Newspapers / The Asheville Democrat (Asheville, … / Dec. 12, 1889, edition 1 / Page 2
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if i i ! :- .- ,' ' r' '--1 ' it . i i-i i ! i' : - j,. . , . . . - - . ; - By MAX (yJlZLL, -Author of "Jonathan : and liii Continent," .' John Bull I 1 and H a" Island,"!" John Bull's : ; Daughters," Etc. VTHE FRENCH AT WORK. Gallic Laboring Men and Their Peculiar! ties The Patient Peasant He Is foi Peace ,. and Not War Shopkeepers, ol France French Officials. . j Tilings have greatly changed since that exact and most impartial observer La Bruyere drew the following picture of the French peasantry two hundred years ago: f'You see,'f 6aid he "certain wild animas, males and females, about the land, dark, j livid,! ndked, kind all burnt with the sun, bound to the! soil, which they dig and stir with unflagging patience. Tiiey seem to articulate w-ords, and when they stand up they show ja, hu man face, and, indeed, they are notie other than ' men; at night they retire to . their dens, where they feed on black bread, water and roots.: They save Other men, the trouble of sowing, digging and reaping, and deserve not to lack of that bread which they have grown." i Today the French peasant lives in his own cottage, cultivates his own jfield, and demands nothing beyond peace and fine weather. No doubt this cottage of his would appear to an; American tour ist to be lacking of many comforts, j It is carpetless, it is true, but it belongs to bim, and that makes upYor many draw backs. He is contented and rich! like the rest of us, not in the things which lie possesses, but id those which he knows bow to do without. He is peaceful, 'sim ple," sober and laborious. His ideal j of life is the independence which is the fruit of labor and economy; he is satis fied with very little in the days of his strength, because the prospect of eating his own bread near tne door , of his own cottage when his strength is gone makes him happy. So he .works stead Hy, un ceasingly, with a wife who is a true help Mate. He is no fire eater, no dreamer of new worlds to conquer. The surging passions of great towns" are horrible to liim. He want3 to be left akmej and cries for peace at the top of his roioo. So eager is he after this blessing; that ki 1881 his representatives in parliament upketthe first Ferry ministry by a ma jority of 355 to 68 on account of tH ex pedition to Tunis, although that expedi tion had been highly successful frpm a military point of view. In 1883 the Freycinet ministry was defeated on the vote of credit which they asked to en able Fmnce to, join with England in an armed intervention in Egypt- In! 1885 the second Ferry ministry was upset a majority of 306 to 149 on account the Tonkin expedition. So much by of to show how aggressive the French nation j tsl The permanently aggressive nations j are the nations where the people are op pressed and wretched. Militarism le not compatible with national prosperity and happiness. The prosperity of the; com mon people, and the use they are learn ing to make of liberty, are the great facts which Will tend to make France a nation more and more peaceful. The French peasant might well express a wish1 that the government should still improve his position; but he is quiet, and j no govern ment thinks of him particularly. If jhe were to make as much noise as the Paris workman, he might bd listened to The real pretender in France is not the Com te de Paris or Prince Victor apo leon, not the Due d'Aumale or Prince Jerome: the real pretender ia ths Paris workman. If you speak to him of "the people," it is he, and he alone, whom he supposes you mean, j The millions of quiet peasants, laborers and other rural toilers he totally ignores; he is the ("sov ereign people." The Parisian workman is not satisfied with the old crv: "What 'is ''.the capitalist? Everything. jWhat j ought he to-be? Nothing." : His new cry j is: "What is the workman? Noihing. j What ought he to be? Everything!" ' A j member of the commission appointed by j the late French parliament , to inquire ! into the Paris workman's life, asked one ! of them to get up the budget of hiSjfarni-1 ly expenses. After describing minutely all the necessaries, the workman put j down: "For music, halls, theatres, dis-' tractions three hundred francs." And ; on the member of parliament suggesting ; that the last item might, perhaps, be re-; duced, the Pan's workman indignantly! retorted: "Do you think that we are go-1 