Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-15
PARIS NEVER So ORDERLY
AS IN PAST SIX MONTHS
Only Two Criminal Acts Committed
During First IIalf-Iear
OF War.
LITTLE FOR POLICE TO DO
Absence Of Crime Due Primarily to
Elevation OF Sentiment by Tragic
Crisis-Bad Elements In City's
Life Eliminated.

LILO eliminated.
Correspondence Of Associated Prcss.]
PARIS. March 1.-Ncver has Paris
seen 80 little frivolity and disorder as
during tho first six months OF war.
Only two criminal acts were committed
during that period. and only one OF
them was OF capital importance-a d.
vorce murder.
The police have little to do says
Prefect OF Police Laurent to the Asso-
clatcd Press. Tho public Itself main
tains order. For Instance, the other
night a moving picture show produced
Chinese dance resembling tango.
which had escaped the notice OF the
police censor Tho audience repaired
our omission by roundly Kissing the
film. Even on Mardi Gras, an occasion
which generally gives rise to hundreds
OF arrests, every ono docilcly accepted
the prohibition OF masks and confetti;
the police had no occasion to Intervene.
The absence OF crime is due pri-
mnrily. Of course, to tho elevation o.
sentiment by the tragic crisis OF war
There's no place In our minds for things
that are base and vile whilo we have
ISM and sacrifice, and this applies to
classes whose state OF mind Is not
always ut for close analysis When a
man Is battered that he possesses an
admirable quality that he knows he
totally lacks, he Immediately burns to
possess IT, Thus the turbulent Gle
ments OF the population took to their
account part OF the praise that was
bestowed upon Paris for Its bearing ut
tho outbreak OF the war. and they seem
TO be really taking -..u bride I'm
helping TO justify it.
Secondary causes are the el.mina-
lion OF the crimc-producing clements
misery and vico and the turning Of
passion from Its usual objects to the
frontier. There was never less misery
IN Paris. In normal times many un-
fortunate people are out OF the reach
OF charity: at present charity. In tho
namo OF relief. acts automatically. and
these people find IL far simpler 10 be
good than to be wicked.
FoRCIBLY INTRODUCED TO
NEW WAY or LIVING
The early closing OF cafes and tho
elimination OF night restaurants II, "a
forced orderly habits. diminished tenn,
,ation and vice Many people thus
forclbly introduced 10 n way OF living
that has done them good will never
again return 20 their old nigh: life"
Tho suppression OF the sale OF
absinthe Monsieur Laurent thinks, has
not yet had time to produce It's effect,
and he does not attribute the decrease
in crime IN any dcGroe 10 this cause
one OF tho most conspicuous causes of
swindling since tho war began was that
OF an cx captain ruined by absinthe-
lie hadn't been able to get n drink for
three months. The ultimate effect of
the reform he expects will be cons!dera-
bic, but the man whose moral nature
has been DECEASED by absinthe has not
yet had time 10 recover.
AS FOR the 'Apaches the street
runlans who give us so much trouble
ordinarily, they have disappeared" he
says. MANY OF them are at the front.
where they are refiecIninE many
fault; others arc employed on the de-
fcnse worrs OF the intrcnched camp:
tho rest seem 10 lack inspiration for
their customary misdeeds for we hear
nothing of them.
Il am no prophet" Monsieur Laurent
concluded, and l can't say what per-
manent effect the war may have upon
crime, but ! am hopeful. ] think that
France will be SO busy with serious
things that the task OF the police VIII
be lighter than before. After the sears
OF war have begun TO disappear, I think
the gayety and animation OF Paris
VIII como into It's own. but look for
the elimination for years to come OF
many frivolitics and different forms
OF folly"
The Paris Municipal Council has de-
clded to reserve for mutilated soldiers
and widows OF soldiers killed in the
present war all the posts In the city
departments that they are physically
capable OF filling.
Tho newspaper kiosks In the streets
and public places, the flower and candy
stalls. tho street vendors, medals and
licenses for the sale OF postcards and
illustrated periodicals In the street, the
posts of concierges in city buildings are
posts OF cab station keepers, the man
agement OF public lavatories and the
posts OF concierges In city buildings
are also to be reserved for the soldiers