The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-23
School for French Hotel Maids
To Cater to American Tourists
In Expected Rush at Close of War
Paris Institution is Teaching
Girls How to Wait on
Wealthy SiqhtSeers.

fact that before the war $1O0,O00,OOO
a year was spent in this country by
tourists, mostly American.
That France does not intend in the
future to have this handsome figure
fall below the average is shown by
the attention directed this moment to
the various branches connected with
hotel keeping, an interest accentuated
by the fact that many Of the men once
engaged In 1t are now modified and
that a large percentage OF 1t had fall
en- into the hands Of Germans and
Austrians, from whom 1t has now, In
the course of events, been rescued.
Naturally, for time at least, France
must look to its women to resusci-
tate this rapidly falling industry and
keep 1t to the required standard.
In accord with these views the other
day at Boulevard Beausejour an in
teresting ceremony took place in the
presence of many Partisan notables.
This was the installation Of the new
school for teaching women the various
branches Of hotel keeping, from the
domestic science Of the kitchen to the
less obvious but also important arts
embraced under the heading Of IMAM
ners and customs
Like New York Hotels.
Among the several invited guests
and patrons was Mile. Valentine Thorn
son, editor in chief of Femina. With
Mile. Thomson stood many members
Of the Touring Club Of France, which
has already done so much to improve
the country hotels and which is now
financially and personally interested
in the success OF this particular I'M
dertaking.
One might very easily imagine one
self here to have stepped from Fifth
avenue into newly constructed
American hotel. All the rooms are
bathed in light; all material is new
and sanitary, and while the building
was not in the beginning constructed
for its personal purpose, 1t was so de-
lightfully arranged TO express the
qualities OF comfort, elegance and the
practical that 1t seems as If specially
intended for hotel school. its present
use.
Eighty-four students can be accom-
modated, and at the commencement OF
the course thirty-two were enrolled.
1t is intended to give the students the
same advantages Of the technical in
struction at merely nominal figure,
the luncheon for example, in accord
with French custom, is very boun-
tiful repast consisting of hors d.
oeuyres. a roast with vegetables and
dessert, at the nominal cost of sixteen
cents head.
The cost of the entire course for
the pupil boarders is SIS a month.
For this sum they are housed, fed and
taught.
Lessons about Flowers.
at is necessary" says Mile Thorn
son, that these pupils should know
how to make bed and to arrange a
room. They should know in addition
how to sew, pack trunk, to redirect
dispatches; they must know not only
how to wash linen, but to hold 1t, to
mend 1t and to keep an inventory OF
It. This is an art in itself, and an art
too often neglected to the detriment
OF the hotel.
"Then, they must know how to set
a table and how to serve-all the nice
ties Of the most elaborate rapst. They
should be able to arrange the flowers
properly for the different rooms-for
the dining room, the salon and the
private sitting rooms, each requiring
a particular way. The arrangement
of flowers lay particular stress upon
for the scholars are taught that they
must not, in the more practical de-
tails. lose sight of those which add
to the charm and to the memory OF a
place.
The first lesson taught the new class
was how to hemstitch some busters
The lessons begin at o'clock IN
the morning. An hour is spent show
ing the, details of table service. and
the time from 10 o'clock until lunch
con In the general details OF house
keeping. these varying each day. Al
ter luncheon comes thorough course
in bookkeeping and afterward instruc'
tion is give in French and English, tt
which, in accordance with the presen'
fashion, Russian is soon to be added
Lessons on Art OF Cuisine.
Once a week. NJ. Perrin, manager o
the Grand hotel, comes to teach th'
scholars some Of the methods HI
knows so well of making hotel Ia
NOUS and, another day, visit OF equa
Importance is made by NJ. Montague
HE has published many books on thu
art of the French cuisine and is a rec
ognized authority on all matters per
tanning to the kitchen.
The scholars already enrolled com
prise representatives from every CAS-
in France. Studied closely, one cal
easily discern the pupil who will new
er rise to greater responsibilities thai
those demanded Of the femme de men
age. while others exhibit already tn
ambition and the talent for something
higher, even the top Of the profes
eior. which means the ability to rul
an entire establishment successfully
Even the least ambitious show, how
ever, the right determination, not t
allow his industry, for which Franc
has always been famous, to lapse int
iusignincance. 1t is quite plain tina
millions Of tourists. will pour int
France after the war.
Three Months Course.
The course of the school takes tire
months; after that each scholar i
placed in a hotel where she will ge
the opportunity to practice what sh
has learned. At the end Of the hal