ing to live like brutes?"' ; The present hoi se pf deputies is all j occupied with the question Of emp oyers and employed, granting orie by one all the demands of thel latter. -Nobody seems concerned about the rural L i popu lation, bv far the uiosti interesting bf all. How is that? Simply j because the! peas ants 'do not hold stormy meetings, dx not speai;.or erecting uapieades, anp are quiet, peaceful,' industrious,, sober ! and law aWduig people. The : peasant! ha: the. sun. and if. his harvest is destroved ; i , . . ml by the frost; the hail pr the drought, it ; is for him to make the best of it; while the Paris workman goes to the inusic halls, smokes cigars and talks jxWitics. Suppose the country engages in war, the Paris workman assumes a uniform and 'sings war -songs, but the peasant sees his land laid waste and His cottage burned down; v.:m this is wljv you will under-1 stand that he feels it' his duty to hate the Germans in a theoretical way, butlhopes : ,and trusts that he may not live to see the dar when lie or his spnSNnay be called UDon to avenc-e the disasters of tbe tr- rible year 1870 . i ...... ! : A sreat prejudice imposed unon Ensr- lish speaking people pn the subject of France, and oae which I should; very much like to destroy, is the belief ;in the importance of our Anarchists. This be lief is kept alive by -a few journalists, t who love to fill their' columns-with the sayings and doings of French Anarchists. The Anarchists! Well, we keep th article as the English and Americans do, and they are about as important as theirs. France, honest, economical, hard work ing, ignores them. They are no tartyJ no power, in j the state. They are not represented in our parliament. Ibelieve that the German Anarchists alone, of al the parties owning that generic 'name in Europe, have a true representation in the legislature... . -;'!'L;- If the French are industrious, they are not so in the same way as the Eng lish. The French never, or very seldom, allow themselves to be , completely ab sorbed by business. They always set apart a certain; portion of time to the amenities of life. They are as serious as you like at' work, but in a moment they: will exhibit any amount of good humor at play, and again will resume the har ness as quickly as it was thrown bff. If you go into, a j shop at dinner) time I speak now of the small provincial towns you may run the risk of receiving very little attention, !or even none at 'all. j -'. u ! i i i I remember I once it was at St. Malo, in the summer I entered a butter's shop at 1 o'clock in I the afternoon. A well dressed, lady like girl came out of the back parlor and inquired what I wanted. -"I want a straw hat, mademoiselle I said. ' : - j .. "Oh, that's very awkward just now!" "Is itr ' :U : -;...! j : '(( ; i- 1 ' " Well, you see," she said, "my brother is at dinner;" ! and after a pause of a few seconds she added: "Would you mind calling again in an hour's time?" j "Not at all;" I replied: "I shall be de lighted to do so." M ! I was not only amused, but struck with admiration f Or the indepei lend of that worthy hatter. After a few years resi dence in England, a iittle cene of that description was a grew i treat, j 1 j ; An hour later 1 called again. The young girl made her -. vcond appearance. "My brother waited for yon for quite ten minutes, "j she said' to me? j"he has gone to the cafe with a friend now.' is I - i- I - "I am orry for that, I said. wheo can I see him?" . -'" M "If you step across to the cafe, 1 am sure he will be happyj to come ack and attend to you. j i I tliankd the yung lady, went to the cafo, and introduced myself to live hat-j tcr, vrio was enjoying a oup f eofle and having a game of dotnrnoew with a 'friend. He asked me toalkn him to finish the game, which, of course. I was on4y too glad to do, and we returned tm tle shop togethreo. Another time, 1 happen! !o iw in a Kttle Norman town. j Having broken the class of my watoh I inquired who was the best watchmaker in tht iace. II was a M. Perrfn. I wa told. : -1 j . l !. M. I made for M. Per tin's shop Tit rfiop was dosed, and the shutters up Outekie was stuck a card. wi w-ii I read:!";.;. ' , M , ' j "M. ad dime. Perrtn are out of town; they will be back on Tuesday." ! , It was Saturday ,31. and Mine. Fer ric were enjoying a holiday f 1 admired j their independence, and waited till they returned to have my watch repaired. j Nobody wants to know the time is Normandy, and for three days I did as my