Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-03

deal of work. And then each councillor must
be at the free disposition of all his con-
stituents-as much is they desire. To ar
rive at this economically and adequately,
every councillor receives one day each
week, while some have two days. and some
like DR.. Paul Brousse, their president and
veritable father of his ward, have even
three.
Compensation Not Great
Apart from these calls on their time the
municipal councillors of Paris may work at
their trades, run their stores teach their
classes practice their law or medicine or
write poetry, as does Councillor Mithouard.
AS councillors their salary Is a handsome
one-for PARISH 500 year: but you
will see 1t Is not in itself an income for
entertaining London county councillors.
who live In sumptuous mansions. Indeed
1t Is to be doubted If one out Of ten OF
the municipal councillors of Paris has such
a thing as spare bed ROOM
In Paris 1t is old IA mily rule that your
total rent should not exceed one-tenth of
your annual income. If we imagine munic
ipal councillors living on their salary, there
fore, their rent ought not to exceed an
average of $3.50 yearly. Graft is practically
nonresident; but supposing that from little
perquisites and the income of their trade
or profession, the majority of the Partisan
city fathers have as much again their
annual rent will not exceed $3.50. Now this
is the very minimum for an apartment with
two bed rooms besides the inevitable par
Tor, dining room and kitchen in a house
and street for decent middIe-class living
A third bed room liz the same apartment
house would bring the rent up to $3.50
Now you perceive why the Paris munlc-
ipal council could not return their London
hospitality in kind, and why the fact is to
their honor az individuals. Whether or
not 1t Is to the honor of Paris as a great
city Is another question; but it is an ex-
pertinent that the Paris populati ton is try
ing, and 1t forms striking contrast to the
th.lty =
tain the Londoners In their own interiors
and, with that decision made, the whole
scene changes.
Paris Councils Hospitality.
Take the type engraver, or the learned
butcher, or the workman blacksmith liv-
ing sordidly, 1t may be, In their cramped
Paris flats. They had, nevertheless. but to
wave magic wand to spread scenes of
enchantment before the gaping British
merchant princes though they be! This
magic wand was their municipal councillor
ship OF what is still the capital of Euro
pean art, science, industry, social science
fashion, luxury and pleasurei
Ihey lodged the county councillors mag
nlhcently, at the expense of the CITY in
the biggest, newest and most central of
Partisan hotels. 1t occupies a city block.
Each county councillor had his bath room
attached to his bed room with one priva to
parlor for two in between the bed rooms
Then they made them simply a gift for five
days of the whole town
Two details of one of the banquets are
worth giving. 1t was the great banquet
or nve hundred covers, In which some 900
foremost Parisians of every rank of life
were asked to meet the 1877 men from
London. Usually these giant banauests
are Jobbed out to banquet caterers In the
present case each dish served to each guest
was worthy by its minute preparations to
have come from one of ten of the most
swell Paris restaurants. And for good
reason No great banquet of the word,
certainly. had ever so many famous chefs
presiding over its preparation. These
municipal councillors had but to say the
word to mobilize them and have their en-
thusiastic combination in the common
cause of the credit of Paris
Furthermore banquet was served in
the famous Hall of Fetes, magnificent in
architecture, sculpture. fresco-painting car
pets and wall hangings. Well. ten minutes
after the banquet was terminated a
promenade concert was in full blast in that
self-same Hall of Fetes. The county coun-
cilors were almost frightened. until admira-
ton conquered the less worthy emotion. II
was like a transformation scene In a fairy
pantomime. Presto! countless lackeys
silent. deft and rapid. appeared from no.
where and vanished into thin air again:
and when they had disappeared the banquet
table, with Its massive services and decora-
lions, had disappeared also. The whole
Transformation took six minutes-but the
trick had been rehearsed some twenty
times to get 1t perfect.
In five days they were made to visit
everything county councillor could wish
to see for his instruction and comparison.
Partisan Sights.
I name only those OF the sights that are
most Partisan. The bourse of labor, palace
of the beaux arts municipal flower gardens,
the municipal wood-pavement factory the
Boucicault Hospital with It's ozone machines
for consumptives the government Sevres
a r.
factory of the Gobelins, the professional and
housekeeping schools the school can
teens, by which primary scholars are fur
nished free luncheons; the maternal
schools and "creches." that keep children
while their mothers work; the local parks
of Paris. In every district: the sewers. that
ming in them; the municipal slaughter
house. the network Of the underground
railway and the home assistance" of the
poor. as special French distinction from
almshouse charity.
Every one of these details astonished and
delighted the county councillors. What the
Frenchmen had learned in London-apart
always from the social life of sumptuous
poor of the London streets-has not ap-
peared. But the visitors from London
talked much to them Of the municipal own
ership OF gas, which the Paris municipality
Is anxious to try, and they had also hints
to give as to the police handling of con-
gested traffic, which Is a problem better
solved in London than in Paris. They were
simply scandallzed at the reckless driving
of Paris automobfists.
What could the London merchant princes
think of these, their guides who seemed to
be veritable masters of the City of Light?
Such as went about with the Count d'Auan,
a member of the Jockey Club or with For
tune d'Andigne son OF a senator and gem
eral, were probably flattered; but what of
those who found themselves introduced to
the green room of the ballet OF the grand
opera by Heppenheimer. the socialist cab
Iva a1ra~ md na-tt n
presented to Coqueln or Rejane by Mar
ohand, the journeynan jeweler and founder