The Washington times., 1932-08-01
God and Real Estate

God and Real Estate
Looking at these displeasng homes, thought of the
babbittry of France and reminded of my tavorlte
sign, the only one, to my knowledge, in which the
Deity called upon witness for real estate de-
velopment. 1t was posted along the Riviera and it
said "God! how pleasant summer is in Juan-esPins.
To be sure, the French word "deu' is commonly
used than word "God" and to say mon dieu' is
not swearing. Nevertheless l found it appropriate
that the best and of all babbttic signs should
have occurred in the country of tact and taste and
sophistication. The particular district later de-
veoped by an American who seems to have taken the
sign seriously.
Short History
What has happened to this particular district of the
French Riviera is entertaining. Some ten years ago
few American families wishing to escape the fogs and
rains of Paris, down to Antilles and lived in
hotel; they stayed on after the French had all de-
parted and discovered that the country was splendid
summer resort They tried to keep their discovery
a secret but it leaked out, and presently the Cap
dAntlbes became high-class resort certain group
of wealthy Americans who appreciated wealth gath
cred here And, naturally, within two years the ad-
joining country rushing headong into bathing
beaches bars, dance halls and the like. Presently
sweaters trousers, bathing suits and cocktails
named after the place and from Cannes to Nice the
Riviera flourished.
VuIgarity Begins At Home
1t fourshes STILL but hope that when cross the par
ticular section which is most prosperous will always
have my eyes shut No stretch of boardwalk along
beaches block of Broadway no Midway Plasance no
outpost OF country fair is aggressivey cheap. The
buildings put up of extreme uglness; the bars
have cheap touts the effort to combine expensveness
with vugary has succeeded beyond all human expecta-
tion On either side lie small towns which have fought
valianty for their lives Antilles (the ITSELF which
lies apart from the inernaonalZed cape) and Collie
Juan have still their character of French villages.
l suppose that Americans have had much to do with
this degeneration but they not wholly responsible.
They came in the first instance to enjoy what France
had to offer; they willing to do without the i'm
ported comforts which be bought in Paris. They
happy to have French drinks, French food and
total lack of night clubs But the opportunity too
good, and the French real estate succumbed as
rapidly the Americans did. So you can pay so
cents for glass of beer which costs cents outside the
night clubs and imagine yourself having good time
Babbitt Everywhere
The ugly houses in the north of France disappear to an
extent you go south and the sweet blue and pink of
the Riviera take their place. But if the French had
built ugly houses they would not have spoiled their
beautiful southern shorene They would not need to
member that here the Romans came following the line of
the Mediterranean out of which five great civilizations
have risen; that here Napoleon landed in his last
effort to impose the culture (and soey of France on
all Europe All they needed to remember is that if
Amercanzaton vulgarization, all you do is
! resist it. You always refuse to make money if
making money is dispeasng dishonorabe
They did not refuse. | believe that they have along
the Riviera, outponted in the for cheapness and
elaborate ugness 1t is little consolation that Babbtt
is Babbtt whether you call him George" or M
Georges and that bad taste is the monopoly of any
country-even ones