happy oompatriots. j In i buatnesa the Frenchman cs probity itself, as a rule, and his punctuality would aJmost ; make an Englishman smile. He may rather hamper his com merce by attention to trifles, but when he sells you something you may take it for granted it is what be represents rt for he is jealous of his good name as a tradesman or manufacturer, and likes to hear j compliments of his goods He likea the money made out of them, of course, but that is not an absorbing point with him. He is satisfied when i he has made a modest fortune, and moves on to make room for another man. j So that he has enough to give his never very nu merous children a sound education and a good start in life, and: procure the modest comforts of life, he is content. I j And this is how ini France you see the good things of j this world more j equally divided than in: England There are few colossal fortunes; but in the provincial towns pauperism is not known as an in stitution, which makes up for, it. I do not hesitate tojaflirm that riot only does the small French . bourgeois riot covet wealth, but that he is almost afraid of it He prefers comfort to luxury, j : He con siders 1,500 a 'year a very 6nug income. wnen ins government securities assure him this sum, I he knocks off work and prepares to make himself happy and comfortable for the rest of his life. j You may well imagine how amusing it is to hear sometimes that the good fellow has the reputation of being unmanage able and revolutionary. j He is so easily manageable that every time we have a new ministry he says to his neighbor: "i see iL t oo-ana-ao is made prime riadf minister; do you know who he is?" "Not I." answers the neighbor; "I had never heard his name before." jj And both seemed to be concerned about the new ministry about as much as I am concerned about the ministerial crisis in the Sandwich Islands. I Ho is so easily manageable that for peace' sake he will endure things that would rouse an Englishman to rebellion. He has the good fortune to live under a government that looks after him and sees to all his little wants, which makes and sells liim fireproof cigars, matches that have "struck" that is to say, which obsti nately refuse to strike and that keeps his public accounts and carries: them to the fourth decimal, a luxury which costs him a good fourth of his revenue in per sonnel and red tape, but which saves the treasury at least half a crown per an num! I ' t ; M . . The centimes column is guaranteed exact ! by evry government clerk : in i f 3 ixi ii'i. ii i -n 1'iauue, auu iuus it u iiiai xrenciimeu get consoled for the little errors which occasionally occur in the column of the millions. The- Frenchman is kept in order by a legion of civilians in uniform, from the prefect down to the bmnibui conductor, who takes him under his pro tection, demands his fare with an air of command, and sets him down at his des tination as if he were a parceL What ever his government is, he is constantly complaining ; of it; but the dear man ought to know that nations have the gov- erm?enthey eserTe- He generally accuses his administration of doing too much for him. Well, he is quite right, but he does not attempt to do anything himself. As a clever j writer 'on French manners said, ' 'He! is taken Oharge of, bag and baggage, by, the government on his travels, and carefully; looked after in his domicile as if he were a child."! The man clothed in government uniform as sumes that arrogant, j not-to-beques-tioned air which would send an English- man into fits. : ; i When the English appoint a new gov ernment j official, it is another servant that you add to your household. , When we French appoint a new government official, it is a new master that we give to ourselves to snub us or j to bullv us. I have this: an interesting illustration of Two young chemists (one English, the other French) were in partnership in Paris, and one day made up their minds to start afresh in Egypt, j Each wrote to his consul in Cairo. Th4 1 English man's letter ran thus: j ' ."Dear Sir I am about to open busi ness as a chemist in Cairo. Will you be good enough7 to tell me what are my chances of success in Egypt and what formalities, if any, Ishouldhave tocom ply with before entering upon the under taking? i Yours truly , - . j : "i "John." By return post he received a most po lite letter containing alt the detailed in formation he wanted. -L . The young Frenchman wrotet i "Monsieur le Consul General I am desirous of setting up as a chemist in Cairo. Dare I hope j that you will spare a few minutes of j your valuable time to give me such ulformation and advioe as you may consider fckely to he of use to me? With many apologies for intruding upon you, I have tie honor to be. Monsieur le consul general, with greo$a pespecu your most obediept and humble servant. f j Jacques. This letter was written four years ago. ! 