FLEA MARKET TRIES INSTALMENT PLAN

Evening Star, Issue 21619, 15 January 1934, Page 2

FLEA MARKET TRIES INSTALMENT PLAN

Tho prevailing feeling among tradesmen that “ Paris is not buying ” bad led to unusual appeals to the purchasing public (says the ‘New York Times ). The “ Flea Market,” popular, secondhand mart in the suburb of St. Ouen. is now offering curios, old pictures, and the. like to collectors on credit—a small sum down and the rest in monthly instalments. ‘ Like the big stores, the Flea Market has realised that almost anything can be sold on credit in these times iand very little on a cash-down basis. Many antique shops have had to put up their shutters altogether—a warning to these humbler salesmen. The hook boxes along the quays are well stocked and their owners are prepared to dispose of their wares at almost any price. Glean copies of recentnovels are to be had from 2o cents. The libraries of British and American residents who have been driven out of Paris by the high cost of living find their way to the river-bank, so slocks are good, though disposal of them is slower.

People are even economising in dying. Families that at one time were well enough off to pay for perpetual concessions are now satisfied with leased land for family graves that remains inviolate for only thirty years. The price of a family’ tomb in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, with a perpetual concession at, 725d0l a yard and cost of monument included, comes to nearly 10,000dol. It is three y’ears since a really elaborate memorial was erected in the famous cemetery.

Those who specialise in the production of wreaths have made a special appeal against the " no-flowers ” vogue, for their industry is in a particularly parlous state. About a thousand firms were at one time engaged in the trade, which amounted to 75,000,OOOdol annually. Employment was provided for 10,000 salesmen and 80,000 workers, and the Syndicaf' Chamber of Funeral Art has strongly urged the publicvtO"nbandon the “ no-flowers ” formula and get back to the good old “ pompes feue.brcs ’1 of better times.