The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-27
PARIS NEW YEARS DAY
THE "CALLING- BUSINESS LASTS ALL
THROUGH JANUARY.
Americas Ambassador Sets Ont an
kee Is Welcome to Attend.


that it requires five churches. but so small
that it cannot support a single club-takes
cognizance of it's own existence. But for
the precious tradition that the American
Observation-Disclosures handsomely
receive" all the stray members Of the flock
on New Years day. the colony might never
have an opportunity to see itself as a COM
plete and beauteous whole Minister Reid
threw open his large house to the multitude;
Minister Coolidge used to hire the Cont
mental Hotel; our first ambassador, it is
true, was rather given to accepting hospi-
tality than Offering it; but Ambassador Por-
ter does it largely in the old Hotel Splitter.
whose art gallery he has transformed into
great reception hall Last New Years day
long rows of electric lights were blazing
outside the Hotel Splitter as early 3
o'clock in the afternoon. and attracted gen.
eral admiration in the quarter.
1t is a patriotic sight to see the American
troop into light and warmth and social
recognition. Art students who are tired of
living on pork and beans take their clothes
and go to the ambassadors champagne
and-lobster spread. The inhabitants of
boarding houses, seeking an ideal in Paris,
almost realize it for the moment. Tourists,
weary of cafes and theaters, find an oasis
in the touring desert. Mothers and daugh-
tiers, stray old maids, exiled business men
and their depressed wives, maintaining
precarious social life in dreary little apart
ments, even find an opportunity to make ac-
quaintances. And the important people of
the colony the rich and happy spend bad
quarter of an hour in lodging those for
whom they have no use.
Americans in Paris are extremely proud
that their ambassador thus gives a general
invitation to a big reception and a solid
luncheon on New Years day, because it is
conventionally no part of his duty to be so
hospitable. The wind-bitten Englishmen of
Paris go up to their embassy and simply
write their names in the reception book.
The ambassador-as Mr.. Eustis, our first
dfgnitary of that rank in France, laid
down-represents the person of the sover-
eign Now you may not even leave your
card upon a king or queen. And you may
be sure that the President of the French Re
public and the military governor of Paris
General Zurlinden, do not receive the rabble
of the capital on New Years day. Their
and impressive, make a sight to see. Out
side the Elysee and the Invalides the pa
tient Parisians crowd by the thousands to
await the advent Of the generals in their
uniforms. the diplomats in their regalia,
the decorated ones who sport the collars
and the ribbons of their orders, the extraor-
funeral dress suits the deputies and sena-
tors. and all the functionaries of the mill
tary and the civil branches.
THE STOCK FORMALITIES.
The most exhiIarating visit of the lot is
that paid by the Municipal Council to the
military governor of Paris. General Eur
linden is a proud man, aristocratic in his
tendencies. For such as he there are two
worlds, the military and the civil The
Municipal Council is the sloppiest Socialistic
body that could be produced by universal
suffrage. When it intrudes on New Years
day its members grin before and afterward.
The diplomatic corps call on the President
of the republic in one splendid body 1t is
their first visit Of the day. Then they chase
around in carriages to call upon each other
the presidents of the two chambers call
upon the President Of the republic, who i'm
medlately calls upon them in return.
While TINS takes place all the official
world beneath is even more laboriousy oc-
cupled. You cannot look out the window in
Paris without seeing a government func-
tionary his wife. The civil service IS
systematized so minutely that five clerks do
the work of one. One voter in every ten is
a government clerk. And every clerk stands
ranged in his own rank, with his superiors,
tenure sure, his duties fixed. On New Years
day the rule is fixed. Every immediate in
d I6 must call upon his immediate superior.
That is, after hurrying to call upon your
chief, you must hurry back to receive the
call of your assistant In business houses
managers head bookkeepers. confidential
clerks and so on leave their first cards on
the members of the firm Then they scatter
cards upon each other like a snowfall
In the social world 1t is considered indis-
Greet to present yourself on New Years day
where you are not expected. If you are in
innate TINA enough with a family you are gener-
aaIso aware that you should bring gift
Inere are men who never dine out without
bringing flowers. or sending flowers or candy
mr. ma the
annual tax of New Years day If the inti-
macy be great, you bring the gift upon the
gay DAY Itself II 1t be less, you bring it the
next day. Where 1t is even less. you leave
your card tied to the present with the jani-
Tor. Where everybody calls on everybody
everybody cannot call on the same day.
Visits of simple politeness therefore be-
gin on the I'd of January and last through
the month. Now, as every one detests the
person first came to be looked on as an
acceptable substitute for a real visit. Now
IN the hurry 1t will not be noticed if you
send your clerk or valet out distributing
For such cards may be sent by mail
the procedure has become a system In
Paris every one keeps a book Of acquaint-
list and dining list. My dear. do we know
such-and-such person. a Partisan will
ask, his wife. She turns Immediately to the
book. Is the name there? 1t is bad when
she cannot find it there. And she will not
md It II one has not called or sent a card
cial service for the handling of these cards
II organized, made up of women hired from
tho middle of December. In the sixth story,
underneath the. roof of the central Paris
postohice building, great hall runs it's
length. Here 300 women sit at counters
classifying the little envelopes all day long.
The cards begin to come as early as
Dec. TO, and they continue passing through
the post as late as Jan. TO- BY that date
100000 cards will have been, handled. for
the capital alone. Some people hire clerks
TO post their acquaintance'S books during
the month that the cards are flying. Others
have their poor relations come and do the
work for them.
ROUTINE OF THE DAY.
New Years day in Paris generally is
bleak. muddy, foggy. drizzng. Thousands
stand shiverng in patent-leather shoes and
dress suits, waiting for the empty cabs
that never seem to come. But in the houses
where one calls there is light warmth
and cordiality. You give the ianitor a
dollar as you pass him. You give the valet
and the soubrette each a gold piece. Other
wise you may regret 1t through the year.
You give the madame her flowers and her
candy. There are pretty girls there, help
ing her receive.
II wish it TO you, madame" you say.
And how goes 1t with monsieur, your hus-
band? All. the charming children, how they
grow, Here. my little dears, you see that
/ have brought your New Years presents.
De grace. don't speak of 1t! 1t is the least
OF things,
Then madame gives you candy. cakes
sweet wine. punch, coffee and congratula
tons You may congratulate yourself. for
you are on the list again. Henceforth
throughout the year. though you may not
be asked TO dinner you will be always free
TO call on madame's day" and take a cur
Tess hold this temporarv. makeshift