DRINK IN FRANCE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 868, 25 October 1906, Page 22

DRINK IN FRANCE.

Some interesting details are given by the Paris correspondent of the “Daily Express” as to the recent great increase in the number of public-houses in France. There were in the country in 1904 no fewer than 468,434 drinking shops, and in 1905 the number increased by 5159, so that there is now one public-house for every 80 of the pdpulatioh. Yet the French are by no means a drunken nation, and certainly those among them who may drink too much do not flaunt

their bad habit in the face of the community. Anybody can open a publichouse who is able to products some reference as to character and can pay the license. He can keep it open half the night, and, unletss he harbours thieves, he is subject to little or no supervision.

Being recently in a small town in the South of Italy, I put up at -the only inn, the only waiter of which had been once in England. He seized the opportunity of polishing up his English, and said to me, “Will the signor take the English breakfast?” “What is that?” I asked, and he replied, “And am Heggs” (written thus on his bill of fare).