The poor relief is organized in Paris on a large scale and centralized in the hands of a special department called 'L'Assistance Publique a Paris.' This has charge of the hospitals. of the homes and asylums for aged poor. as well as for friendless children, and of outdoor relief. The department is under the authority of the Prefect and is governed by a director and a board. composed of leading men from various Government departments. The work is carried out in detail by the 'Bureaux de bienfaisance.' one in each arrondissement, and composed of persons familiar with the people in their re spective districts. The city comes to the aid of the poor in several other ways. There are a number of municipal lodging-houses open to un employed workmen free of charge, and furnish ing a meal to each guest. A similar home exists for working women. From 15,000 to 20.000 families are helped each year by advance of rent-money in cases of threatened eviction. An agricultural colony has been established not far from the city for those tumble to make a living. A free employment ollice is maintained by the city in each arrondissement, and a central labor exchange kinnvn as the 'Bourse du Travail' was erected by the umnicipality in 1892 at a cost of 2,000,000 francs. In addition, the municipal council votes 50,000 francs annually for the maintenance of the institution, which serves as the headquarters of all the trade-unions in the city. A public pawn-shop, known as the Mont de-PiW, has been in existence for more than a century. It advances loans in any amount at 6 per cent., which is a great accommodation for the poor. The largest of the numerous hospitals or almshouses is La Salp6triere (for women), probably the largest asylmn in the world, extending over 78 acres of land ; 1300 of its 4500 inmates are insane.' BieCtre, with nearly 3600 beds, receives only men. The Hospice des Enfants TY011V5S. or foundling hos pital, provides for the infants brought to it till they reach the age of maturity, and only demands payment in the event of a child being reclaimed.
The creches, or public nurseries, first established in 1844, of which there are now 18, receive' the infants of poor women for the clay at the cost of 20 centimes. Besides institutions for the blind, deaf and dumb, convalescents, sick chil dren, etc., Paris has 17 general and special hospitals. Of these the oldest and most noted are the lIbtel Dieu, rebuilt at a cost of $9,000, 000, which covered also the cost of the new site, La Charibl, and La Ent'cATioN. The educational facilities of Paris are very complete. A system of kindergartens called Ecoles :Nlaternelles is provided for chil dren between the ages of three and six, and although attendance there is not compulsory. they are all patronized, as they are a great help to the poor. The attendance is from 50,000 to 60,000. Next follow the Ecolcs Enfantiles, which arc a transition from the kindergarten to the primary school, and are open to children between six and eight. The primary schools for chil dren below the age of fourteen employ nearly 3000 teachers, half men and half women, and are attended by 156,000 pupils. The school system is under the joint supervision of the municipal council, the prefeetoral administra tion, and the national ,Ministry of Education. The children are supplied with text-books, etc., and those unable to pay (60 per cent. of the total number) are given gratis one meal each day. A new feature of the school system is the boarding-school for children of widowers or guardians unable to give proper care to their children. The cost of boarding and clothing a child has been fixed at 600 francs a year. but since 1S92 the payment has been reduced to 120 francs for those unable to pay more. the city paying the rest. Upon the completion of the primary school a child is free to enter a high school or professional school, according to the profession he or she chooses.