Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-11-03
Cooperation i'm France.

Cooperation i'm France.
At the present time when general atten-
ton is being turned to questions of labor
reform, the following account from cor
respondent of the New York Tribune of the
workings ola successful cooperative scheme
in France, will be interesting:
Toe "Familis tere of Guise' was founded
by Godin Lemaire twenty years ago, and
is still in the full tide of success. Godin
Lemaire was born of poor perents, in 1917,
at Equesheress, and passed his youth. till
IL. in the labors of the field and the lime
kiln. He then travelled for ten years In
1874. still a simple workman, he returned
to his native village, and directed his
thoughts to the founding of this establish
ment The problems which he undertook
TO solve, were the equitable distribution of
the products Of labor. and the diffusion of
wealth, or its equivalents, among the poor
The buildings are composed of two par
allelograms. with court in the center. and
covering 32i yards of ground, the most
extreme apartments being only 100 yards
apart. The wings are also in the form of
a parallelogram, and have an area of 200
yards Cellars and barns are or the dis
position of the several families whose pri-
vacy is perfectly secured. The interior
courts are more than 200 yards wide. and
from 80 TO 40 long, and are covered in with
glass Communication is effected hy stair
eases and balconies. Each story is provid
ed with fountains of pure water in great
abundance. Every arrangement made
to secure neatness, purity. and conve nience.
The inhabitant of the "Famllistere" has
his servants, lie the rich man. Fifty.five
persons are constantly employed to keep
the buildings in order. and every day the
courts, the stair cases. the balconies. and
all the apartments, whether for enjoyment
or utility. are swept and cleaned by them.
The salaries of these persons are paid by
lrLe general administration. When the
workman and his wife return from their
labors they find large kitchens at their ser
vice, from which they can procure food,
prepared by experienced cooks, at prices as
low as if they had cooked it themselves. =.
Wine. beer, aud cider are always fresh
Every desirable article of food is found in
the common storehouse, and Of the best
quality. Each day the physician takes. at
the bureau, the names of the sick. Ex-
tensive bathing privileges are accessible to
all, when portable baths are sent TO the
invalids. Parlors, lecture-rooms, play
looms, and library are at the public dis
posal. Gardens, bowers. walks, and the
tranquil waters of the Ouse surround the
buildings. and furnish the tenants with
walking, fishing, and boating; while who
ever wishes can cultivate some chosen plot
of ground.
The feature of the "Familistere," that
has recommended il chiefly TO its inhabit-
ants is the training and education it furn-
ishes gratis for their children. Cribs are
SO arranged so as to be accessible night
and day to the mothers and good nurses
are provided for their care, when the moth
ers find it necessary to leave them. AT six
years OF age the child is expected to know
how to spell. to count hundred, to add
en- the counting frame, and to draw upon
the slate He then passes into the second
class, where he learns to read al cipher,
but at intervals be returns to the former
stage to take part in the preliminary exer-
cises. The use of corporal punishment is
supplanted by the recreations, the degree,
the rewards, distinctions and compliments,
and the publicity OF these Testimonials. -
Honorable distinctions are awarded upon
the principle of noting the assiduity and
progress of each week, not the degree of
knowledge acquired. The crown of first
merit can even fall upon the feeblest ofthe
class. Every day the children are seen,
with their little spades and rakes, arrang-
ing the garden paths, and keeping every
thing neat around the buildings, one of
their own number preserving order. The
gardens have never yet paid their expen-
SEES; but the assistance of capable man
inspired with the same sentiment as the
foun der, would give strong impulse to
horticultural industry.
Two councils, composed of IL members
each, superintend the "Familistere." Both
are elected by secret ballot, one from among
the men, the other from the women. Every
person of Is years of age is entitled to vote,
and is also eligible for Office. The council
Of men is particularly occupied with organ
izing insurance institutions, with questions
of cooperation. and the distribution of the
funds, which are often examined and dis
cussed in open conference. 1t sustains
order, prepares the festivals, gives its
opinion upon works IN progress. takes cog
pizance of the various services and their
results, and decides upon the employment
of the profits realized. The council of wo-
men occupies itself more particularly with
all that relates to domestic affairs-clean-
illness, ventilation, the quality of the pro-
visions, the care and education of the chill.
dren, in short. everything that concerns
internal order and tranquility.
Such is the moral side of the s'Famil-
listere" Its material side we have yet TO
consider. In April, 1853, the foundations
of this .'palace for the people" were laid.
In 1861, 800 persons lodged there; the
second part OF the establishment being be-
gan in 1852 and occupied in 1866. Tba
buildings are elegant and solid; carefully
constructed in every detail, and have re-
turned fair rate of interest on the capital
invested. The land (about 16 acres) cost
&C, 900 francs S12. 0OO-and the buildings
and property connected, fixtures, &c,
S152, 000 The total rent received is s6, 936,
or At per cent. All the suites of rooms are
equally commodious, but differ in price
according to the hight of the story. Each
chamber is provided with press in the