THE GALLIC GENDARME

In France, now, they order these things better.

Take for instance police methods. Leon Daudet, famous editor of the Royalist. "L' Action Francaise", two years ago was sentenced to jail for a political offense--libel. But M. Daudet was not arrested such methods are not used in France, especially not with political defendants. Any such action the police wisely aver would serve no good cause, for it would merely make a martyr out of the convict, and political martyrs talk louder and are listened too more eagerly than ordinary politicians.

Still it was obvious that something had to be done. The law courts could not be flouted. The blind goddess insisted upon seeing her order carried out. True, M. Daudet is a plump, spacious, jolly old defamer, but really, said the police, something must be done. It was decided to invite M. Daudet to jail. He was so informed two years ago, but the R. S. P. V. on the card brought forth from M. Daudet a polite regret. He, no doubt, "regretted that he was unable to accept Monsieur Le Prefect's kind invitation", and perhaps even hinted at "a previous engagement."

At periodic intervals for the past two years, the police have repeated their invitation, indeed, M. Daudet may be said to have a standing invitation with the Prefect. But each time M. Daudet has declined, at first politely, but with increasing firmness.

During the last week, the police decided that something really must be done. Instead of the usual printed card, the host himself called, M. Daudet was adamant; once and for all time, he did not intend to accept Monsieur Le Prefect's invitation. M. Le Prefect hinteu vaguely at arrest, bowed and retired. Now French policemen don't often speak of such things. M. Daudet was warned, and placed bob wire about his building, bolted doors and windows, and waited, first hinting to his friends and the police that he would die before he stooped to the Prefect's compulsory hospitality.

Three or four days later--such things are not important with the Gallic police--a squad of gendarmes rang M. Daudet's door bell. M. Daudet's butler intimated that the master was not "at home". The gendarmes bowed and announced that they would wait. And so the "siege" that ended two days ago began. After M. Daudet had received French pastry, champagne, and other life maintaining victuals in great number from his friends, and after daily during the "siege" announcing that to surrender would mean the end of civil liberty, honour, and whatnot, M. Daudet quite naturally surrendered.

Contrast this with American police methods. M. Daudet would most certainly have been sworn at; he might very readily have been hit over the head. It is even possible that he would have had to pay his call to the Prefect in a patrol wagon. Had he waited to angle his silk hat properly, it is even conceivable that he would have been hit with a pistol butt. Third degree methods might have been applied should M. Daudet have continued his propaganda at the station in favor of a monarchy. Most certainly his siege would have been enlivened with tear gas, riot guns, and perhaps even machine guns. Certainly innocent by-standers would have suffered and private property would have been damaged.

Yes, in France, now, they order these things better.