Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-10

lar plan might be adopted for remedying
the defect in my calimanico." He thus
fell on the very process which has now
attained so much perfection. How Fon-
taiae laughed with joy when by means
of burning wisp of straw, followed by
a proper degree of pressure, the caliman-
leo came out beautiful and about as good
as that of Norwich He sold lots of it
at Exeter at half crown ward, realiz-
ing hundred per cent. of profit after all
expenses were paid. We do not know
that there is anything finer than this as
an instance of ingenuity and persever-
ance in the history of British manufact-
lures
Soon Fontaine had fifteen looms at
work on his calimanico, and to all APP
pearance he was on the road to fortune.
He got discouraged however, by at
tempts to Withdraw his workmen, and
to rival his manufacture. In fact, he
was too susceptible on this score, for the
world was wide enough for everybody,
and he ought to have held on in his
course. With characteristic unsttled
ness, he became weary of the business,
and contemplated emigration to Ireland.
We will let him tell what ensued in his
own words. ''Seeing that | had now
made one thousand pounds in the course
of three years, | thought | would leave
the place, and try whether | could not
find French church in want of a min
lister. | knew that there were many
French refugees in Ireland, so | went to
Dublin to make inquiries. | was there
recommended to go to Cork, and | ac-
cOrdingly proceeded thither, and found
there were several French families set
tied there who were very DESTROYS to
have minister" As a result of the ex-
petition, Fontaine removed in 1919
with his family to Cork, where he set
up as a French Protestant preacher but
the emoluments being nil, he continued
to dabble in yarns, dye-stuffs, and man
featuring industry. Preaching, indeed,
was his fayorite pursuit, for no man had
a more earnest desire to be useful in eX-
pounding the gospel message. His man
ufacture was taken up only as means
of livelihood. There is some historical
interest in his proceedings, for they at
forded a glimpse of the social changes
arising from the introduction of French
refugees into these islands.
At Cork, NJ Fontaine was at the
highth of his ambition. He was an adj
mired preacher, and he gained from his
small mandatory ample support for
his family. This state of things was too
good to last Discussions broke out in
the congregation, and considering him
self ill-treated. the hitherto too confiding
pastor resigned his Office. Some mer-
camille adventures were now tried, but
they only brought loss and veXatiOn. As
finishing calamity, the British parlia-
ment, in its then mistaken policy, passed
an act fOrbidding the export of wooden
manufactures from Ireland, by which
the luckless Fontaine was adroitly ruin
cd. What hand could he turn to now
Fishing, and exporting the produce OF
Spain, occurred to him as a grand idea.
With this object in view. FOntaine re-
moved with his family and the wreck of
his worldly possessions to Bear Haven,
where he rented the farms for his fish
cry.
In this new enterprise, with all his
diligence, he was unsuccessful, and, tC
add to his misfortune, he was pillaged
and cheated by neighbors in a thousand
indirect ways As climax, his house
was attacked by privateers, against whom
he for a time carried on a war for bare
existence. On one occasion he did the
state some service by his courageous de
fence. for which he had the good for
tune to be rewarded with pension OF
five shilIings a day. There is something
melancholy in what follows.
Broken down in health though not in
spirit. and relying on his pension, FOn.
tame removed to Dublin, rented house
in Stephens Green. and there for several
years carried on school for teaching
French, Latin and Greek. In 1921 be
lost his wife, and the shock so greatly
distressed him that he gave up his
| school. At this point, his personal mar
ratiye draws to a close, and all that fol
| lows is an account of his sons, seVera
| of whom emigrated to Virginia, anC
| founded families which rose to distinc
ton in the colony. We cannot speak
| of the work embracing an account of tn,
/ family as artistic in construction but i
| is valuable as showing US the struggle:
! of one of those honest and ingenious
| foreigners who, driven by short-sighteC
! persecution from their own country
/ contributed to the glory of England, the
/ kindly home of oppressed nationalities
W. c.