Round the World
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6904200306 |
| Published date | 01 March 1969 |
| Date | 01 March 1969 |
| Subject Matter | Round the World |
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BEATNIKS IN PARIS
The "real beatnik" as opposed to the "amateur beatnik of 5-9 and holidays"
is distinguished by "dirt, sloppiness, laziness and a liking for the tramp's life.
Red wine flows freely, they search each other for fleas, couples make love
unashamedly". This is one of the conclusions of a detailed study of the beatnik
phenomenon in Paris undertaken by the Paris Prefecture de Police in 1965
and 1966, and now published in The International Criminal Police Review. The
average age of the beatnik in Paris was found to be between 19 and 20, and the
sex predominantly (about 80per cent.) male. The report estimates that at the time
of the study there were approximately 2,000 "real" beatniks in Paris, although
an accurate estimate was made difficult by the nomadic way of life adopted by
the tribe. Although in 1965, the majority of those adopting the beatnik life in
Paris were foreigners, by 1966,just over half wereFrench. The foreign countries
contributing most greatly to this phenomenon were Germany and Sweden, with
Denmark and the U.K. coming bad third and fourth. In all, members of 53
nations were identified.
A survey of what was believed to be a representative sample of beatniks of
French nationality indicated that approximately 75 per cent. came from the lower
income groups and that only 20 per cent. claimed to be students. There was no
support for the theory that beatniks were generally of a high intellectual level,
none of the sample possessing a university entrance level certificate and 60 per
cent. admitting to having received only elementary education.
The report concludesthat
"a
few days' casual work a month" can earn sufficient
money to cater for a beatnik's needs, although a large proportion (32 per cent.)
described themselves as "artists" and earned money as pavement artists or by
handing round the hat after impromptu concerts or poetry readings, and a few
of both sexes earned money by prostitution. A useful source of income had been
found by charging tourists fro 5 for posing for photographs.
In Paris, it seems, the beatniks have taken over the areas on the banks of the
'Seine previously occupied by the traditional clochards who have moved further
east. Their centre is at the cafe, Chez Poppoff, in the Latin Quarter's rue de la
Huchette. From the police point of view the beatnik problem appears to be
primarily one of amenity. Drugs, it seems, occupy a small place in their way of
life and hard drugs virtually no place at all. Court appearances are in the main
confined to charges of vagrancy and beatniks have taken no part in the student
unrest that characterized the Paris of 1968.
"This small group accepts an ent irely negative theology" the report concludes.
"
It
is easy enough to be against the atom bomb or the war in Vietnam, but true
militancy implies action and less than 1 per cent. of all beatniks have taken part
in public demonstrations."
BANK ROBBERIES
A new Federal Statute came into force in the United States of America on
January 7, 1969, under which each Federal banking supervisory agency must
promulgate rules establishing minimum standards with which the financial
institutions under their control must comply in respect of the installation,
maintenance and operation of security devices and procedures, reasonable in
cost, to discourage robberies, burglaries and larcenies and to assist in the identifi-
cation and apprehension of persons who commit such acts.
The Act sets the time limit within which the affected banks and savings and
loan associations must comply with the standards, and requires the submission
of periodic reports on the steps taken . Any failure under the Act may lead to a
civil penalty of up to $100 for each day the failure cont inues.
The Act is one of the steps being taken by the U.S.A. Federal authorities to
deal with the increase in the number of bank robberies. Another is a series of law
enforcement conferences organized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation ,
attended by representatives of banks and local law enforcement agencies.
112 March 1969
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