The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-25
BUSINESS WAYS IN PARIS.
Despite Its Reputation for LiveIine.s, IL
lsa Very LeisureIy Town.
From the Boston Herald.

's 'sf>uTtfs loWn.
From the Boston Herald.
h last two decades have marked
the growth of not a few large CONNER
claI Undertakings i'm France. Some of
these employ thousands Of men, have
agencies throughout all the provinces
or the country and are ever represent
ed in every large foreign city i'm Chris
tendom; but IL is a curious fact that
the larger any establishment grov
here the more leisure has everybody
connected with il. The young French
clerk or bOokeeper would throw up his
position, even though such an act
meant bread and water for years to
come, II his employer dared to import
what are becoming known on the CON
tinent as American methods" He
wants TO come down to his work GER
tainly not earlier than 3 o'clock-it is
oftener 10 that finds him before his desk
and II his two hours at noon are
abridged by the smallest quarter hour.
sulkiness and surliness are the sequel.
In positions Just a grade above his. the
incumbents stroll i'm at 10, lunch from
noon To any hour they please and never
stay later than ) o'clock at their offices.
This accounts for what is so often OBJ
served with establishment by Americans
sojourning abroad. They wonder that
the cafes are full. at all hours of the
day, with prosperous men whose con-
Nersation shows them to be engagad in
even the blue-blooded Frenchman
Is beginning To mention respectfully as
Ia commerce. The is now
evident: these ''merchants"-every bus
mess man here is "A 'merChant'-ru-
inmate over their affairs i'm the shade Of
a cafe awning instead Of behind the
forb!dding railing of a private Office
Every one of them might be a literary
lounger as far as his appearance is con-
cerned. Immaculate boots. spotless
linen and highly polished top hat-ln
proclaim that they do not by any means
give all their time to business" and
that IL all Is hurry and Industrial fer
vor at their offices, they at least Will
not stoop To become a part of IL FOR
more than four or five hours a day.
As for the proprietor himself. he Is
ottener than not a true rlra avs at the
establishment. His head clerks and
confidential men come to him i'm his
pleasant country villa or city palace
when he desires information. He paws
wages of superintendent and has for
gotten' III ne ever knew, the name OF
his bookkeeper.
have so many large Paris establish
ments in my mind while writing this
that mentioning one or two would be Of
no use. But In m of the largest soar
and perfumery houses i'm the world, that
~fairyland Of color and fragrance that
looks out upon the Place de la Made
leine. one Of the severe reminders TO the
employees consists of a sign hanging
near the door: "Messieurs the clerks
are prayed TO recall that not more than
two hours can be allowed during the
summer for dejeuner." And even i'm
the large department stores. which the
French believe to be unequaled for size
and convenience by n others in the
world, such a thing as a clerk working
overtime or curtailing his midday meal
for any purpose whatsoever. has never.
/ am assured. been heard of. In me
store clerks N accountants are oblig-
ed to attend to their monotonous but
never-hurried duties. The a
certain gong strikes they don their CLOS
high hats. change their short coats
for the courtly length required on the
b~ouievards. n Immediately seek their
~favorite restaurant OF cafe. where they
become gentlemen Of leisure, 'rentiers,"