Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-02
A CHOCOLATE CITY.
Interesting Details OF "A Model French
village.

village.
When the son OF the great chocolate
manufacturer, Menicr. was married in
Paris the other day. the workmen of the
Eenier establishment sent pillow of
roses Us their bridal gift. which was an
improvement upon the custom which
sends pillows and cushions of flowers
only 10 funerals here. But the Menier
workmen have good reasons Tor the
graceful tribute. Their employer has
not strewn their path with roses, but he
has shown, on n large scale, how pros
perity and comfort and good-ieeling
among his workmen are aus much the
foundation of flourishing manufactur-
ing village as its tons of exported goods.
The MCnier chocolate. although the
best in Europe, is not II whit better than
our own Philadelphia Whiteman's, ii rs
good. But the factories mt Noisiel make
town of themselves on the banks of the
Narnc, and their active proprietor Is
one of the powers of France "A repre-
sentative manufacturer of the solid men
who supply for the republic what the
great bankers used to do for the empire,
confidence, and when needed, the sinews
of war. The best test of the security of
the French republic is found in this adj
hesion of merchants and manutactur-
fashion to call them under the monarchy,
and who used to be solidly Bourbon and
Orleanist.
The details of this fragrant manufac-
ture, the huge hydraulic engines on the
Earne, the amount of water-power, the
sugar, cacao nut and packing boxes re-
quired-this last n business OF itself
with the busy women at work on the
dainty envelopes of tin foil and yellow
papers, although of much interest. might
be in other shape, and. instead of the
chocolate city, this might ne an IRON
city, or glass, or cotton, equally on the
same good basis as that OF Noisiel. The
town of Saltaire. in England, at the
famous works of Sir Titus Salt, probably
approaches il in thrifty detail, and there
are American manufacturers who lend
themselves to many plans for the COM
fort and improvement of their men. But
koisiel seems to be pattern and to pos
sess in itself all the modern improve
ments. The cottages are close to the
works, each with its four rooms, its
good cellar and garden, and for which
the rent is twenty-four dollars year.
Flowers, fruit and vegetables are cult
waited in these blooming gardens, and,
although the women are largely employ
ed in the factory, there are arrangements,
rs will be presently seen, for tightening
the household cares. The schools mt
Eoisiel are maintained at NJ. Menier's
expense, and they are graded from the
infant school, where the children 90 at
the age of three years, 10 n day nursery
for the still younger ones, who are taken
care of in their tiny cots in tidy, cozy
rooms on the one hand, and the upper
schools, where the boys and girls are
taught to the age of fourteen. The
branches ARE those of n good French
education, with needlcwork, singing,
bookkeeping and drawing. All this j.
conducted Mt NJ. Menicr's expense and
without n sous cost to the married en-
'ployees. So that one great difficulty of
manufacturing towns. where the mothers
have to be busy all day and their chill
dren left to themselyCs S (and the matches)
seems to be very squarely met at Noisicl
in the EcOle GGrdieHne. From the battles
of year to the time the boy or girl il
ready to go into the factory, 1t is under
care or instruction, and this last fits these
children to find good positions either Mt
Eoisiel or elsewhere.
There Is library also belonging TO the
operatives, and savings bank, which
they are encouraged to patrunize But
the most striking feature of the place,
after schools, are the cooperative stores.
There are no store-orders, IL appears. at
Eoisiel, of the sort that are so hateful
and oppressive to workmen in this Coun-
try, although the Meniers are in position
to make rs good profit out Of these rs
any Northern manufacturer or Southern
planter here. The workmen at Noisiel
are their own shopkecpcrs; they get the
profits and the benefits of the low prices
of the wholesale supplies. Meat, gro
ceries and other articles of daily domes-
tic need are sold mt low prices and good
quality. the membership of the associa-
tion being entirely made up of the choco-
late workmen, the thrifty ones who get
the benefit of their savings in n double
sense.
We have given some space to this little
French Arcadia, because IL seems to hold
the solution of many vexed questions. 1t
is the pleasure of this wealthy manufac-
tureT TO furnish schools, libraries and
good living homes for his men. and to
see them well into cooperative societies
like the savings bank and the stores, but
the workmen themselves, in this coun-
try Of better wages. might, with n little
forethought, have the same sort Of shops.
and especially the same kind of day
nursery establishments. so that all the
little children too young for school would
be sure of warmth, care and comfort
while their mothers went out at work
koisiel Is. in fact, an answer to n sum
well worth working out, for both mill
owners and operatives. - Philadelphia
Ledger.