The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-06
A GAY WINTER IN PARIS.
FRENCH LIFE AS 4 CHICAGO WOMAN
HER DAUGHTER SAW 1T.


ment, ana Every One Kise They Came In
Contact wIth-Tho N1isstnE Preach Cour-
tesy-Cherished riiusions Rudeiy shattersa.
PARIS, jan. 2s.-Early last autursa "A Amer
lean woman with two daughters reached Paris
after a INNER Continental trip. prepared to
settle down for q space before returning to her
Chicago home.
1T Is the only chance we shall probably ever
have" said Mrs. ~Brown-that name will do
TO learn something Of real French life; besides,
! should mover forgive myself II neglected tho
opportunity for Bessie and Flossie to acquire
the true Partisan accent"
She had done Europe economically, and In
answer to her husbands protest that he could
not afford the expense Of a season In Paris, she
had answered confidently that "a person who
know how to 1.-Two oheaply could live cheaply
anywhere She n cured out to her own salts.
faction TINT she could keep house in Paris with
less money than at home. She had everything
down in black and white. She wrote her hus-
band that If he would lot her have 9 1000 she
could get along beautifully for SIX months;
81, 900, no more.
The morning upon which n draft for that
amount camo from the confding husband Mrs.
Brown and her daughters set out from their
hotel to visit the house agents. They were
jubilant; Paris had never looked so beautiful.
They had settled everything in their minds;
they were to have a cozy little apartment In q
quiet quarter; a red-cheeked maid with a white
cap, a Femme dc n,Gnngc to come in to cook the
modest.dinners. They would revel in the opera,
tho theatres, and tho museums: they would have
a professor Of French twice a week, and perhaps
one of music; and they could take a cab when
ever they felt like 1t without thinking of how
much it was going to cost. "All these things
are SO cheap in Europe" said Mrs. Brown.
Tho apartment was easily found ut $40 n
month. At tho same timo Mrs. Brown re-
ceivcd her first lesson In Partisan customs
when tho agent informed her that she would
have to give twenty francs to the concierge.
What fori' she demanded. ''She hasn't done
anything for me yet"
THAT makes no difference said the agent.
1.-THE twenty francs is the dtntc,' a Dieu. In
reality 1t Is n sort OF blackmail. You have to
give 1t or the concierge will say nasty things
about YOU to the neighbors. Really, 1t Is oblig-
atory, and you couldn't live in the house unless
you gave 1t. Moreover. you'll have to give an.
other twenty francs on New Years Day, and
still another when you give up the apartment"
ii whether the concierge does anything for
mo or not7"
Certainly. You'll have to pay her besides
every time You want her to do something"
Mrs. Brown looked grim and reluctantly paid
over the gold piece. That next morning she
signed her lease, but only for three months, and
handed out two 10O-franc notes In payment Of
the first months rent.
1.-Two hundred and seventeen" said the agent
politely.
But I have just signed a lease for 200"
The agent smiled, and explaincd:
That's the net rent. If you will glance at
the receipt you will see the extra items noted in
order. They include the tax on doors and win.
dows, but not the tax on furniture. nor the water
tax, nor
Unfortunately. you do. Not only that, but
you will have to pay them twice. According to
the Paris custom the landlord charges them to
you pro rata for each month. Then the Govern
ment steps in on the first of January and charges
year. OF course it isn't just, because the land.
lord gets the benefit of it; but, all the same.
Mrs. Brown looked heiplesSlyS a at her daugh.
tiers and paid over the seventeen francs extra.
Then the three went out. took an omnibus this
time and repaired TO their new home.
There were many things to soc about and they
interviewed the concierge. CAST Oh. madame
have to subscribe for gas by the quarter, and it
would, be at least two weeks before 1t could be
certainly, but 1t took two weeks to bring the
meter and, fix things. A servanti Yes, the
concierge knew OF one ont Of q place at that
moment; il madame wished she would notify
the young woman at once.
Mrs. Brown and her daughters mounted to
tnelr apartment dRHln 10 Wdlt.
There's one thing said the mother, well
have no difficulty about the maid. It'll be q re-
lief after the trials I've had with Irish girls in
America. In Europe, you see. servants always
know their place. And then they're SO cheap
their wages are almost nothing"
by the Concierge. Mrs. Brown called I up her
very hest French and began:
things in su 4eG%aiPe SS0 Of are " ms siGdmPPp'''nt to do all the
and %oh' YES, cb mIIHSGame so1 ! can mus sew and dress hair
.'Cookl" asked Mrs. Brown.
well, not very well, madame. I've never been
employed to cook"
Both the maid and the concierge looked puz-
zled. Mrs. Brown repeated the question. think;
eve even INC more puznlcd. Finally the maid said setm de-.
cidedly that she could neither wash nor iron.
Then how you'd YOU expect us to have our
AT the laundry, Of course"
Then it was that Mrs. Brown received an;
that washing and ironing were not permitted
n II the house ,Sas sb nor w in SSn (. a apIItnG 1t house hsus III, in
linen to a laundry, and likewise the soiled
clothes Of the maid.
but ] never have more than three francs
Mrs. Brown had some moro questions to ask.
Then. when she had finished, the maid herself
The lay af allows WIS., us s., three litrss s of wine 3
f EsEs' because cause the doc doctor orders lit It for me-. And And
how much did you expect to spend a month on
living eXpenSeSi'
Mrs. Brown flushed a little. She was not
used to being catechised by her maids.
81 think I don't quite understand" she re.
piled
why. you know. madame. wo get our com.
missions from the shopkeepers. / couldn't
think of taking, service with you unless you
is little enough. In the place had before they
spent sometimes 600 france
Mrs. Brown nodded quietly. What elsei'
she inquired.
well, ! must be allowed to go to mass Sun.
day mornings. and must have Sundays after 2
o'clock to myself"
what elsel'' said Mrs. Brown.
"Well, my New Years gift must be not less
than 30 francs. | have always had 80 francs.''
AND what wages would you expect for all
thisi"
but II the work was not hard, I'd he willing to
take 50-for the beginning, at least"
Mrs. Brown looked at her daughters and
smiled. Then sho looked at the concierge and
maid and didn't smile.
at seems to me you're a little exacting," she
said to the girl. II don't think you'll do.
Anyway. I'll look about me a little."
The maid shrugged her shoulders, and tho
concierge did likewise. Then they left UNI
ceremOniOusly,