Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-26
so THIS IS PARIS!
Remember What IL Was Before the
War?-Well. Them Days Is
Gone Forever! .
by GEORGE NOX Mccain

forever.
1t will never stage a comeback" in the
old sense.
7 think I am thoroughly competent to
comment on this subject.
My first visit to Paris was made thirty
seven years ago.
In the interim 7 have visited it nine
different times. at irregular intervals.
l first saw it in 1885, when its hotels
were run about us they had been in the days
Of Napoleon III.
:. On your bill they charged you for soap.
lights. attendance. 'boots.' baths ~
everything else they could thin oi.
You went to bed by camille light.
If you struck hotel ihht had cos ""
were charged TO-! .urni"~ after = r.r'n"
And they usually charged you for il
whether YOU burned II or not.
London wasn't any better.
stopped at Morley's famous old hotel
two fights of stairs to ro6m lit BY candles.
After that I carried, on that trip, my
OWN soap and candles.
TNTIE development of English and French
l. hotels only came as n result Of the
American invasion Of tourists.
They kicked Mt the primitive manage
ment
It produced little effect for time. but
the Americans kept kicking till they got
what they wanted.
>, Now. most Of the hotels Of England and
Franre-th" larger ones--havc all the
modern American hotel comforts.
Except good coffee.
They died hard though--partcuarl
when it came to installing "lifts." as they
call them in American. elevators.
The lights and attendance extortion
m hnny ,tonI nInya
cial hotels.
Tips to servants have also been abolished
in many Partisan hotels.
But you pay the tips just the same.
The proprietor adds 10 per cent to your
bill lin lieu Of gratuities to the staff
IT'S a clever scheme
The impression is created that the hotel
is trying to eradicate the custom Of tipping.
At the same time it gives the proprietor
chance to make n little more ION the
side
II" collects the 10 per cent in lieu of
gratultieS. pockets share of it and then
distributes it.
The servants are kicking about it.
Yet it was their own suggestion.
They didn't think they were getting large
enough tips from the Americans.
Ten per cent of their bills was a remedy
suggested.
Now they're Just where they were before
the plan began 10 operate.
After the management gets its rake off the
larkeyS got left.
Their receipts in tips are not so large as
they were under the old individual system.
THE Paris of today is n business Paris.
l. 1t is more sober and settled city
The "atastrophcs of the past eight years
have done for il what a century of peace
could not hav" accomplished.
tat,1 se, sl,t
Of tho ''houlcvardicr.
Once he was til" pct of the foreign cor
respondent and magazine writer.
"Thp boulevardier" Of Paris was for gen.
pratons the theme Of endless stories and
sketches.
lie was n drone in the hive Of industry.
His principal occupation was dawdling
along the boulrvards dressed to kill
Between times he sat around the tables
outside the Cato d" Ia PaX and other sim
liar establishments drinking absinthe---or
wine.
lie rorrcsponded TO our dude" Of gen.
Grafton ago.
Usually he had money. a position-or gave
the impression that he had.
He was cross between first -nighter. -
n lounge lizard and O. IIenry's IMAM about
town.
DI-T today he is n memory.
ID Gone are the topper" the two. gallon.
or plug hat, the spats, gloves, cane and
eyeglasses.
As glass Of fashion he was perfect.
The war smashed the glass.
Not that there are not fashionably dressed
men at the cafes. now as ever.
II isn't n business with them though.
sitting at the little round tables, with a
waiter and napkin in the oting and three
bottles and a syphon at their elbow.
II Is n temporary relaxation.
It's legitimate. and as famous advertise
ment says, is grateful and comforting
But the "bouevardier' has drfted into
the limbo of the things that were.
That is, the "boulevardier," as such.
THE march Of municipal improvement has