Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-01-22
THE COURIHR.

THE COURIER.
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X. IL. WARDEN, I"isOfs'
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THURSDAY MoRSrSe. JAN. @, ls74.
THH Hon. Joseph Medill. late Mayor
81 Chicago, and the ablcst Editor the
Chicago 1ritaae evey had, lie making
o tour Of the old world. He has been
nsny weeks in France anl large
part Of that time In Paris. He il pc.
culiarly . practical writer, a gentle.
aiAn OF fine culture and very decided
ability. He was many years ago Edi-
Tor Of what Is now the Cleveland
Trader. BY sharp turn. Horace
White and his fricnds secured major
tty OF the stock Of the Tribune, aud
Ncdill was voted into subordinate
positiop; since that lime, though =
proprietor Of the concern, aud much
OF the time contributing, cditoTiaiiy,
to its columns. yet Mr.. Medill has been
engaged often IN other pursuits Also,
since Medill's retirement from the
chief editorial chair. the paper has
Jailed to advance; It has rsftakcn Of
sha over.wecning ambition Of ite new
head, without tue proper balance
vheel Of principle; II hse been driven
into the dyspeptic excentric!ties Of its
Tilfnl ruler, and consequently has
Greg bean embarrassed hy tho shoals Of
troubled waters. e
Mr.. Medill has written from Paris,
several exceedingly Instructive and
interesting letters, which have appear
ed in the lri5sse. We have mover
read mors entcrtaipipg LISTERS from
any tosrist in the old country. His
iast letter bears date December 37th,
snd appear. IN The Chicago T;w-
5une Of the 18th instant. Ia this
letter he treats Of the characteristics Of
The French their habits Of shrin and
economy, touching their ipdnstries,
saeir food and thcir clothing; alloI
their pride Of aatiouaiity !; their swind-
ling propensities towsrds foreignsrs j;
thelr fashions and their peculiaf do
nsestic reistions. He says Il = perfect
Il amasing how they are recovering
itom the terrible blows received dnf.
ing The Franco rnesiaa war, and Il.
szibatsA Il Ill 10 thcir wonderful thriss
and economy.
In speaking OF the resources Of the
country, he ssye they are boantiful,
agriculturslIs aonsidered, hat qnite
naodeeats IN minsEals, that the supply
Of cost and Iron Is very scanty. The
most Of both thcse articles being sup-
piled from England and belgium, and
shat their chief mines 81 Iron ore and
onal were in Alsaec and Iosfaine,proy
inces, taken FROM them BY Germany.
He says that IS people they have the
best faculty Of turairk everything 70
account Of any people IN The world ex-
sspt the Swiss
He says that although our resources
are vanity supericr to these Of france,
and though Ffsnce keeps 500, 600 msn
constantly under arms. YET her wealth
increases much fAster than onrs, and
that at this time hHr wealth Is al least
twice that of the United States. All
this he sscribes 70 the universal Undue
sry Of the people and their rigid ccon-
5sny, especially referring t. the wo-
men OF Franco in these respects.
While he Gays GO many mcn eat ont
the substance Of the people, under,
a<ris, there arc, cay two millions Of
uomen who more than I'LL their
place.; that the idle lady class in
Fsnce II very diminutivs il numbers
10 comparison with the same class in
this country that the French women
seem 10 monopolize every Avocation
IN the eitics, for which they possess
sufacient physical strength, and that
IN The rural districts they labor ID .
very considerable extent beside the
males in the Aeids The rsofle. he
ssys, have no slop-buukess for refhse
food. With the greatest care they
prepare only food sufficient for the
meal, and oil crumbs, If any, are laid
by for future uso.
He says that while they are the An.
shors of ali the fashions, nine-tsnfhs Of
tho people de not pretend to follow
Them, bat arc an innstrious example Of
economy in apparel, wearing suits for
ysarA and that they arc much diverted
b zee the people Of other nations fol.
lowing the vaaariss Of the demi-
1hondcs, regarding American women
. specially foolish in this direction.
These fashions sre invented ~ . trick
Of commerce, which the people Of
France say they ere not snch foois ~
70 follow.
Mr.. Mediu writes that be notices IN
the Journals Of the day that the man.
tna-makers. milliners, hair.dresseri
md costumsrs Of Paris were, during
the holidays, going to present y. 6ar