New-York tribune., 1898-12-25
"UNCLE" sARcEY'S OMNIBUS FIGHT.

THE GREAT PARTISAN CRITIC COMPLAINS OF
THE SERVICE AFTER THE THEATRES.
Paris correspondence 81 The Pail Mall Gazette.
The sight of a brave man struggling with an
omnibus company is at present holding the at
| tention OF Parisians. The hero is NJ. FrancsQue
Sarcey, the prince Of our dramatic critics, and
the uncle" as he is currently styled, Of all
paygocrs Besides criticisms Of plays. NJ. Sar-
cey writes articles de omnibus rebus-the cx-
preston is most appropriate here and he re-
Gently enlarged on the sins of the monopost
omnibus company that takes the coppers OF
| Parisians, but never consuts their comfort. In
! this particular instance he raised the vexed
| problem Of getting home from the theatres. 1t
| Is q marvel that Parsians ever get home from
| the theatre. The cabmen refuse your custom IL
| you live In an Out-of-the- way district, and the
omnibuses which running at midnight,
are crowded that you have every chance OF
not finding seat.
M. sarcey respectfully put II to The company
| that ii should organize a special or at any rate
an adequate, service for the needs of theatre
gOers. a demand that has often been raised and
always in vain. In due course M. Sarcey OBJ
| tained reply which he printed. Among other
delightful arguments the letter suggested that
the theatres should close in time for the omn-
buses to which NJ. Sarcey retorted that the
omnibuses existed for the benefit OF the public,
and not the public for the profit of the COM
pany 1t now appears that the letter did not
emanate from the company at all but was the
work of a practical Joker. who initiated the tone
In which the company is accustomed TO reply to
the legitimate complaints IF those who patron
ize H.
The incident was amusing. but there was bet
ter to follow. The omnibus company has pre-
sented its defence and this time there is
doubt about the Eenuineness Of the reply II
reveals once more what the hapless Frenchman
suffers from the red-tapeism that is the bane Of
his country Some two years ago the omnibus
company was cOndeSccnding enough TO listen to
the tale Of woe Of the theatrcgoer and il drew
up a scheme which, il put i'm practice, would
have alleyiated his suffcrings. However though
entitled 10 v"x the public. the company is by
law the very humble servant Of tho authorities
who must approve any innovation before IL can
be adopted. The company's scheme i'm conse-
quence, had to receive official appreciation be-
fore II could be Introduced. II was laid In the
frst instance. bcfOr" the Prefcct of the Seine
who. after duly pOndering it, passed II on to the
Municipal Council. The Council, being in no
hurry-its Socialist members are Doubtless the
owners Of private carriages allowed some
months To elapse. and then referred :hc project
to spccia. committee. which has 5ec, consider
ing the matter ever since and may possibly
come 10 decision before the end Of the century
Ana Parisians have put up with the delay with
out protest-at any rate without "a public pro-
test, until NJ Sarccy raised his voice In their
behalf. In the fuIness OF time ii will be recoe-
nzcd that Parisians, instead of being the unruly
folk they are commonly reputed 10 be- are tn
most long suffering population the world caa
show.