The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-30
FAMOUS POLICEMAN
ABOUT TO RETIRE
M. Lepine, Prefect of Paris. An
nounces His Decision and All
Europe Is Sad

Paris, July -(Special)-M. Lepine,
long famous as the prefect of police"
of Paris. is about to retire, covered with
honors. He is one of the Forty Immor-
tals of the French academy, and is now
one of the few holders of the Grand Cross
of the Legion of Honor
All Paris is very sad indeed. and all
newspaper reading Europe too The
little grey haired police chief is quite
the best loved man in Paris. Enough
amusing and interesting stories have
been written about him to fill book.
His chief hobby is wandering around
Paris in disguise. A shabby little fig
ure in battered hat, and with coat
collar turned UP, he looks Just the
average out of work. He will stand
staring vacantly when a horse is down,
or listen, grnning, while a constable
and taxi driver are having few
words. But next morning there is
reprimand or a five-franc piece to be
distributed by the inspector
The bewildered constable wonders
what invisible power saw him do a
| kind deed or detected him neglecting
his duty, till he guesses that Papa"
has probably been round his way again.
| These evening strolls bring some GU
rlous adventures sometimes, besides
| the ordinary ones of a policeman's life
Last year group of boisterous stu
dents started "ragging'' a quaint little
elderly gentleman who went strolling
| through the Latin quarter. They
danced round him in q ring. pretended
to scalp him, and solemnly cut off
locks of hair to remember him by.
| The old gentleman did not seem to
mind SO the grinning policeman near
| by did not interfere. When he strolled
| nearer however, he caught sight of the
old gentleman's face, made a Mortified
dash into the ring. hit out on all sides
and rescued the captive. 1t was his
beloved chief. the great chief of police
blushing.
| The students did not seem embar-
rassed. but made amends by loudly
cheering him and forming a bodyguard
to Keep the Apaches off him on the way
| home
| M. Lepine has a magnetic power over
| crowds. The turbulent mobs that Paris
| police have often to deal with, always
cheer him when he appears on the
scene He walks through them with
shabby clothes and genial smile and
chaffs them, somewhat on the lines of
| Now you people. do be sensible and
get off home. MY lads are tired of
looking at your pretty faces and /
want to go to bed myself"
The roWdiest of crowds after making
itself hoarse shouting "Vive Lepine!
| Hurrah for our little Prefect" soon
scatters good humoredly towards home
! The Prefect of Paris is everywhere
Should there be street accident he
| is on the spot at once Should there
| be a great fire he is to be seen he'll
meted and in oilslxins. directing the on
erations, and getting drenched with
water and black with SCOT His sub
ordinates demonstrate about the dan
ger. He shouts, go awayl You make
me feel ill?' and the crowds cheer him
madly.
His idea of chief of police is a man
/ who is always on the spot. So it is
not surprising that his face Is quite the
best known in Paris. There are even
Lepine dolls to be had in the shops.
! A great event of the New Year in
| Paris is M Lepine's annual toy show
| He is passionately interested in toys
as he is in children. Some years ago
he called a meeting of the toy makers
of Paris, told them frankly but good