Evening star., 1912-11-10

peasant girls dancing to lutes and viols
in the twilight of the mall.
Add the atmosphere of rest-cure spe-
cialists long settled in the lost village
and perhaps there is shade. of snobblsh-
ness. Every one has not heard of Dl-
vonne. The raft Of tourists passes W1de.
To those who learn of it by word OF
mouth it means 'the best French fami-
lies and exclusive therapeutic means
without the look of it. Even fifteen years
ago, when ROLAND was continuing the
cures for which Vidart made the village
remarkable, the few distinguished Ameri-
cans We're lost among the French. eYt
there are American families who nave
been coming thirty years back.
Why should it be hard to explain?
American millionares and ''old fami-
lies" don't care to be stared at while
patching up.
1t was Vidart's original idea, forty-five
years ago; the famous fag-specialist set
up his practice in a remote little. happy
village, where the innkeeper would serve
the kind of meals he should order. The
sprngs-torrents of clear, sparkling wa
ter-are scarcely medicinal, just excel
lently digestive, like those of Evian. The
only artificial adjunct was the douche
house. And as Divonne began. Divonne
one doctor there are now dozen special
lists working In unity.
Divonne has the reputation of being ex-
pensive. Yet the Hotel de fEcu de
France remains true to it's name-"ecu'
signifies silver dollar and almost indi-
Gates a days board So, the Hotel of the
Trout, the Hotel of the Black Sheep and
the Hotel of Foreigners. All have bed
room balconies or other devices for
sleeping out" siestas or sun baths, and
all serve the regime bills of fare. Add
laundry bill, milk and douches at 40 cents
each. the only necessary expenses re-
naming are doctors consultations. which
to Americans seem moderate. Whereby
hangs tale. An American lady in eX-
tremely moderate circumstances came
three times to Divonne. Then, suddenly.
she inherited the income of several mil
lions; and her first care was to rush over.
buy beautiful little farm property and
distribute $4,000 among innkeeper, serv-
ants douche woman, doctor and others
who had been good" to her.
X *
In midsummer there are sometimes $50
guests in the great hotels. paying $3.50
to $3.50 per day board for rooms with
siesta balconies. These are the fine no.
tells in the park. close to douche house
and the doctors consultation rooms. Here
the orchestra plays under the trees.
And comparisons are odious.
The millionaires are at Chicago
Tribute to American superiority, even
in fag and breakdown. Chicago is said
to have injured Divonne with it's old
French clientele. They say it themselves
Formerly we were en- famille al Di-
vonne but now you think only OF your
Chicago and your American Million
airesr Yet 1t is noticed that the old
French families slip into Chicago" a lit
tie more each summer, whenever there ISL
q vacant room.
It is simply the most elegant Of hotels,
isolated between a forest and view
the same "view Of Mont Blanc" which
every inn of Divonne enjoys Yet differ
ent All, the silent, separate, exclusive
and superior view of Mont Blanc" en-
loved by the millionaires!
They have it from their siesta balco-
nies, tier on tier of sleeping and summing
porches like the promenade decks of
transatlantic liner. The back view, above
the forest, gives upon the Jura noun
tains, deeper pinks and purples Of heather
and pines
Seven dollars per day can scarcely get
you the smallest room in Chicago" The
"view of Mont Blanc is extra. Most of
the rooms have baths and private par
lors. All are vacuum cleaned, spacious.
high ceilings. vast closet room. arooirs