The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-02
BON MARCHE" OF PARIS
SOMETHING ABOUT THE GREAT
STORE AND ITS FOUNDERS.
Munificent BenefactIOns of the Bou-
pIOyes OF the Place Well Cared For.
Letter in Boston Transcript.

Letter in Boston Transcript.
Very few who visit the Bon Marche in
Paris, even native Parisians, know it's won
derful history. Very few know that it is
the one great business establishment of the
whole world that deals with studied, full
justice in the matter of profits with it's en-
ployes; and further. the one that extends
its helpfulness and humanity to each and
every one Of them individually. The
Boucicauts, husband and wife, were, if not
the founders, the builders of this great
house. Monsieur Boucicaut was born in 1910
and came from Belleme. Madame Boucicaut
was born in 1916 and came from Verjux.
Very little has been written about these
two people except in relation to their Paris
business, hence don't know when or where
they were married, or when they went up
TO the great city-went up. armed only with
Il capital of determination to make for
themselves there a place and a. high one.
Then" and they said it from the first,
we will reach out and help others TO make
places for themselves Monsieur Bouci-
caut's name was Aristide. In his fathers
little hat store in Belleme the workmen
used to call him "Aristides the Just"
Madame B5ucicaUts name was Marguerite.
Pearl among women" said one of the
Paris papers of her when she died. In Paris,
after working and economzing as only such
people know how TO work and economize,
the two found desirable places in the store
Petit St. Thomas - then the most elegant
and-as it is stilI-the most conservative
dry goods house in Paris. Up the same
street, Rue de Bae, there was L modest
little store called the Bon Marche and on
this Monsieur Boucicaut kept his eye. Mon
annie he used to say to his wife, IF ever
we should become rich enough to buy that
store yonder, and enlarge it, and carry out
in it some of our plans we should be very
happy" And it came to pass in 1852 that
the Boucicauts did enter the little store up
the street, he as one of the partners there
in and she as one of the saleswomen.
The sales of the place that year We're $780,
600. Eleven years later, in 1868. the Bouci-
cauts became sole proprietors of it, the sales
that year having reached to a million and a
half of dollars. Now we all know how 1.-The
devil a monk would be" when he lis Sick
and how he fails in his good resolutions
when he gets we'll" He generally for<ets.
But the Boucicauts never forgot Masters of
the situation, they began by making reforms
in general trading. That habit of two or
three prices-Mor English and the rich
American having always to pay the first
and highest price-that habit that had made
shopping in Paris a misery, was at once
upon everything in plain figures, each arti-
Gle being sold as low as was consistent with
reasonable profit. Then they suppressed
fines. believing them to be in the majority
of cases a cruelty and they reduced the
hours of work. closing ON Sundays and on
fete days. The stores of Paris are, as a rule,
open on Sundays, the exceptions are just
few of the great houses.
PROFIT SHARING.
After while the Boucicauts began in
real earnest to put into practice their long
of their employees. "These men and women"
she was very fond of saying. ARE invalu-
able to US; our business could not stand
week without their cooperation and help.
It is not just then, to give them share
in ii. And it is not wise for worksto be well
done should be done with the heart as Wei
as with the head and hands. Thus a proYl-
dent fund was opened, starting with $12 900,
out of the profits of the business. This was
to be added to as the business Increased:
drawing per cent. of its profits. This year,
1897 the capital of this fund has reached to
1900 employees are now receiving its Dement'S.
The Bon Marche pension fund came later,
and was the inspiration of Madame Boucl-
caut after she was left alone. She started
this with a million dollars out OF her own
purse, and another half-milllon mas peen
added TO it since. The interest oil TINS
money goes towards pension for any man
or woman who has served twenty years.
In this year 100 participants are receiving
twenty years faithful service an employe
may remain in the establishment II ne WISH WIS.,
and still benefit by the pension and proVld-
shares in the business can be bought by
any clerk who has been careful enough 10
save money for this great advantage, and
politeness and kindness are encouraged
by a percentage being given to the clerk on
70 be called away for military service
just as a young Frenchman as beginning
his business career is a desperately trying
thing No patriotism can Stif1e the dreadIul
fact that the place he has left Will be nlled
when he returns. The Boucicauts cried OUT
against this and promised each young man
who left them for three years service
should find his place open TO welcome
the provident and pension funds mean
time remaining. When employees are
called away to do the 4 ors.2S days m nd,-
tary service they are allowed by the Bon
Marche two francs each a day for them
selves and one franc day for each chlld;
rs the above, half of their fixed salary dur
ing this time. To those in lower positions
the salary stops. =
three months. But while Madame Bouci-
caut lived no employe was ever III who dld
A volume might be written Of the Christ-like
Offices OF this matchless woman when those
who served her-particilarly women5Were we're
No social slip brought frown TO her moth
erly face.
A GREAT-HEARTED WOMAN.
just here 1 may say knew once an Amer
lean gentleman who became acquainted with
Madame Boucicaut after her husband died.
He said never in a long life had he known
a woman so clear-headed, so great-hearted
and so infinitely patient with and tender
towards humanity as she was. lie asked
her once why she didn't build for herself
now that she was so rich, a great mansion
setting herself up in il on dress parade be-
fore the world, just as the other rich people
Hbxfr Oh al ma a
leaving her money to a great hospital ana so
secure for herself great name. But ne
said the moment he had put the question
he felt ashamed and rebuked, for she an
swered simply, Would that be doing the
Masters bidding?i Now this was not a
woman learned in books and she was Ro-
nan Catholic, but she knew the Sermon on
the Mount, and when she had recited II ne.
lore her God in the church, she Went out
into the world to practice II before men.
A very simple Christianity
In summer the vacations auoWeN AZ the