FRANCE: Greetings

Mario Roustan, Minister of Public Instruction and Art in the Laval Cabinet, rose early in Paris last week and walked to work. On the way he passed the open gate of the Carnavalet Museum, once the home of letter-writing Mme de Sevigne, now the Historical Museum of the City. There was no one in sight. He walked in. He walked through the court and up the stairs, sauntered through the deserted galleries.

Half an hour later the curator passed him on his way to his office and rushed forward in greeting.

”Ah, good morning, M. Ie Ministre!” he cried. “This is an honor, a rare pleasure!”

“And good morning to you!” said the Minister of Public Instruction and Art. With his finger and thumb he plucked an immensely valuable statuet from his pocket and waggled it under the curator’s nose. “To teach you a lesson I run the risk of arrest as a thief. It is possible to walk into this museum as easily as into a mill. I was stopped by no one. I paid no admission. I could have filled my pockets with loot.”

“I am astounded!” said the curator.

“I too!” said M. Roustan.