Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-23
FRENCH EMIGRANIS FOR yiR.
GINA.
A Colony Of Patriotic Exiles from
Alsacc and Lorrais e to Settle
Near Washington.

WHAT MANNER OF PEOPLE THEY ARE.
A telegram in yesterdays STAR from New
York stated that two hundred families from
Alsace and Lorraine are preparing to settle in
the neighborhood OF Alexandria, Va. From the
Alexandria Gd<ette of last evening we learn that
some time will be devoted by these immigrants
TO the inspection of the several tracts of land
which are in the market in that section OF Vir-
ginia. They desire not less than four thousand
acres in body, though they would prefer a
much larger quantity, and Will be governed by
the price and location of the land. Tle colony
now numbers about two hundred families, aud
are skilled in arts, manufactures aud farming.
They are all from that portion OF France cap
tured by the PTuSsisnS IN the late war. and
leave their native country for America. rather
than become Prussian subjects. They propose
10 form joint stock company, locate 4 town
and lay ont farms, sc. Their purpose il to eX-
clude all others from the colony, bat those who
come with them, tor the term of FIVE years,
during which time no one of the colony will be
authorized 10 dispose OF any portion of the lands
purchased and embraced within their survey. IL
they can be suited in Virginia on good terms,
they say they can increase their colony to two
thousand families, without any trouble. The
Gazette says: "We hope that Messrs. Green &
Wise may be successful in pleasing them, and
that our citizens viii make every effort in their
power to meet the wants and wishes Of this en-
terprise, which, If successful. will be Of great
value to this section ofou state and will lead TO
succession of similar enterprises"
The natives of Alsace and Lorraine, no one
need now be told, are leaving their homes and
their fresides, not By hundreds but by thols-
ands. Thousands OF them have gone TO what is
indisputably France; thousands have gone to
seek and find sympathy and friendship In Bel
last among the Irish, and thousands have come
here. Since the LIST of January last. between
six and seven thousand have reached New York.
OF nearly all these the "Societe Alsscienne-
Lorraine" has taken care. Numbers have been
procured places and situations OF all kinds, as
painters, GLACIERS. hair dressers, basket makers
milliners, searstresses and household servants
And the hegira continues still, and the most
singular part of 1t seems to be the utter aston
ishment which each and every one of them ex.
presses, and evidently expresses sincerely, to
lind that any one else expresses surprise at what
they have sacrificed, and at the extent to which
they are attached to la belle France. Many of
them are very intelligent people, and some OF
them speak French, German and English. One
OF them, on being asked in New York why they
did not remain in Alsace and Lorraine aud be.
come Prussian subjects, answered. Impossi-
bic! We could not unite ourselves with the
enemy OF our country, the people who devas-
tated our fields, insuited US in their march, con-
quered us at last and starved cur compatriots
III Paris. 1t would have been infamous"