Towards moral bankruptcy / by Paul Bureau.

  • Paul Bureau
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Towards moral bankruptcy / by Paul Bureau. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    36/568 page 18
    History records their names and boasts of their in¬ fluence. 1 Often the exploitation business is complicated by the kidnapping of minors, and by frantic orgies which fall under the Penal Code. But the Courts shut their eyes, and powerful intervention secures silence. The magis trates who dislike these affairs, think it more prudent to have nothing to do with them. We may also add that in a particular section of our social life solidarity is like a sacred tradition, and was almost always scrupulously observed, to the benefit of all [parties, at least before the war of 1914. Conservatives and progressives, radicals and socialists, profit by the same good-will ; a com¬ missary of police, a procurator of the Republic, especially a prefect of police, are in possession of valuable secrets : various instances are related in which they have made use of them to discredit an opponent of the government. It goes without saying that the exploitation of this busi¬ ness is extremely lucrative. Often the directors quickly realize a veritable fortune, and as in the great cities greater capital may be required, professedly honourable tradesmen supply it, and as sleeping partners reap huge dividends. a Money has no evil odour, and to get it all means are good. Moreover, these houses have their own reputation and standard of honour, and the smartest of them are determined not to be slandered or confused ‘Sometimes men of intellect are not insensible to their charms. Lately, a widow whose husband had left her a considerable fortune made a speciality of consoling the old age of several celebrated “intellectuals”; she was known as “the old men’s twilight.” a In a large Norman town one of the chief houses of ill-fame had as a sleeping partner one of the best tailors in the place ; his open trade thus gave valuable help to his secret business. In 1917, in one of the most populous towns in the South-east, the military authority had assigned for the use of the garrison two cafés which were at the same time (as was well known), immoral establishments for the service of a select clientèle ; several women had conveyed venereal diseases to the soldiers. The deputy interested in the management of these houses went to see the prefect, and the orders were at once revoked.
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