FRENCH CABWOMEN.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 86, 13 April 1907, Page 7

FRENCH CABWOMEN.

FIRST DAY OUT IN PARIS

Paris's first two cabwomen, Mile. Charnier and Mme. Duffaut, had their first day out the other week. They had already been out on the previous days, but only for practice. Both are pleasing in appearance. Starting at eight; o'clock from M. Rabier's cabyard, 94 Rue Amolet, they were becomingly dressed in low-crown-ed,' black-glazed hats, very full boxcoloured coats with metal buttons, and a wide mantle over their shoulders. Mile. Charnier wore a pair of ample knickerbockers, not unlike those lady cyclists, used to wear, which can be converted in a few seconds into a skirt reaching down to the ankles. A crowd of ostlers and cabmen had assembled to see the two women start out. There were many shouts and cries of "Good luck " as the two cabs drove out of the yard,, and* they were immediately pounced upon by a score of photographers. On approaching the central markets the traffic was so great that it was necessary to go at a walking pace. The "market women simply poured chaff on the unfortunate cabwomen. A big, brawny vegetable dealer shouted out: " So your husband mends your stockings now, I suppose!" Another: "She can't whip her old.man, so that's why she's taken to driving a cab." A market porter gave a flourish to his immense white hat as Mme.,, Duffaut drove past. " Don't go to the left^ madame," he'shouted, "it's the side on which the heart is placed."

Mme. Duffaut thus related her morning's experience: "I am very' pleased with my first morning's work. I started to ply for hive on the Place de I'Opera, and I was immediately hailed by a gentleman who simply called the first cab to hand. On my driving over to the kerbstone he looked up at me with a surprised smile and said: " Hullo, a woman cabby f" He paid me most generously. .' My second fare, too, paid .me •> considerably over my fare, and if it is goin,e to be like that every day, I think I have struck a • soft thing. " The cabwomen wer<> in oreat request all the afternoon, the- public taking to them most kindly a? to something new and amusing.

.The following appeared in our Town Edition last issue: - ~ ;