The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-02-04
COOPERATION IN FRANCE
FamILssTeRE or csRsg.

The question Of the day 10 centered in
one vOrd, and ihst word il Reform" But
here is yet smother question, still deeper
v, " w hat is il that nsss wants p Jus
tice. Here, in one word. IL the s"mmMm
bOmum of oil that is requir, d. and the corOl
larry to that word 10. ''Peaceably il We can
forrihly if We must." ;"
II, then, the Reio' 10 we seek is based
upon Gods eternal justIee, which oil the
punDy efforts OF frail humanity rannot gain
say, how mush better is II to do that Justice
with a good grace than be compelled Let
he following aItirle answer thai question
which, as a prelude 10 that. justice, 10 eer-
ainly worthy Of triaL Moreover, as ma
chinery Is rapidly encroschIng upon human
labor, an population ss rapidly increasing
on the other hand, It is, indeed. high time
o consider the dangerous position il which
society is placed betwIxt these tKo extEemi-
and we ms . depend upon it that the aues-
tiOn Of Reform, which has now rome ~ for
judgment, will no longer be tr fed with
The t.Familistere Of Guise,' = in France
was founded by NJ. Godin Lemaire 20 years
ago, and 10 still in the full tide Of success
as far as We at present know. What effect
the presebt disastrous war may have had
.pon The above truly noble experiment. or
upon Ia belle France in general, time will
show but this we may aseert, without .
>hsde OF contradiction, that the sacred soil
II that beautiful country can resp no good
as long as q single inch Of il is polluted by
he foot Of foreign toe
M. GOdn LeWalrs WAS borne of poor par
ents, IN 1917, at EqueAberess, and passed
his youth, till IL yesrs old. in the lsbors Of
the field and the lImeklln. He then trav-
eled for ten years. In 1914, still simple
workman, be returned to his native village.
and directed his thoughts to the founding OF
this establishment. The problems which BE-
undertook to solve, were The equitable dis
tribn;rOn Of tile products Of labor, and the
diffusion Of wealth, or its equivalents,
among the poor. ...
The buildings are composed Of two par
alelogrsms, with court 10 the centre, and
covering 324 yards Of ground, the most
extreme apartments being only 100 yards
apart, the wings are sIto in The form Of
parallelogram, and have an area of 200
yards Cellars and barns are al The dispo-
sition of the several families whose privacy
is perfectly secured. The interior courts
are more than 200 yards wide; and from
80 To- 40 long, and are covered with glass.
Communication is effected by staircasee
and balconies. Each story is provided with
fountains of pure water in great abundance
Every arrangement is made to secure neat
ness, purity and convenience.
The iDhabtant of the "Familistere" has
his servants, like the rich man FIT 7-6ve
persons are constantly employed to keep
the buildings in order; and every day the
courts, stairca ses and balconies, and ell the
apartments, whether Cor eDj"yment or util
ity, are swept and cleaned hy them. The
'sal-res Of these persons are paid BY the
general administrations ..u
When tbc workman and bis wife returns
from their isbcrs they end large kitchens VI
heir service, from which they can procure
food at prices as low ne If they had cook ed
themselves.
ne and beer, and cider are always
resh.
Every desirable srticle OF feod is found
N the common storehouse, and of the best
quality
E4ch day the physician takes at the bu
reau the names OF the (few) sick.
Extensive bathing privileges are accessi
BILE to all, and portable baths are sent to the
invaiids-sll costing nothing
Parlors, lecture rooms, play rooms, and
library ale at The public disposal
Gardens, bowers, walks, and the tranquil
waters Of the river Ou>e surround the
buildings, and furnish the tenants walk 2,
fishing and hoatipg while whoever wishes
can cultivate some chosen plat of ground.
The feature Ofthe "F am lstere' that has to
recommend it chiefly to its inhabitants, il
The training and education il furnishes gratis
tor their children.
Cribs are SO arranged as to be accessible
night asd day TO the mothers. and good
nurses are provided for their care, when the
mothers find it-4secessary leave them.
At six years Of age the child is expected
10 know how to spell, TO count hundred, to
add On the counting frame, and to draw upon
the slate. He then passes in'o the second
class, where be learns to read and cipher,
but at 10 ervals be returns TO the former
stage to take part IN the preliminary exer-
cIses.
The use ef corporal punishment is sup
planted by the recreations, the drgree, the
rewards, distinctions and compliments, and