The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-14
TIE AGED IN FRANCE.
Institutions Whera thc Venerable de.
pendents Are Cared 1 or.

knStftutlOnS SnerS shS PncrEOle 10
pendents Are Cared or.
F"r mm than i#;i Il century the
Frrrcli Government LIS llnen expert
ment:ng with schemes Cor establishing
old-i@e pensions. the first act having
been passed June Is, 1850. The plan
then tried was not profitable, for the
Government allowed Investors five per
cent, which was more than it could
itself get. and the rate of interest lad
TO be reduced, Shortly after the war
with Germany lin 1879 the number
IF depositors had greatly increased, and
in 1882 there was Il deficit Of $S.400,-
600. TO make up this the Government
in 1854 made over to the CaiSse des
Eetraitcs a sum Of $5G,S74.400 in Gov
eminent stock, the interest on which
with a small annual grant-amount-
ing in all 70 $2,5l5,000, would, it was
calculated, meet past and future losses.
In 1895 the act at present in force
was passed, but the question is still
one that gives the, MiniStersOf FINANCE
much anxiety, and it is not unlikely
that some future changes will be made
At the present time deposits are re-
ceived from any person, regardless OF
age, but the amount may not exceed
500 francs ($96.5W in the course OF a
year. An account may be opened for
a child Of three years Of age. q mar
ried woman may deposit money with
out her husbands consent. At any
age between fifty and s~iXty-fve Tor
earlier in case of permanent disability
to work. the depositor may claim his
annuity, which is calculated according
to the amount Of his deposit and in
terest and the probabilities. of life, but
the annuity may not exceed 1900 franc
(231.G0). An annuity not exceeding
36O francs (S69.G0) is not liable to sciz-
ure for debt. In rural districts the
taXgatherer is empowered to receive
deposits, and in many factories a GER
tain percentage is deducted from the
wages and paid to the Caisse in the
workman's name. A branch Of the
Caisse may be founded in any town or
village, with the permission of the
project Of the department, and there
are about 2300 Of such branches, with
nearly 340,O 900 depositors.
There are several large institutions
for the care of the INDECENT aged. Some
Of these are free, and at others a Ger
tain charge is made for board and
lodging. The free ones are: Bicetre
(for men only, including GAO lunatics
and 200 idiot or eplleptic children),
26G4 beds; Salpetriere for women,
1891 beds; incurables (men and wom-
EN-, 2147 beds; BreVannes' (incurables).
100 beds; Hospice Lenoir (over seventy
years of age or incurable), 142 beds;
Brezin "a private foundation for per-,
sons in iron trade only, $50 beds.
There is an institution known as the
"Menages," at Issy, near Paris, for
widowers, widows, or married couples
Of whom both are over siXty-five years
Of age and who have been married at
least fifteen years. Single persons pay
250 francs ($4S.25) a year for board and
lodging; married couples 800 francs
($57.90) each, including separate bed
rooms. There is accommodation for
14G1 inmates. At the La Rochefou-
cauld Hospital a charge is also made
of 250 francs (S4S.25) for old people
who are in tolerably good health, and
312 francs ($G.22) for those who have
lost the use of a limb.
There are many small institutions
founded by private persons for old Of
Gcials, at some Of which the charge is
as high as $3.50 Il year. Some religious
orders still shelter a few aged persons,
either gratuitously or at a small sum
per annum.
The aged are generally held in re-
spect, but not more SO than in tho
United States.