The Washington times., 1935-09-21
NOW
Our Rich Fools
In Paris
CITY OF GREED
By HELEN ESSARY

By HELEN ESSARY
We should not have discov-
cred, within an hour after our
arrival in Paris, how some OF
the French despiSe "those Amer
leans" if Rita had not been with
US.
Rita is half American and
half italian. Born in Capri, she
learned French and Italian be.
fore English. She married a
New Yorker. Developed an en-
thusiasm for America. But kept
the appearance and the accent
Of a Continental.
"The Americans?" she said in
casual French to the waiter who
was serving us a lukewarm Mar
TIM at a sidewalk table on the
Rue de Ia PaiX-"have more OF
them been coming this sum-
mer?"
Ignoring me, the waiter said:
"It's been better than last
year, but they have not been too
generous"
Said Rita, with adroit SYM
pathy:
"Ah, that is sad!"
The waiter, smoothing his
black mustache, answered:
"Not too sad. You know,
Madame, those Americans are
rich fools. They will be back
again. We will charge them the
most we can get. VOLTA Why
not?"
Rita said:
perhaps you charge too
much"
"But no! They have money
to give away. 1t is always our
duty to get what we can from
an American"
He shrugged his shoulders as
only a Frenchman can. Rita
slipped her cocktail and said:
"When a Frenchman goes to
America, he is treated kindly"
The waiter said:
"'BOn! Have I not said,
Madame, those Americans are
fools? AIorS, whatever a French
man does to an American, the
American can not stay away
from Paris. He will come back
here to have his fun. However
we charge him, he gets his
moneys worth. Ha! Those
Americans"
When the waiter returned for
'l'addition," Rita, prompted by
me, said:
"You have forgotten the war
debt France owes America"
forgotten? Hah! Not for
gotten, Madame! Just decided
nevaire to pay. Why should we
work to give more money to
those Americans W he already
have too much? C'est drOll."
But is it not Frances debt
Of hOnor?"
"POuf, Madame! France could
not have a debt of honor to
America"
The proprietor then joined
the conversation.
"Certainment. He is right,
Madame. All Frenchmen know
this"
After cocktails we went to a
famous restaurant for dinner.
Continued our inquiry into
Frances friendship for Amer.
lea. The dinner was excellent.
The French bourgeoisie were
served quickly and happily. We
were not.
After the "bombe glace"-
gorgeous ice cream with can
died violet trimmings we
waited and waited for the demi-
tasse. Rita finally went to the
proprietor, sitting on a high
stool beside the money basket.
She spoke again in her casual
French.
II am with Americans. 1 am
sorry to see your service to
Americans is not as good as it
was"
The proprietor shrugged his
shoulders:
"Ha! That is too bad"
Then he turned to his money.
Not a word of regret. Not a
wish to right the mistake. Just
an Indifferent TOO bad-those
AmericanS!"
Rita told the taxi driver my
destination and said good-by.
The taxi drove a block past the
hotel and stopped. I said, in
guidebook French:
"But you have taken me too
far! See the lights back there"
"Oui, I see. Madame can
walk"
Again that contemptuous Gal.
lie Shrug. I looked at the me-
ter. Four francs. Remembered
Rita'S advice-pleaSe not to
overtip.
I gave the chauffeur exactly
four francs. His eyes were full
OF hate. Halfway to the hotel.
I looked back. The taxi man
was still there, probably stupi.
fled with rage.
Such greediness, such con,
tempt as these incidents show,
an American meets everywhere
in Paris. But unfortunately the