The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-03
AMERICANS SUFFER FROM THE CROOKS Have Hard Time Abroad
 This Year GIRL FINE SWIMMER French Prize In Paris Won By Girl Under Twelve Years Old.
 Strike of Walters in
 the Restaurants
GIRL FINE SWIMMER
By PAUL vILLIERS

been record DreaklnS year, Hot ouls III Paris but throughout Europe, in the mat ter of relieving rich American travellers of their superfuous money by means not recognized by law.
 The way of the American In Europe is sufficiently hard at the hands of honest merchants and hotel men. He is consid- cred legitimate prey and the American price is very different figure from the ordinary price wherever one goes. All Americans, to the mind of the European shop keeper class, are rich and 1t is really a good deed to relieve them of some of their superfluous wealth. This Is generally recognized.
 But this year the crooks have been paying especial attention to the Ameri- ans. The police have been busy looking after jewel robberies, the victims being Americans. It has been developed that there is a regular organization for the purpose of carrying out these robberes. It includes clerks In jewelry stores and hotel employees. The method is for the clerk to tip off the hotel servants when particularly valuable purchase has been made. The servants do the rest.
 In the combination are also included expert thieves who are called in when the hotel servants are unable to learn the tricks. Pickpockets swarm in the dis tricts frequented by Americans, and the Apaches are beginning to pay attention to the 'show slums" patronized by Ameri- cans, and frequent crimes of violence are reported to the police.
 Scouts for crooked gambling clubs swarm the hotel Hobbies on the lookout for communications. When caught, they are steered against games at which they haven't the slightest chance of winning, and if in an excess of caution they get away with any of their money knockout
 rops or actual holdups supplement the games.
 Chicago, New York, New Orleans or ,an Francisco in their palmest days of wide openness had nothing on Paris as it is today
 Americans who have been travelling over the continent tell me that it is al- most as bad In Italy, Germany and Aus tria.
 Truly the American in Europe today needs a paddock on his pocket, and then t should be steel lined if he wishes to retain his wealth.
 Much sympathy is felt in the American colony here for the young fancee of Col. John Jacob Astor.
 Col Astor is well known in Paris and le is looked upon as a man with whom any girl might fall in love, regardless of his millions. He is a courtly gentleman, with an old time chivalric difference towards women that appeals. It is felt therefore. that the denunciations of Miss Force are unmanly. unchivalrous and un- true. It is hoped the Colonel will bring his young bride to Paris. She will be well received here
 Among the American visitors registered lat the Paris hotels are:
 MT and Mrs. F. N. Kellog and MT Morris E. Marvin of San Francisco, Cal Mir and Mrs. George Denegre. Mrs. w. Spencer and Mr. F. Schwartz of New Orleans, La.
 In that great swimming race across Paris. organized by the Society for the Fr, ,ouragement of Natation. special in crest attached to Juliette Cure, q girl Of 111a years old.
 One very curious feature of the race the desperate effort of reporter to steal a march on his confreres He plunged into the Seine after his victim and interviewed the girl while swimming. He swan up to Juliette's side. There was no time to present a card. Just one word, anything that she said then and there would do for an interview She was too busy striking out with her hands and feet. The reporter insisted Surely you must feel tired,' he said No" was Julettes curt reply, .I am going to fin- ish."
 The course was roughly four and three quarter miles. The girls performance is considered remarkable for one of her age, and she was cheered all along the course
 Mile. Cure is the champion of the schools here, and has been swimming since she was three years old. She de- clared afterwards that it was the biggest effort she had ever made. but she would try again next year. Her schoolmates are making collection for her, and she is happy also with the receipt of a con- gratulatory letter from the minister of education. There were 30 in the contest and Juliette finished fourth.
 Five young ladies have been arrested in a large emporium on the charge of shop lifting. They were found to be members of Portuguese family who were ruined
  act they confessed that they were obliged to resort 10 this means of supporting their rank.
 The Bank of Morocco has entrusted the Paris mint with an order to strike a sil- yer coinage with the effigy of Mulai Hafid. This is a remarkable procedure as, in accordance with Islamic principles the coinage of Mussulman countries has hitherto never borne a representation of any living creature.
 A strike of walters on the occasion of a banquet held at Rambouillet a few evenings ago had the effect of turning what would otherwise have been a bril- liant success into fasco. The dinner was held in connection with the Seine-et-Ols Horticultural Show. The hors d' oeuvre having been disposed of the company awaited the soup But there was none Minutes passed and still there was noth- ing to eat. The minutes heightened out Into half an hour, while the guests dis consolately toyed with the bread It was plain that something had gone wrong The walters had disappeared and the banquet threatened to end.
 They found that the walters had struck and refused to serve any dish because of their demand for $3.0O for the evening having been refused. Finally, the com mittee had to grant the price demanded Then the service resumed and the soup gracously handed around by the walters
 Great excitement prevails at Gran (Al- geria) says the Petit Parisien," owing