PARIS REFUGEES RETURN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2357, 13 January 1915, Page 6

PARIS REFUGEES RETURN

CONDITIONS IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL. Paris, November 26. The war population of Paris, estimated at 2,000,000 alter the exodus of the first days of General von Kluck's approach to the city, has gradually increased to nearly the normal 3,000,000, and business is affected accordingly. . Factories of most kinds are still crippled—some from, lack of funds tied up by the moratorium, some from lack of raw materials, and others from lack of skilled help taken away by the mobilisation. "Proprietor and clerks at the-front" is a notice appearing in increased numbers on closed shop-fronts since the calling out of the Territorials. The big stores have remained open and are now thronged with shoppers as usual. Most of these establishments formerly gave extended credit, but so Jong as the moratorium lasts all transactions are spot cash, and the volume of business restricted.. Simplicity of styles al6o ha 6 its influence. Imxuries t| which form a considerable part of Parisian commerce, are m little demand. Something for the comfort of sons, broth'ors. and fathers at the front is mostly, called for, such as heavy underwear, jerseys, sweaters, warm socks, gloves, and 6carfs. Apart from these articles, the demand is almost exclusively for the necessaries of everyday existence. A prominent merchant, asked what would be the permanent effect of the war upon the business of retail shops, declared that it would be partly a' question of victory or defeat. He dread 6 to think of the latter eventuality and the lasting influence it would have on business and on life in general in Franco. In case of victory, however, the commercial 6cars of war will be quiokly healed, but even in that case the people, habituated to simplicity by the force'of circumstances, will be slow to come back to luxuries.—American Associated Press.