The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-04-02
Especial Cable from the Interna
News Service.)
(9Y Ia vOYAGUESE.)

Especial Cable from the international
News Service.)
(sY Ia voYAGUEeE.)
Paris. April 2.-The janitor Ques-
ton is as serious to housekeepers in
Paris az to those Of any American
city, and, truth to tell. housewives
here stand in as mortal dread Of them
as do their sisters across the Allan
tic. More particularly is this true OF
the janitress or concierge" Gas she
or her male prototype is called) for
It is she who rules the roost." inso-
far as her official "office" at residen-
ces, apartments or other domiciles is
concerned, as do female servants SO
largely in France.
In proof Of this let your eyes read
and your brain absorb the wording
and intent of the following advertise
ment, which appeared here in an Eng.
lish printed daily paper. What a
world OF meaning 1t contains, coming
as 1t does. like a wall from some poor
soul who has experimental with the
French janitress or other servant, and
speaks from the depth of her heart:
An elderly lady wishes to find an
active American or German working
housekeeper, competent and willing to
do any work, under 40, no one who is
afraid of concierges or French SER
wants need apply; must speak
French; verbal references indispens-
able; write giving references in conf
dence and wages required, rue dam
sterdam.
1t is indeed. bold and courageous
woman: one sure of herself and posi-
tive In her ideas who Is not afraid OF
the concierge" no matter of which
sex, for of all the institutions of
France the concierge is the most awe
inspiring. Not alone are they (for
they usually exist in the dual quality
husband and wife) the guardians OF
your front door but likewise Of your
peace of mind. In the case Of flats,
or apartments" as they are called
in France. there Is one general en-
trance. Here Is located the lodge
or rooms. where she or he, or both,
live. Sometimes they are located on
the mezzanire floor, reached by a
winding stairway. It is there they sit
all day long, ready to announce your
visitors, receive your letters. pack
ages, bills. etc. AS long as they are
young, and consequently more likely
to be good natured, the conditions are
not SO bad. but Heaven help you II
either be old or troubled with rheu.
matism or some similar ailment, for
In hok fhn3ve <nvv Eko10j
to be not Of the best. Not only will
the modifying silver coin be neces-
sary to grease the wheels" on fire..
quent occasions. but IL your concierge
should be aroused from his or her
sleep late at night to let you In after
a visit to the theater or elsewhere
and no financial balm be Immediately
forthcoming, look for future trouble
and annoyance and a long wait in the
rain some stormy night while the
guardian Of the portals of your resi-
dence takes plenty Of time to open
the front doors and give you en-
trance.
There is one "open sesame" howev-
er, which sometimes works nearly as
we'll as does shining piece of money
and that is a smile. not necessarily
the smile that won't come off," nor
yet a smile of the Taft variety, but
one that conveys a hint Of good ma
ture and appreciation. For the mat.
ter Of that. smile goes long way
throughout all France, and in other
parts OF the world. but over here they
expect 1t, demand 1t, and simply will
have it, while an additional cheerful
tone Of voice will do much to make
ones path easier in many directions.
But Is not that equally applicable to
other countries?
April 1, "All Fools Day." or LES
poissons d'Avril," as 1t is termed. is
one Of the most popular holidays in
France, and one in which both young
and old Of all classes, from highest to
lowest participate. While supposedly
Of comparatively recent origin it real
~ dates from the reign of Charles
TX, In 1864, who issued proclama-
ton fixing January LIST as the first
day Of the year, instead OF April LIST,
which, up to that time, had been the
accepted time.
The custom of exchanging gifts,
continued. however, but those con-
servatively minded ones who protest.
ed against the change took occasion
to mark the event by jokes and pran
to mark the event by jokes and
pranks. From the fact that the sign
OF the zodiac for April Is q fish arose
the term poisson d'Avril," which has
been handed down from one gener-
alton to another and applied to all
the tomfoolery INDUCED In on April
LIST In other countries. Valentines,
comic and otherwise. which are sent
on this day, instead of on February
IA, as In the United States. almost
invariably contain the figure OF fish
In one form or another.
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