The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 6, 1904, Page 17

| Pagc_sl7t024| : » PagesiTto24 | SAN FRANCISCO, S OVEMBER 6, 1904. SMUGGLING DONE BY THE ITALIANS BY USE OF DOGS Within the last than 270 dogs toms offi- frontier 1g tobacco, witzerland. impossible n smuggling without eing caug consequently they have taught dogs to do the work. The enimal is first t 1 to an Ttalian vil- , where he is pet- After some weeks of this the dog is rest taken to the Swiss village, ved, and where a of an Italian cus- him an where he is man in the unifo: officer gives beating. After a few days of this treatment a parcel of tobacco is fastened the dog’s collar, and he is set free. He immediately makes for the fron- tier to reach his home on the Italian side, and when he catches sight of an Italian customs officer he remembers his beatings, and does his best to avoid coming near him. toms occasional to BY THE LONG ESTABLISHED SYSTEM OF PUBLIC CONTROL OF PAUPER FUND ARE TSR T AT T A BOTICE. RIME BELCA’J.’J%Z‘/ % T B SEUFEE Rl FRINGING ?/aoaa_a vewr) T 1 .I | L | FEATURES OF THE GREAT PUBLIC CHARITY OF PARIS. + CASANTZL o FOR NEEDY. [arye and Small xaque.:f.r, ?”lse/y Fnvested, Provide Wfoney for W any as Well as Hospitals and FHomes PARIS, Nov. 5.—Rich, indeed, are the Paris poor! They possess in their own right real estate bringing in about $300,000 and stocks and bonds bring- ing in $250,000 per annum; they enjoy from various sources a clear in come of over $7,000,000; they have at their disposal hospitals, sanatoria, asylums, schools, lecture-rooms and private physicians, pensions for old age or illness of disability—and all this not, as in other cities, to ‘be solicited as a favor, but coming to them as their due after the simple formality of proving them- selves paupers. - The truth is that no Parisian need be a pauper unless he wants to be. The fact that from a total of 2,714,068 inhabitants 500,000, or nearly one-fifth, are largely dependent upon the general revenues and institutions of the ad- ministration for the poor would seem sufficient evidence that whatever the number of beggars one may meet in the streets few really require help. While the Paris poor came by their wealth honestly, through donations, legacies and state and city subventions, the care of the vast property thus represented could naturally not be left to the poor collectively, or to any in- dividuals among them. So an organization known as the Assistance Publique, with officers appointed by the Government to look after the paupers’ wealth and invest it and distribute its revenues in the fairest possible way, was de- vised. That was nearly a century and a quarter ago, and through subse- quent revolutions, republics and monarchies it has continued to the present day, with few modifications in its line of conduct, save that the sums to be handled have quadrupled in recent years. Great Wealth in Real Estate. At the time of the revolution in 1793 a law made it obligatory for the poor to receive each his share of the general income. But the directorate decided that forcing money upon people was a little too radical, and the rule was established, still in force, that the money and privileges belonged to the poor, but they must apply for it and prove their poverty. The real estate owned by the Parls poor and controlled for them by the Assistance Publique represents an area of nearly 3,000,000 square feet. Thirty vears ago the area was almost double this figure, but in view of the increased land values the administration judiciously sold here and there and invested the proceeds otherwise. The property includes seventy-seven large houses in Paris and numerous farms in the suburbs, as well as 346 gardens and grounds in Paris. The houses are rented for §200,000 as schools, factories or apart- ments, whereas the grounds are leased at $82,000 for all possible purposes, By the ingenious leasing of privileges, such as passage through certain grounds, windows allowed im the walls of adjacent houses, etc., an additional $5000 a year is netted. The hospitals, asylums, home schools and other establishments run for the benefit of the poor from their own funds necessitate numerous inciden- tal expenses such as printing, sewing, the manufacture of shoes and brushes and market gafdening. The Assistance Publique found that it cost practically no more to slightly increase the output and by selling the sur- plus thesum of $90,000 per yéar is now realized. Even the leavings of bones, grease, peelings and bread from the various establishments are preserved and sold, netting. $13,000 annually. Use to Which Money Is Put. There is need for every penny of this money, the expenses aftendant on the comfort of the poor being emormous. To begin with, there are thirty- two hospitals in Paris and twenty-eight asylums, some in the capital and others rest-resorts at the seaside or in the mountains, which must be looked after. 