Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-11
BUSINESS WAYS IN PARIS.
Despite It's Reputation for Livclfness,
1t In "a Very LeisureIy Town.

The last two decades have marked tn
growth OF not few large commercia
undertakings In France. Some of thes
employ thousands OF men, have agencie
throughout all the provinces OF the coun
try, and ara even represented Ia ever
large foreign city IN Christendom; but
Is curious fact that the larger any es
Enlistment grows here the more leisur
has everybody connected with il. Tn
young French clerk or book-keeper woul'
throw up his position, even though sucl
an act meant bread and water for year
to come. II his employer dared to impor
what are becoming known on the Cont
nent rs American methods" He want
to come down to his work certainly no
earlier than o'clock-it is oftener 10 tina
nnds him. before his desk-and IL his TIVE
hours at noon are abridged by tho small
est quarter hour sulkiness and surlines,
are theSequel. In positions just a grade
above his the incumbents stroll in at 10
lunch from noon 20 any hour they please
and never stay later than o'clock al
their offices. This accounts for what I.
J so often observed with establishment by
americans sojourning abroad. They won.
DER that the cafes are full at all hours
| or the day, with prosperous men, whose
conversation shows them TO be engaged
In what even the blue blooded Frenchman
/ is beginning to mention respectfully as
IA commerce" The explanation Is now
evident; these "inerchants"--every busi-
hess~man here is a MISUNDERSTANDING
over their affairs In the shade Of a cafe
awning instead Of behind the forbidding
railing Of private Office. Every one of
them might be literary lounger as far
as his appearance IS concerned Immacu-
tate boots. spotless linen, and highly
pohshed top hat-all proclaim that they
10 not py any means give ali their time
70 business and that If all is hurry
ana industrial feryor at their offices. they
az ieast VIII not stoop to become a part
OF IL Tor more than four or five hours a
day. :"
AS Tor the proprietor himself, he is Oft
ener than not a true rara avis at the es-
taphshment His head clerks and con-
nuehtlal men come to him in his pleasant
country via or city palace when he de-
siIeS information. He pays wages of
superintendent and has forgotten. if he
ever knew, the name of his book-keeper.
nave so many large Paris establish
ments In my mind while writing this that
mentioning one or two would be Of no
use. But IN one Of the largest soap and
pertumery houses in the world. that fairy
iand OF color and fragrance that looks
OUT upon the Palace de la Madeleine one
Oh the severe reminders to the employees
CONSISTS or a sign hanging near the door:
Messleurs the clerks arc prayed TO !e-
call that not more than two hours can be
aIoWed during the summer for dejeuner."
Ana even in the large department stores.
which the French believe 20 be uneouaIled
Tor size and convenience by any Others
IN the world, such a thing as n clerk
working overtime or curtailing his mid
day meal for any purpose whatsoever has
never, l am assured. been heard Of In
the store clerks and accountants are
Obliged to attend 10 their monotonous but
never hurried duties The moment a GER
tain gong strikes they don their glossy
high hats, change their short coats for
the courtly length required on the boue-
wards, and Immediately seek their favorite
restaurant or cafe, where they become
gentlemen of leisure. RENTERS" and talk
of political affairs of the last Salon. with
highly judicial air and critical eve. ns
If there were not yards Of ribbon and silk
waiting for their hands during the after
noon.
All this is very fine, and nobody would !
wish it replaced by a different system. |
perhaps. But it is not what we Ameri- |
cans call business" 1t is not in ac- |
cord with the persuasion that time is |
money, and these polite loungers. sway |
ing and idiing in their chairs while the |
sun on high is attending strictly to his |
daily work, do not help 20 give Paris the /
Of a beehive. The new
comer's first impression is that every class
of Parisians rest and recuperate and talk
affairs" at least two thirds Of the day.
For what is true of large business
pnIq1lrr co IA
people. If you are coming TO Paris TO live
for some months, be warned. and do not
try 10 have the affairs of your menage
progress between the hours OF II and q
The charbonnier viii not bring your coal
The grocer and butcher will not deliver
orders, and the concierge, paid to attend
10 your wants. will not bring up letters.
papers, or packages between the limits
mentioned. That interval almost univer-
ally and quite ineXOrabiy belongs TO each
person, however humble be his state born
n the free and lazy air of France The
sun, as before hinted is the only cosmo-
oglcal adjunct which agrees 10 continue
business. The household servants are.
perhaps. the only exception, and they get
indemnity by going off every afternoon
he moment the work is done to take a
petite promenade au soleil." Unless YOU
a
consider it, you will get but poor service
md little faithfulness from them.
The very omnibuses go slower. and are
greatly reduced in number: the great de-
lots are deserted. and the resting loco
motives snore softly under the great iron
riches, the long freight trains behind
hem, packed TO the bursting for those
Who are out yonder in the green country
Waiting for the goods they have ordered.
But the freight trains, too, are waiting.
Waiting, waiting, and II will be 2 or 3
CLOCK before the warning whistle blows
nee more. The factories of the GObeins |
nd those at Sevres, the ministerial Offices.
nd the telegraph bureau-all are wrapped
n siesta as deep as ever clasped in its
reamy embrace a little Spanish town
estling near the shadow OF the Alham-
ra- The bicyclist, fearful Of the rush OF
on the Avenue de POpera du-
ing the morning. when thousands of en-
rgetic strangers are going a-sightseeing.
nds no spice Of danger now; he has all
he highway to himself The winding
boulevard des Capucines is given up to
parrows and buzzlng flies. one almost
XppCtS 10 find weeds pSroufpo nm ~, ,