The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-04-29

LaboreFs In France.
There il thriftiness in tho French char
aoter, which preserves tho people against
an excess in wine. All save more or less.
Almost every one has HE or her small scono-
mics.
In tho towns the mechanic puts by in the
savings bank. In tho provinces there are
benefit societies, guaranteed by the State,
whereby subscription OF about IL Cd Eng
lish month, the laboring man, in case Of
sickness, obtains the best medical aid, and
two francs day for at least three month";,
IL he 10 unable to work. His wife is attend
ed in childbed, and should he die sum 10
advanced toward his interment, with .
further guarantee that doputation shall at
tend his remains to the cemetery. The latter
proviso 10 not without weight there 10 . liv-
ing feeling that 1t would be painful to be
carried to the grave without . follower;
ssDust to dust," and no ono near but the
priest and the man ct the trench with his
spade! In relation to this, shall tell you .
true tale. Not many months ago . hearss
was ascending the steep Rue de Clichy on ito
way to Montmatre, bearing cof6n Of poplar
wood with it's cold corpse. Not soul fol-
lowsd-not even the living dog OF the dead
man il he had one. The day was rainy and
dismal psssers by lifted the hat % 10 usual
when funeral 10 passing, and that was all.
At length it passed two English navvies who
found themselves in Paris on their way from
Spain. A right feeling spoke from beneath
their serge jackets. "Poor wretch !" said
one man to the other; ono one follows him !;
let us two follow" And the two took of
their hats, and walked bareheadsd after the
corpse Of stranger to the cemetery Of Mont
matre.
The French are close and saving, and tenn
perate - . nation, because, among other
things, they have no work house to fall back
upon. II they are lazy or improvident they
know the consequences. 1t 10 painfully in
structive to observe the industrious habits OF
the small landed propristors. mean Of
those who oan call quarter or half an acre
their own. Their lot 10 incessant toll, bro
ken only by the annual holiday. Before the
day breaks they are on their way to the field,
and in the field, with spade or mattook or
with bent back, the night overtakss them.--
Bread, very waxy looking choose, . pitcher
Of water, or Of very small wine, 10 their
daily fare. Animal food 10 % rare - it 10 or
had wont to be in Scotland. Apples, onions
and garlic are the dessert. These are the
people who do not trouble themselves with
politics, who care nothing about progress,
who are contented to hold soul and body to-
gether, and save few francs to dover .
daughter and to provide against old age
They are not insensible to the value or On
improved agriculture, but - yet they look
suspiciously upon improved agricultural i'm
plements. But il farmer had threshing
machine he would like it al to himself. He
is yet stranger for confederation in the
useful. Yet signs Of change are evident
There 10 an earnest and intelligent class OF
economists in France who are slowly but
surely making their influence felt. The doc
trine Of free trade is ripening every day. 1t
goes greatly against the grain in many d.
rections at present, but az intelligence az
tends, 30 certainly will every truth extend
and fructify which it represents. London
Star.