16 dear felloe is still waiting for thai oonsurs reply. Of course, his Eng lish friend is now established in Cairo, comfortablw and prosperous, doing a roaring trade in pills with the new pro teges of her Britannic majesty. To Patrons cf AsheTille jPostoffice. In order to facilitate the prompt free delivery of mail matter which goes into effect in tnis city on Januaryjl, next, all parties are requested to notify their cor respondents to direct their matter to the number and street of residence. I (l V fivvnv P M HIDDEN TREASURES, Or Why Some Succeed jWhile Others M Fail. ' -.' : "Hidden Treasures" gives Iy forceful illustrations the secret of success in gaining fame and wealth, and shows how the road to success in life is open to every poor, honest boy in the land. It is a readable book, and j written in a clear, concise style. It j is worthy of careful examination by everybody, and will repay the purchaser by showing clearly "why some succeed while others fail." j W. A. Nelson, Pastor 1st Baptist Church. D. Ii. .Nelson, ' . j Editor Asheville Baptist. Sept. 7, 1889. :j Asheville, N. C., July 4, 189.-1 have made a slight examination of the con tents of this book, and it is j my I judg ment that it is a book of merit, and one especially adapted to the needs and tastes of young men. G. jC.j Rankin. Asheville, N. C, July 3, 1&89.- After examination 1 have come to the conclu" sion that llidden Treasures i a book of merit, and one that will commend itself to the public and especially, should every young man in ourcountryread it or some, similar work. I intend to' secure a copy for myself the hrst opportunity. Respt. Rev. T. Kl Brown Asheville, N. C, October! 11, 1889. "Hidden Treasures" is j a j wonderful collection of biographies j showing that individual effort is the mainspringpower upon which men succeed, j The: word painting -is of the best type. There is the crafty Rothschild at Waterloo, Yan derbilt in his little boat, Gould complet ing the maps after another had failed, Peabodr using the wood sawj Stonewall Jackson at Bull Run, DaniH Webster replying to Mr. Ilayne in jthe United States Senate, Field swinging Out the Atlantic cable, etc., etc. It is1 worth the money, Jno. W. Starnes, ' ' Supt. Buncombe Schools. j Bell. N. C, Sept. 2C, 1SS9. Mr. B. F. Brown. Dear Sir: I have carefully examined "Hidden Treasures" and as the result 1 can without hesita tion recommend it. Unlike a ! great many uooks sent out tnrougn agencies, it is something more than I gilt leaves and a handsome outside; the matter it contains! is well worth if the careful thought ! of the young. 1 "These foot prints on the sands of time are laid be- fore them in such pleasant manner that they will remember them, j The book has many things in it that! will interest any one '; whether he is a: business man or student. Faithfullv, H Rev. Geo. II. Bell. Asheville, N. C, Oct 15. 1889. Dr. Brown, Dear Sir: d take pleasure in recommending the work on "Decorum and! Etiquette" which I I purchased of you.! I have found it instructive and beneficial, introducing .many valuable suggestions conditcins; to selfl culture. Yours truly, G. B. Buell Agents wanted for the atove book ladies or gentlemen empioyea at a stated salary- Apply to B. IF. Brown, inn street, .suevine, j. ., or over post oflice entrance, Nc. 12? "2nd floor. Room No. 8 to the riffht'oi hall in Hen- dry block, N. Court Square I S I ; if I " ' "IS THE BEST UHI& PAPER 15 THE WGRLD." ! ! " ; I t ' Every Miner or Metallurgist, aal Every Iavestor ia. Mines Saould Bead It. Contains every thin? of interest land value ia min ingand metallurgr. Tie fullest mioin? news. The best coal, metal, and mininsyj stoci marled reports. i $4 a year for the U. 8., Canada, : and Mexico. THE 8CTHTm0 PUBTiTSTTTNQ CO. 37 Park Place, New York. Dtl B. F. ARRINGTON. fthV rooms on Patton A v-oniip. i ovor the i clothing store of C D. Blanton & Co. i Fillijfir teeth a specialty. Also treatment or i lieai jnims. h oelO-lp . ft. W. SCHARTLE, 4$ North Main: Street, APUDTO SMOKERS SUFFWIEXT If ilii want the best 5-cent cir offered i:i this citr call on me. I am ajrent t'pr GABEETT &i SON'S 2T 0. 