The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-26
Begin Labor at 8 and Remain Until 5 With
Two Hours For Luncheon.
PRIVILEGES OF HOUSE SERVANTS.
Thsy Have E,ey Afternoon Gift Right Is MOI
Granted Them Their Employers Are Not
lkelJ 10 Gel Good Service.


growth of not n few large commercial un-
dcrtakngs in France. some OF these EN-
nlov thousands of men, have agencies
throughout all the provinces of the coun-
trv and are even represented in every large
. foreign city i'm Christendom, but 1t Is "a
curious fact that the larger any establish
ncnt grows here the moro leisure has eV-
e,vbody connected with it. TIE young
French clerk or bookkcepcr would throw
up his position, even though such an act
meant bread and water for years 10 come
n his employer dared To import what are
becoming known on the continent as
.Amerlcan methods" lie wants To come |
down 20 his work certainly not earlier |
than o o'clock-it is oftcner 10 that finds !
him before his desk-and il his hours at !
noon arc abridged by the smallest quarter |
hour sulkiness and surlincss are the Sc
auel in positions just grade above ms |
the incumbenS stroll i'm at 10. lunch from
noon 10 any hour they please and never !
stay later than o'clock at their offices.
This accounts for what Is so often oh
served with astonshment by Americans
sojourniug abroad. They wonder that the
cafes are full at all hours of the day WIN
prosperous men whose conversation shows
them To he engaged in what even the blue
blooded Frcnchman is beginning To men
fion respectfully as 'la commerce. The
explanation is now evident. These 'mer-
chantsr--every business man here Is "A
Observation-Disclosures over their affairs
an the shade of n cafe awning instead of
behind the forbidding railing of private
office Every one of them might be "A llt-
erary loungcr as far as his appearance Is
concerned Immaculate boots, spotless
linen and highly polished top hat--all pro
claim that they do not by any means give
all their time to business and that II all
ia hurry and industrial fcryor at their OF
Aces they at least will not stoop 10 become
a part of 1t for more than four or hve
hours day.
AS for the proprietor himself, he is OIL
toner than not n true rara avis at the es-
tablishment His head clerks and confl-
Dental men come TO him In his pleasant
country villa or city palace when he de
sires information. He pays wages of SUI
pcrintendence and has forgotten, II he
ever knew. the name of his bookkeeper.
i have SO many large Paris establish
mcnts in my mind while writing this that
mentioning one or two would be or no
use. But in one of the largest soap and
perfumery houses in the world, that fairy
land of color and fragrance that looks out
upon the Place de la Madeleine, one of the
severe reminders Of the employees consists
of a sign hanging near the door Mes
sieurs the clerks are prayed TO recall that
not more than two hours can be allowed
during the summer for dejcuner
And even i'm the large department.
stores. which the French believe TO be un-
eaualed for size and convenience by any
Others in the world, such thing As clerk
working overtime or curtailing his mid
siay meal for any purpose whatsoever has
never. I am assured been heard of. In
the store clerks and accountants are Obliged
10 attend 10 their monotonous but never
hurried duties The moment certain
gong strikes they don their glossy high
hats, change their short coats for the
courtly length required on the boulevards
and immediately seek their favorite restaii-
rant or cafe where they become gentle
,nen of leisure, RENTERS" and talk OF po'
litcal affairs or the last salon, with high
ly judicial air and critical eye as IL there
were not yards of ribbon and silk waiting
for their hands during the afternoon.
All this is very fine, and nobody woulc
wish it replaced by different system per
hans But il is not what we American
call business IL is not in accord will
the persuasion that time H. money, ant
these polite loungers, swaying and idlin.
in their chairs while tho sun on high
attending strictly TO his daily work d
not help 60 give Paris the atmosphere OF
beehive The newcomers first impressio,
is that every class OF Parisians rest an
recuperate and talk affairs at least two
thirds of the day.
For what is true OF large bushes
houses Is equally so Of the small tradcspe'
pie. IL you are coming - Paris 20 liV
for some months, bc warneu and do n'
try TO have the affairs Of your menaf
progress between the hours of IL and
The charbonnier will not bring your Goa
the grocer and butcher will not dcliv'
orders, and the concierge, paid 20 after
10 your wants, will not bring up letter
papers or packages between the limi
mentioned That interval almost un
versally and quite inexorably belongs
each person, however humble be his stat
born in the free and lazy air of Franc
The sun, as before hinted, is the only CO
mological adjunct which agrees 10 co
tinue business. Tho household servan
are perhaps the only exception, and th
get indemnity by going of every aft
noon the moment the work u done to ta
= sspctitc promenade an soleil Unl'
YOU allow your servants this right,
they consider 49, you will get but M
service and little faithfulness from thon
The very omnibuses 20 slower and :
sreatly reduced In number, tho great
pots are deserted and the resting LOGON
:ixcs snore softly under the great h
arches. tie long freight trains behi
them racked to bursting for those who
o,st vi irr in tie green country watt
fcrf r q. t'icr have orlered. But
ne 80. are waiting, waiti
N bc or O'Clock
f,p ar. . whistle blows once ms
Itef, the Gobclins and thos'
s..,,. ter.al Offices aud the q
rrnph burcnu--all are wrapped In 40
-. .i.cr, n ever cla~fcd I'm it dfrainN