APACHES OF PARIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 806, 2 May 1910, Page 4

APACHES OF PARIS.

SYSTEMATIC INTIMIDATION.. Tho re-establishment of the death penalty in France, although it appeared lot a short while' to have a salutary effect, has produced no sensible diminution in the total of crimes of - murder, and the "Apaches" of Paris, and their fellows and iuiitators in the provinces are growing in numbers and audacity (says tho .Paris correspondent of the "Standard," writing on March 3). At tho prosont timo one of tho effects of the Hoods has been to bring the "Apaches" liko rats on the boulovards from their usual haunts in the suburbs. Tho stoppago of the Metropolitan Uailway service through tho contro of Paris has deprived some hundreds of thousands of tho citizens of their usual means of regaining their homes, either after business between seven and nine, or after the theatres and entertainments at midnight. The tramways and omnibuses aro totally incapable of coping with this enormous increase of passengers, and, as a rule, all the termini aro besieged by wailing crowds, and the vehicles start with tho placard "All full.'' There remain only the cabs and taxicabs, which in ordinary times barely meet the demand. Tho result is l that tho "Apaches" assemble on tho principal boulevards in front of tho great restaurants and theatres, 'aiid, often in connivance with tho chauffeurs- and the drivers, force the public to submit to paying, first, a tip to two or three of themselves, with the alternative of vilo abuse or blows, and, second, of a double fee to" tho drivers. As it has invariably rained heavily nt midnight for the last three weeks, the scenes at night on the exit from the theatres have been a disgrace to any civilised city. It has finally beeomo n habit born of .necessity for all those who can afford it to give up hope of finding a conveyance and to take shelter in the nearest cafe for an hour or so. This is only the lesser of two evils, as although it avoids tho crush and the clmnco of having oockets picked and jewellery stolen, with perhaps a street fight tho bargain, in the end the toll has inevitably to bo paid to the "Apaches" and the coachmen and tho chauffeurs, who doggedly Iceep watch outsido ,t.ill the last customer has gone. The newspapers arc filled with complaints, but up to the present no remedy lias been attompted, and it would require treble the available force of polico to put down this nuisance—which is not altogether unknown in London. Tho reBstablishinent of the Metropolitan train service alone will deliver Paris from its new bondage to cabs and taxicabs; and the "cat." perhaps, only will put an end to the Paris breed of "Apache."