Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-30
FOREIGN LAW.
Odd Quirks Shown In Unique Form
of Servants Recommendation.

1t is said that a Frenchman, replying
to an inquiry made of, him as to the
character ard qualifications of wo-
man applying for employment as cook,
got into serious trouble when he wrote
that he could not recommend the APP
plicant "by reason of her extravaganza.
impertinence and prerilection TO drinks
while she was infhis service. The per-
son to whom the Frenchman wrote the
letter showed the communication toi
the cook. with the result thatthe latter
Immediately brought suit fer damages
against the writer.
This case showed peculiar feature
of the French law on this subject. The
matter was decided against the
Writer, who was fined and admonislfed
that he had no right to circulate inju-
rious statements concerning another
person. even though the statements
might he true. Since that time. 1t is
said, French housekeepers. to evade
the responsibility thus placed upon
them by law, have issued certificates
of character in form something like the
following:
This certi1ces that Nine. Marie. late
nurse to my daughter. aged one year
did leave her on d bench in the jar
din des Plantes and go away and feF
get her on October Il last
Vt is obvious that certificate of this
SORT serves it's purpose without in any
way laying the writer open. to salt
for damages.
Another curious illustration of the
principle of responsibility abroad is af-
forded by civil damage suit growing
Ii - .t..ia Cia
window in German town. A witness
had testified as follows.
LAS was passing down the street In
front of the window l saw big stone
come whirling through the air. l did
noe know whence 1t came. I saw it
coming through the air and I had just
time enough to dodge to save myself
from being hit by it,"
The witness was sharply. questioned
upen the point whether the stone that
broke the window would have struck
him had he not lodged it. He was then
dismissed. Eventually the decision of
the magistrate was this:
"Inasmuch as if the witness had not
unfortunately ducked his head the
glass would not have been struck by
the stone, he is hereby adjudged re-
sponsible for the breaking of the win
dow and is ordered to pay to the owner
the value oe the same"
The Paris concierge has always been
privileged person, but he has acquir-
ed new Importance within recent years
by reason of a court decision handed
down there. A concierge had permit
ted himself the liberty of opening the
letters of young lady, one of the ten
ants of the house.
Discovering the fact. the young wo-
man brought suit against the con-
eierge. The case was tried and was de-
cided against tile young woman. 1t be-
ing held that the responsibility of the
state ended with the delivery of the
mail to some person who was author
lied to receive it. and that the con-
cierge was such q person. But the
court censured the concierge for sbeing
guilty of an indeiicacy."
There was no redress for the owner
of the letters beyond this, andsto COM
pIete the whole the concierge next
brought suit in his turn against the
young woman. This, however, was too
much for any court. The case was dis
missed without a hearing. Sun.