The Washington times., 1901-12-17
UP -T0-DATE THINGS
LACKING IN FRANCE
OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICANS.
Exporters Could Do business in
Roucn. Consul Haynes Believes,
in Heating Apparatus aud
Similar Conycnicnces.

Americans who are dissatisfied with
their lot in life or with the public com
forts which they enjoy are probably unac-
quainted with the crudities Of living eE-
pcrienced in many OF the populous cities
of France
In one OF these. Rouen. the United
States Consul. Thornwell Haynes, says
some OF the practical necessities Of Amer
lean life such as steam radiators and up
to-date barber chairs, are unknown. and
electricity is such luxury that in ho-
tels where it is available its use is spe-
cislly announced
He sends word to the State Department
that American manufacturers of articles
in these lines would doubtless find a good
market there for their products.
The Cost Of Keeping Warm.
Regarding some of the American utili-
ties with which maay French cities are
unacquaiuted, Consul haynes says OF heat
ing apparatus:
France is a country in which the
most astonishing variations Of temper
ature occur and its inhabitants pay
yearly nearly $l95. 600 for various
methods Of warming themselves. On coal
about Sl04,C000O0 is spent; on wood about
S69, $50 Geo, and the rest goes for petro-
leum, methylated spirits. and gas.
Wood "a Luxury of the Rich.
Wood which before the introduction Of
coal was the staple fuel is now the luxury
of the rich. In many of the cities gas has
ousted charcoal from the kitchen; one
reason being that. according to French
taste, there is nothing like gas for GER
tain operations, such as grilling steak,
because the heat can be applied from
above.
There is not in Rouen a hot-water or
steam radiator. Heat is furnished by coal
stoves. CRATES, and occasionally furnaces.
All the principal Offices here have stoves,
and the proprietors do not seem to know
or care for anything better"
Candles in General Use.
Lighting apparatus O up TO cate sort
is very sadly lacking. says Consul Haynes.
Electricity, gas, petroleum. and can
dies he reports, are the chief sources
Of light; candles are nest common, and
are exclusively used throughout the coun-
try districts Of Normandy by rich and
poor alike. In the advertisements of two
of the best hotels in this city. emphasis
is laid upon the fact that guests will have
the conveniences OF electricity. In the
business houses of Rouen gas is prin-
ciPally used, electricity but very slowly
superseding it. a good lamp-one that
gives a bright light and uses little oil
would / believe. meet with success.
French Lamps Inferior.
THE French lamp is the best, but a
poor affair. generally with a wick ar
ranged TO give a circular flame, and with
a tall chimney. 1t burns considerable oil
and emits feeble light, while the price
is from 50 to 100 per cent higher than the
same article would cost in New York.
nave never seen anything like the Roches-
ter burner here, or any apparatus to en-
large the flame.
''Thc tariff on lamps per 220 pounds is
as follows: Porcelain, brass. iron, and
glass lamps, $11.5s. Metal lamps: Nickel
plated S2S.i5; gold or silver plated, S4S.25.
The tariff for mountinEs, in case of de-
lamps, is s1.5i per 220 pounds;
but the bowl and permanently connected
parts pay as above. While these figures
are official. ! would not advise American
to depend upon them. To know
accurately it Is always better to submit a
sample.
An Opening for Barber Chairs.
There is in this district an opportunity
or the introduction of barber chairs"
lays the consul. The best barber shops
n Rouen. a city OF over 10000 inhabi-
ants, have straight-backed, cane-seated
with a crude detachable head
,est, all Of which could be bought any
where in the United States for 81
The patronage OF barber shops in Nor
mandy is large; a shave can be had for
n Z cents. As a general rule, the hair
iresser here takes great pride in his
work; he likes keen razors, clean mirrors.
md an attractive shop, and it would be
.trange If the luxurious American barber
hair did not appeal to him.
while barber chairs are not specially
mentioned in the tariff schedule, they
would very likely he classed under one of
lie following heads (per 220 pounds):
furniture OF bent wood: Plain, $500; or
SLID. Furniture other than
hat Of bent wood: Chairs OF common
wood. not carved nor inlaid or orna-
nented with copper, s212; chairs of cab
wood, not carved nor inlaid |
" ornamented with copper, 1886; chairs |
Il any sort OF wood, covered inlaid, or
,rnamented with copper. S5.79.
Cash Registers Unknown.
so far as have seen, there is not
ingle cash register in Rouen. Every shop |
T store has its cashier, usually mem
,er Of the proprietor's family-the wife. |
laughter. or sister-who does ali her sew
ny al the desk where the purchases are |
aid for, the clerk never being allowed TO |
Iandle any money.
This old-fashioned and supposedly eco
omical custom would be hard TO over |
ono, and those who try the Introduction |
4 registers need not look for quick re-
ults unless they are shown to aid rather 1
han usurp the work of the cashier. If
aritet were once created it would un-
5untedly yield large returns.
1T would seem that the best field for |
rial is offered by the numerous cafes, |
.here sales are constant from morning /
.~4fT late af rTObf