Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-24
From Our Regular Correspondent
Paris Letter.
PARIS. Sent 7th-1s

PARIS, Sept. 9TH, 1879.
The Figaro has been interviewing some
of the communists who have Just returned
to Paris, and as the account is instructive
as well as interesting, I may lay brief
resume thereof before your readers. These
communists display the utmost joy at be.
ing once more free in France, and declare
that never again will they medde with
politics. None of them will admit hat
they ever fought. They mounted guard !;
they were informed against. but they
never shed a drop of blood. They suffered
much during the voyage to New Caledo.
mia, although the weather was fine and
they were well treated. When they landed
on the lie des Pins they were exposed fol
three whole days to steady downpour.
and then tents were procured and they
ran up small cabins. There we're five
villages, of which they were allowed full
liberty, and had only to report themselves
once week. After the escapes, however,
the reports were more frequent. Some
cultivated the ground, others bred PIGS,
others again worked at their trades which
they had practiced at home. Some, indeed.
who could do nothing, had to content
themselves with the government ration,
which was fresh meat every two lays,
preserved meat on the Monday and the
Wednesday, and bacon on the Friday.
Every day coffee, brown sugar, salt and
oil were served out. No wine was pro.
vided; those who wanted it bought it on
the sly from the English ships, or openly
at the canteens, where, however, it was
very dear-a franc and half the lire.
The communists were allowed new p.ir
of trousers every six months, and one
blouse per annum. AS for their chaussure,
they went barefoot most of the time. In
the evening they met at each others huts
smoked their pipes, played at cards and
dice, and talked over France and the
commune. They even had the theatre on
Sunday afternoons, the troupe being COM
posed of former artistes; but there were
no actresses, and although there were
twenty-five women on The lie DIES Pins
who had come out to Join their husbands,
not one OF them was ever seen on the
stage. Questioned as to how they first
heard of the amnesty, these communists
replied that the news leaked out from
those who were employed as servants by
the overseers. The intelligence was Off
cially announced at the end of April,
when the commandant read ont the names
of the first eleven hundred amnested.
He was greeted with cries Of Vivc Ia
liberte" " and "Vive Ia France" but not
of "Vive Ia commune" No one they
declared desired the commune again.
From that happy moment all work was
at an end, but they did not lose much, as
their toll was very poorly remunerated.
They could not complain of their treat
ment during the homeward voyage,
though they were badly off for fresh meat,
which was only served out once in every
ten days, and then it was simply COW beef.
The crew, however, were not better off in
this respect. Twenty-seven barrels and
later on thirty barrels of water were
placed at their disposal every day, but they
did not consider this allowance sufficient
and suffered much from thirst, especially
while in the tropics. Finally all the COM
munists interviewed expressed an inten-
ton to live quietly and work hard as soon
as they were provided for. and it is salts
factory to add that some have already
found means for obtaining an honest live
lihood.