'Then there are pharmacies, butcher shops, laundries, supply stores { | < Z0 FELL ~TO-D0 _THARISIANG #FI7 L0k SRACE PALFER S TRECEIVE THEIR o7 ZHE | I | for the poor. Over $3000 is spent each year on the care and extension of museums o instruct the poor; $2000 on books for them, and $2000 in giving- them postage stamps to communicate witl their relatives. No less than $155,000 is devoted exclusively each year to helping poverty stricken moth- ers, who might be tempted to abandon their young children from inability to feed them, : All septuagenarians have the right to a minimum pension of $2 per month. Others, old or weak, or poorly pald, whatever their employment, draw pensions of from $1 to $4 per month. If they fall ill, they have their physicians at their call; if the case is serious, they have hospitals and_sanatoria at their disposal. Fifty thousand Parisians depend absolute- 1y for their income upon this system; 100,000 are more than h_lf dependent upon it. Six thousand children are supported, hou: -, fed and educated; 20,000 are furnished with means while left with relatives or friends. . Fortune Left for Sugar Plums. Although the Assistance Publique has, generally speaking, a free hand in managing the rich estate of the Paris poor, some testators have speci- fied precisely what d#se is to be made of their money, while others have im- posed conditions, failing the fulfillment of which the sum would be for- feited. Hospital beds and scholarships are the uses most frequently or- dered. But others are of more unexpected natures. One worthy woman, who died an old maid, left an income of $40 to be given each year as a dowry to some deserving girl. Numbers have since followed this example, leaving sums varying between $40 and $200 to be given as dpwries for marriage or learning trades. A sentimental widow bequeathed $134 per year to be spent in buying sugarplums for the poor. More practical, a man named Moreau left $1§ per year for buying flannel shirts. General Fabvier, a hero of the Napoleonic wars, made the Paris poor his residuary legatees on the condition that the followiis epitaph be placed as an eternal reproach on his tomb: *“To the unhappiest of moth- ers.” One testator founded three perpetual hospital beds on condition that at the head of each should stand statues of four saints—Damien, Cosmo, Martin and Margaret. Cne o { the principal benefactors, named Boulard, left his great fortune on the sole understanding that those ben- efiting by his charity should celebrate his birthday each year by eating fricasseed chicken. .,Quamls Cause Some Bequests. s are responsible for many large bequests. General de the Paris poor $2,400,000, the totality of his wife’s dowry. He had thought he was marrying a royal Princess, and found out too late that he had been duped., and in his indignation he refused to see her again,or touch her money. A vitrlolic old maid named Bonaime penned her will as follows: “1 wish that after my death all that I own shall be sold for the poor. TRULY RICH MILLIONS IN STORE SALE OF PICTURES OF HISWIFE STIRS MARLBOROUGH IRE Duke Resents Hellew's Action anp Will Try (o Check Him. BLENHEIM PALACE MAY BE CLOSED LONDON, Nov. 5—The Duke of Marlborough bitterly resents the sale after in the picture shops of the duchess' portraits by noon he went into a Bond-street shop and demanded picture in his to the angry duke that Helleu had the copyright of the proprietor put the duchess’ Helleu. The other what The shop indow. dozens of the duchess’ portraits already had been sold. The duke left, declaring that he would take steps to prevemt Helleu from selling any more of the duchess’' portraits, remarking that he was paid for the original, and had no claim to make further profit ous of a private pol trait. Something like c report that the duke intends to close Blenheim Palace years and leave the whole place in charge of carets living at Sunderiand House. eral years, owing to mone; Miss Vanderbilt it was considered a sure guarantee be kept open. The explanation offered here is that the du not get on together, and this. children. 3 nsternation has been created difficuities, it is declared, but the duke’s. It is known that the duche: country life, as her happiest moments are passed - at Woodstock by the for two or three . the duke’'s family Blenheim was closed b late duke for sev- but when the pr duke married that Blenheim would ther-in-law do K. Vande! t's fault, y over giving up at’ Blenheim with her DELAYS WEDDING UNTIL COIFFURE IS IN SHAPE Bride Keeps Groom and Congrega- tion Waiting While Curls Are Being Fixed. LONDON, Nov. 5—An impatient bridegroom and an equally impatient congregation waited in vain for the bride in a Salisbury church yesterday morning. The hour of 11 had been decided on for the marriage of the son of a local tradesman to a young heiress. The day had been fixed several times be- fore, but the bride had shuddered on the brink of matrimony and the wed- ding had been postponed. When 12 o'clock struck the bride- groom fled from the church amid the giggles of the waiting congregation and, sitting down upon the curbstone oulside, bitterly lamented his loneli- ness. The best man hurried to the bride’s house, only to find that she had gone down town shopping earlier in the morning. From shop to shop he traced her until he saw a carriage with a pair of grays waiting outside a barber’s. He rushed in to find the hairdresser sporting with the tangles of Neaera's hair. Hurried explanations followed. How could a girl go to be married. without a coiffure worthy of the occa- sicn? asked the bride. The barber said nothing, but pointed to his work as an ample justification of the delay. At length the bride yielded to the best man’s importunities and fixed an hour in the afternoon for the cere- mony. Meanwhile some ribald scribe had scrawled in chalk upon the back of the bridal carriage, “Not married yet,” and signed it sacrilegiously with the name of a well known gentleman whom no persuasions can lure to his home. Once again the bridegroom made his way to the chancel steps and this time he did nct wait in vain. The bride kept her appointment, the marriage vows were exchanged and the happy couple drove away for the honey- mqon. On the back of the carriage was now inscribed “Married at last.” The sig- nature was the same. Town May Build Bachelor Home. LONDO ov. 5.