11 CIGAHS. Tryne, and yon will use no other. ! A C. I)AVIS. ri I' H CORTLAND BROS., REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND Investment agents. ' I.'-!! Offits : No. 50 South Main street. Second floor.': -i 1 vt ; ; , .g. l. Mcdonald, 3f 1 3, f,: DEALER IN ' I ..!!' Stafje and Fancy Groceries, $untry Produce a Specialty. Xo. tl S Soatfe Main Street, Asheville, X. C. 14 If !uau want the best Family Groceries, CanntGoods, Confectioneries, Tobacco, Ci gars, Country Produce, or anything usually kept ifila first-class store, call on me. Always f reshfihd cheap.; octlO-ly A..t D.pgEILSON. '- VsSi CHAS. SEILSOX. 1GILS0N BROS. Family Groceries, m til PINE STREET. m ThejiM)3t of Family Groceries,Caiined Goods etc., ffc., constantly; kept. Fresh ' Country Prodtfee anp Good Butter specialties. Give us a call.' SelIQg strictly for cash, we can sell cheap. i iffr i ! . bhn G. Lindsey&. Sons, 65 Nrth Main Street, Asheville, N. C. ' : ! ;;Sr . i - j " are. oaring remains of Summer Goods at a great reduction, and are receiing from day to dayM.ew and seasonable stock o meet the tail anM winter trade. : Iu aMition to staple eoods. aich all must have, xjje are putting in a fresh lot of fashiona ble prl Goods, a full line of Boots and Shoes, for oiefi, women and children. Ourstock is all fresh aad of the newest for fall and winter trade. ... j "Vve teanufacture tin-ware, do all kinds of job wovk, and sheet-iron vork. Kooflng and gutterg a specialty. ve :j3-opose making prices as low as any legitimate man can do. Thanking the public for paf3 patronage, and soliciting a continuane of the i tme. we are I 3 v ery itespectiuuy, UUUil VT. UlllUOXil Ou OUllO. IV.D.R0WE, m Ms DEALER IN Italiid kz erican Marble, trrxnits, I:: 'Aimce Warehouse, Asheville, N. C. All :hds of Monuments, Tombstones, Head stones.' rns and Vases, Fencing and Crestinj made torder in the latest designs. K. i;.pt.l J. B. KAIRD. m Blird and Brother. Lexers in Family Groceries. Th'jnHest grades at lowest prices. Every thing family wants. kept. Country Produce and (f jd I Butter specialties. Giveu3a call 1- : M Will !?1 in quantities to suit purchaser. oct6m fl FIRE INS URANCE. Firfe, Life, Accident. -I i EWLLIJM & CO. "$ : At .the Bank jof Asheville, JvW' .-'..- Ml' LIasheville, 1ST. c. ' ; . " . . j ; Keesent the following companies, viz. : CASH ASSETS IX U. S Anglo-Nevada, of California, I $2,497,833 Contifet&ntal, of New York, 4.875,623 Hamburg-Bremen, of Germany. Lond Assurance, of ; England Niagafci, of New York; i Orienfeof Hartford, j j 1.129,604 1.53.995 237,492 1,667,692 5.064,179 SI. Pal Fire and Marine of Minnesota, 1541,061 Southern, of New Orleans, 43984 Westein. of Toronto, 1,039,232 Mbtual Aceident Association. Etia Life Insurance Company. I&cliant Tailor octlQlf ASHEVILLE THE Mge 8-)age BY Robt. M Fu ASHEVILLE, N. C. THE BARER FOR THE PEOPLE; It will be a large, 8-page, weekly paper, devoted to the ISoeial, Industrial " i ! . ! . - ii. ! - and Political interests of Western North Carolina. It will be the earnest , IN - ! ."- i endeavor of the editors to make THE DEMOCRAT useful to the great and variedj interests of this rapidly growing city and section. No efforts will be spared to make it entirely acceptable because of tts usefulness. DEMOGRATIO 11 tl be Dpmocratic in politics name antlrthe ife-time creed of its TH INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS OF THIS .SECTION ltural, Mechanical and Mining, will receeive 'special altenticn. urces of every county, the various enterprises of all the people, The ri will have constant consideration The department for the Home Circle As ' E DEMOCRAT is already of As lietil le and all the Western Counties, it will be an excellent Wium for ad tisers. Rates will be reasonable. Send i yourname v, ith t he cash at THE ASHEVILLE DEMOCRAT, f URMAN & VANCE, Editors, Asheville, N. C. We will thank anv one for anv namA I ; I i - J ; Territories that jwe may send ihe States or! Weekly Pape A, r, rman and David M. Vance ,L IN POLITICS emphatically and reliably so as its 1 editors imply. 2 will be complete. assured-a large circulation in the dtv j once. Address. i ; S' n 'e . . ... . rC-Dr uam "i inenas residing m s specimen conies of THE T)EMOClT ; ii' .. . x
The Asheville Democrat (Asheville, N.C.)
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Dec. 12, 1889, edition 1
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