Why Only Luxury?

The queer fact that French shipyards rivet together no cargo boats but build only passenger ships was excitably commented on last week by buoyant Louis Rollin who, now rejoicing in the title of French Minister of Marine, is one of the most irrepressible go-getters in the Cabinet of "Tardieu l'Americain."

"We have added a million tons to French shipping since 1914," cried M. Rollin, "a million glorious tons! But I regret to say that all our new cargo boats are of foreign construction. I hope that the limitation of ships of war at London will soon release huge sums enabling us to build ships of Peace--and trade. Ah, pourquoi la France fait-elle settlement les bateaux de luxe? We must not, my distinguished friends, build only luxury ships--like this!," and excited M. Rollin made a sweeping circular gesture, almost a pirouette.

The distinguished friends, who, like M. Rollin, had dined and wined exquisitely, included the Mayor of Havre and something like a hundred Parisians who had come down to see what has happened to the liner Paris since fire gutted her at her dock. Her machinery and hull were unharmed, but delicate Louis XVI salons and cabins went up in curling smoke. They have not been replaced. Instead the Paris has been completely made over in the new style of Paris--L'Art modern, which U. S. citizens call "Modernist."

When Minister of Marine Rollin pirouetted, his gesture swept a Grand Salon in slick, mirror-like birdseye maple, softly lit by carved glass Lalique electroliers. Though he had just exhorted Frenchmen to build ugly cargo boats, M. Rollin waxed ecstatic a few minutes later at a unique new feature of the Paris, proudly displayed by dynamic General Director Maurice Tillier of the French Line. On no other ship, claimed he, is there an entire deck devoted exclusively to grand luxe suites each with a separate, private promenade-veranda on which the dogs and children of rich passengers may do their yapping and yonking without annoying ordinary First Class passengers--and of course vice versa.

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