—The Town Coun- cil of Ealing is to be asked to build a municipal home for bachelors. Colonel Menzies, a member of the Council, is the author of the scheme. He declares that there is a real want in Ealing for accommodation for bachelors. Young men find great difficulty in’inducing families who can provide cémfortabe quarters to take them in. The proposal is to build a home to accommodate about fifty bachelors, with dining-rooms, sitting-rooms and bedrooms. -+ AUSTRIAN ARCHDUKE'S ESTATE CLAIMED BY CIRCUS RIDER Clotilde, Youngest Offspring of Mor- ganatic Marriage, Brings Suit Against Imperial Relatives. VIENNA, Nov. 5.—A vulgar ble before the law quab- is ‘Interest- ing all Austria. The suit de, the yourgest daughter mor- ganatic ma age of the late Arch- duke Frnest and Laura Stublitz. The defendants are all her imperial aunts, uncles and cous: who are trying to keep the estate which she claims. Mour children eame of-the Archdu mor- ganatic marriage. The el was a weak-minded girl. The eldest son, Ernest, was cashiered from the The- resa Military Academy for running too deeply into debt. He sank lower and lower, and became an omnibus dr a copyist of plays for theaters, fell from want and died, leaving several children. The second son studied law, but com- mitted suicide to avoid death from consumption. The fourth child, Clo- tilde, a circus rider, now claims her father’s private estate, and seems like- ly to win her suit. —_———————— THEATRICAL SUPERS MAY RETAIN THEIR MUSTACHES PARIS, Nov. 5—The strike of the theatrical supers has been successful at the Gaite des Varieties and the Olym- pia. The terms demanded have been conceded. The male strikers demanded liberty to retaln mustaches. Isola Brothers offered to supply barbers to shave them gra! but the supers ex- plained that it was not parsimony, but esthetic feeling, which prompted the de. mand. —_——— Model Hotel for Women in Paris. PARIS, Nov —A model hotel for women and girls, erected in Paris by the nephews of the late Jaques ern, the Marquis and Marquise Chasseloup- Laubat and M. and Mme. Langladé, was opened this week before a fash- fonable assemb M. Georges Picot, the philanthropist, and Prince Auguste d’Arenberg spoke. The exterior sembles a grand hotel. The rooms cost 20 cents a day and a good meal, with wine, 15 cents. ———— Desert Air for the Nerves. LONDON, Nov. 5.—Minna Shippard, the fashionable nerve specialist, is starting a health camp in the desert under the shadow of the Sphinx “Desert air,” she says, “is dry and health-giving, and I purpose to form a party of London women who will live in tents like .Arabs. The members of the ‘party will undergo the treatment as invalids. They will live and sieep in tents and get all the benefits of un- equaled desert air.” re- —-— . My family has no claim on me and can raise no objections. They have shown me only envy and jealousy. It is with a sense of utmost gratifica- tion that T leave what I have to pedple who have done me neither good nor harm.” Some seek an atonement. Cne suicide writes: leave this world it is because extreme weakness no longer allows bear bravely the load of my slow and painful existence. “If 1 have resolved to me tg My remorse ‘# committing an act contrary to religious law leads me to hope that God will forgive me™” General de Laumiere, killed before Puebla in the Mexican War, was pursued by compunction for having left a tailor’s bill unpaid. “T beg my father,” he wrote, “to seek in Paris one Jaquet, who was'my tailor in 1834 I think [ must owe him 506 franes. francs are to he given them. If he or his heirs ean be found 15 Otherwise 2000 shall go to the Paris poor. New Plan Under Consideration. Some slight dissatisfaction is expressed on the part of the poor as to the management of their property, and a project is now on foot in virtue of which the method of distributing money may be somewhat medified. The minimum income allowed is, indeed, only two and a half cents a day given to those who have other means. This sum, it is said, is too insignificant to be of any utility, and yet it is distributed so generally as to represent at the end of each year a vast amount which might have been of real value to a more restricted number. s It is, therefore, proposed to divide the poor into four classes—the first, those incapable of work and without any resources, numbering 6000, to re- ceive $6 per month; the second, those able to work only a little or having a very modest income, numbering 8000, to receive $4 per month: the third, those having employment or an income just sufficient to keep them alive, numbering 26,000, to receive $2 per month; and the fourth. 1258, including widows, divorcees and women abandoned by their husbands, from I to $2 per month, according to the circumstances. These classes represent, of course, only those who depend entirely or largely upon the public funds, and would not ¢ause prejudice to the other branches of the administration. For this reform more money than new exists would be required. Nearly $1,000,000 in addition would be needel each year; and the Assistance Pub- lique is waiting for some more legacies to come in before approving the plan. - b .