The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-23
THE FRENCH SHOPKEEPERS.
Nine. Davies's Lecture Before the
Contemporary Club.

Madame Pauline Mariotte Davies lectured
last night before the Contemporary Club
at the Propylaeum on 1.-THE Evolution of
the French Shopkeeper." Madame Mariotte
Davies is a native French woman, but is
now a resident of Lafayette, occupying the
chair of French at Purdue University. She
is a charming talker and an instructive
lecturer Her subject last night was one
of keen interest to busy Americans who are
Just now in the throes of that revolution
which, in Paris made back number OF
the small shopkeeper and rendered heredity
in this line an absurdty and made possible
the Bon Marche." Madame Mariotte Da-
vies began her subject with the conditions
among trades people in the early centuries
and showed the philosophy of the changes
in these conditions which have made the
moAern department stores and given the
people Of France opportunities, in the ma
ture OF common interests, never before en-
joyed, but now coming to the people of all
large cities in the more advanced nations.
Madame Davies gave an interesting de-
scription of the very earliest trade in
France. Marseiiles of coo Il. G. is the orig
inal Marseiles of to-day, and Paris is an
old trading town. The origin of the Paris
escutcheon was brought about by the need
There has been a great trade TRANSFORMED
ticn in the present period. 1t was in Paris
that the first trade guild was established,
and this was the first monopoly. Charlie
magne issued capituiaries, so that no one
could form what is now termed "a corner
on wheat" There were later guilds oper-
ated by order of the King. and to be mas
ter OF the RuIld was an nUnor much SOugnt
In craft gulld there were departments lor
AA1Vl hrIN tOl md
ances, legislation against fraudulent work
smanship, and punishmentS for Workmen
who inIringed the laws IheIe was SeP pa,
ration between the trade and Graft guilds:
Louis XI organized labor to the pront OF
his reign ana Jurandes became power
which he used to unity France. trades
formed classes. There we're dropers Gros-
ers, MERGERS, furriers, hosers and gold
smiths and each had certain Other trades
class had privileges. These privileges mad
to be paid Tor. There were also degrees In
the trades peoples position. The classes
were as distinct and separate as the Frencn
and Germans are themselves In lISl this
was abolished and the proclamation OF the
liberty of labor was made. Said the speak
er: THE difference between a man who
succeeds and a man who makes failure
of life is often found in the degree OF pos
sible adaptation to existing circumstances.
This is eminently true OF the period we are
passing through to-day"
Madame Davies gave an account of the
rebuilding of Paris making it the magnlfl-
occasoned by Napoleon, when he ordered
the architect Haussman TO demolish ana
reconstruct Paris. There were thousands
of small shops all over Paris, as there were
and are in this country, but now the depart
ment stores have come TO stay one or the
most interesting parts of the lecture was
the description of the Bon Marche, q shop
that is known all over the world. IL was
started by Aristide Boucicault, VINO was vas
himself a poor boy travelling about the
country with his little packet Of goods. lie
later secured a position as calico coun yer
jumper a name given to clerk in the
calico department of store: his rise III
life. was like that of many others, ana nm
ally he instituted the Bon Marcne. lie had
philanthrOpic ideas to carry OUT lie had
been through all the stages ana knew the
miseries and privations endured Dy caIi-
Goes" He paid his employees according to
the work performed; had promotions ac-
Cordingly; established providence Iund'
gave money at certain periods 10 those VINO
rad been in his employ certain periods or
time: established library and classes for
languages, music and dancing, as wen as
the common branches; Instituted sanitary
precautions; made provisions Tor economi-
cal board and lodging for employees, and did
many other noble acts. When he died his
wife took IN the business and admitted
ninety silent partners at one time. These
were heads Af departments, who, for faith
ful service. were rewarded with an interest
i'm the business. Subsidies were granted
those who were in the t'ranco-Prussian war.
When Mrs. BOucicault died the business
continued. From trade of $4,000 a year.
the Bon Marche now has millions, and al
most anything for sale in the world may
be found there. THE labor question VIII
he I. az rally benefited " hen the dignity
of labor and that of honestly acquired
wealth are on par. AS long as there are
olvSrsitItS OF gifts there Will be dlVersiGes
of returns, but returns should be bestowed
with justice and equity. said the lecturer.
Madame Davies has recently published an
Elementary Scientific French Reader, to ac-
quaint the student with technical terms.
scientific forms OF expression and style and
to enable him to read scientific and techs
nicaI contributions to French magazines
and general literature