New-York tribune., 1909-02-14
THE Fills a PAPA"
II Partisan Product EriSting IN Al
Ranks of Society.
Paris, February z.


Everybody In Paris knows the "nls papa
You might think his name snesr, but u Is not
Paris never sueers. Paris Is frequently satir;caL
but its satire is more funny than uordant. and
does not infiict any deadly injuries Bss-des-
fathers boy does not exactly deserve to bs
sneered at II his youth he is often very charm
| ing and in middle age you viii probably nna
him in an honored place
The "hIs papa" exists n all ranks of socisty-
We know that France is, uaa for man, tbs
wealthiest country in the world Tariff Is in
grained in both sexes. and the -ninutest peasant
proprietor when digging his plot makes an sf-
fort for to-day and another for tomorrow. The
has de laine' or wOoIlen stocking. Is not 1g-
ure OF speech. nor is il myth; IL exists every
where and at the end OF each season the smallest
farmer will drop a few golden louis. or as sss
least a few francs. into its expansive nav, and
then let il drop back into the corner of tas old
| wooden bedstead in the dark alcovs On ths side
nearest the wall The tovusunan saves IN the
same way. pairing his daily expenses 70 leEvs
credit margin in his favor az ths end cf the
year Even the class that IN most lands - the
| most !nprovident OF all-the town working man
and woman-in Paris has a savings bank ae-
count. the man FOR his son, the girl for e5zry.
and this accounts for the fact that the "nIs
| papa" are so numerous.
This small capital yielding a small rsveuus 70
| the first cause OF fathers boy" Whsn ths
young man has done his military ssrvtes. his
| parents occupy themselves IN finding 4 suitable
opening for him, having in view the social pest
tion In which he born II must be Q salar1sd
post, because IL is good for him 20 earn lis
pocket money. but the pay need not bs high-
| lie hls a papa" can AFFORD % work AZ q le~sr
rate Of remuneration than the young man WITH
only himself to depend on 4 tiny post IN sons
| government office would be the ideal thing asd
that is where you frequently ind ths young man
of family" Before he has been there very
long he probably viii begin 20 vrits articles IN
some OF the reviews or in the daily press; Re
will go 70 the National Library and dig ~ for
gotten municipal regulations. OF obsolets Avs
and write eloquently about them. displaying an
erudtion calculated TO catch the eye Of BIS
chief II he develops much talent IN this direc-
ton anything is possible for hira-s seat IN
parliament portfolio and place IN
cabinet council
Al this stage the "hls papa" is an orderly.
well-rnannered youth. living with his naother
and sister probably. and very exclusive as 70 hS
acquaintances. His ambition does not cover
post that might be advertised IN the news
papers for what he wants there IS only pEtvats
recomm endation. so he chooses his friends ana
his acauaintances with the greatest care; bis
mother will presently select a bride for him n
the same way. II is one Of the advantages OF
the Third Republic that IL provides extraor-
dinary number OF quiet. comfortable posts Win
moderate eInoiuments which can be filled os
these fills papa" when they have arrived AZ
middle age When you reflect that there srs
eighty-four departments administered By fsHf
times that number Of projects and suo-prefeeo
and small army corps C humber adr1inistra'
tors and lesser lights in the tax. postal ana
other departments. you begin TO realizs that ths
joker who said "one-third OF the population OF
France Is government officials" not throw
ing the hatchet very far
The tnonensiveness OF fathers boy IN ether
walks OF life is not so clearly demonstrated
Middle class parents Ike TO place their sons IN
some sort OF commercial situation that they
NAV learn something about business" Hers
prfxate recommendation is not essential. 50 the
young man answers in person few advertise
rnents He presents himself before q Ess-
chant who requires a tipping clerk or oooK-
keeper. and when asked what salary ne Tants
replies that he has small income and wants
only a small salary. II the post Is worth $50 =
month he Will te content with sac. OF even sSo'
and in so doing he helps 10 drag down wages
Naturally, his colleagues who are working N
earnest FOR their living look with disfavor on THIS
young sprig VINO cheapens laoOr AT tneiE 60
pense.
1t is true that in the long run this wrong
rights itself, because from the employers point
of view the best work is done by the man VINO
is anxious to keep his job and therefore puts
his whole energy into II. In this class you 40
not ind the small capitalist in sueordinats
position in middle life. After a few years as
cIerl, he makes a small business for himself q
the least speculative nature possible, and is sat
isfied 10 draw a small percentages on MS money
for the rest of his life -.
On the whole the young man launches IN tnss
way by his parents manages 10 enjoy his you.a
and early manhood While waiting for the pes
that his father wants for Aim he VIII rsae y.
the bar, perhaps. and pass Eis examinations ~.
with the intention OF praGtlsings but 70 ~ n1s
another qualification TO hand To the enoI.noS-
ma iority politics is the goal In this co1n-s
barristers and journalists hold winning cas caLas.
and the man who combines the two prores--.o..ss
can hardly help becoming Prime minister aH
YOU see that the serried ranks OF the BE
napa" are really the strength ana eonsess 49, 49,
force OF the nation They embody some 49,
useful qualities with which France Is hoe
erallv Credited but which she possesses n
very marked degree. and which pFesersss.
that one sees elsewhere operating so fatsu[ %
the messes