The daily sentinel., 1910-11-12
ARE STUNNING
PARIS LIKE POISON


Sentinel Special Service
Paris, Nov. 12-Parisians, who
probably more than any other people
in the world love "frissou," shud-
der. and who delight to fiirt with rev.
olution from time to time, are begin
ming to realize that a constant sue
eession of crises may be very thrill
ing, but cannot help a city like Paris.
which to a large extent must. rely on
constant influx of foreign tourists
to provide the coin we all love.
Victim of disastrous floods in the
spring. followed by a wretched sum
mer and finally shaken by a prospect
of bloody social war, Paris has be-
it were afflicted by the evil eve.
At this time of the year Paris is
usually the rendezvous of hundreds
of rich Americans, who spend their
money lavishly; but this year you
will look in vain for Americans; they
have been effectually scared away
from this quarter of the globe by the
cholera in Italy and the strike dis
orders in Paris.
The recent strange doings in the
labor world, however, did not seem
to affect the general gaiety of Paris.
At the height of the strike, when the
press was talking of black famine, of
being fed by boats on the river and
motor cars from the country, the
monde" and the "demimonde" were
enjoying themselves in their ordinary
way. Brilliant creatures in expensive
gowns and amazing hats crunched
erumpets and slipped tea at Rumpel-
meyers. at the Ritz, at Colombin's
and champagne soyeux" and golden
rtaf lG trIE .,
different Threats at Armenonville and
the Cascades. Society will not bulge
an inch, short of a general earth
quake. which throws down mansions
as well as novels.
The motor car is partly responsible.
What matters it If the trains 10 not
run, when one has chauffeur and a
6O-horsepower PanharG? 1t Is a lit
tie fresh excitement. with dash of
adventure and something of the de
light of the impromptu.
The proud and independent chauf-
teur did roaring trade. A hundred
francs to Amiens. and all sorts of fan
tastic prices: but the hotel-keepers
complained. The telegraph Cancelled
orders by the scote-peoplc did not
like to come for fear of difficulties
and for fear of having to stay.
Yet, said charming American
to me, "if | had to be shut up. | had
rather it should be in Paris than any
town on EARTH
Yes. Unanswered; .in spite of all
her faults. we love her STILL"
And now that the thrill of the ex-
citement has worn off, when we are
figuring out the cost, we sadly miss
our usual crowd of American visitors
for they are the great money spend
ers in the industries de luxe" and
the losses to trade have been i'm
mense. We are feeling rather like
chastised children just now-we real
ly want to be good, but the truth is
the spirit of unrest has not been
killed: il has only been temporarily
smothered. The old labor troubles
are sure to re-assert themselves at
the first opportunity-neXt month
next year Who knows?
One thing is sure, however no la
Dor uprising has any chance of sue
cess in France, no revolution is pos
sible. as long as the army is loyal;
and the army will remain loyal be-
cause it is bourgeoise. The great
mass of the young soldiers is drawn
from the land, and the land owner is
by nature conservative.
The peasant, brought into contact
with the townsman, sides with au-
thority every time. knowing that he
has nothing to expect from the arti-
san in office. The peasant, indeed
can get no more in France. He has
all there is to give-the very soil of
the country. Therefore, a revolution
can only be a temporary affair con-
fineu to the large towns: but that
does not prevent it from creating
vast amount of mischief, moral and
material
All the social mischief in France is
really caused by the irresponsible
demagogue; for. left to himself, the
French workingman is a respectable
member of society, but he listens to
the voice of the charmer and that is
his undoing