown, pay
ment must be made on delivery. But if
one is dissatisfied with purchases it is
only necessary to send postal card ask
ing that the articles be taken away and
| the money returned.
To shop on bargain days, even with q
"Numero." is to endanger one's life One
may rise with the sun, thinking to be uhe
trst at the doors, but hundreds are be-.
fore, all ready to endure physical hurt
If they may buy flower, ribbon, glove,
or night-gown for few cents less. Yet
it is a Paris sight, and the tourist who
would see all must RIM the risk-oDlv Lot