Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-18
LOUIS BLANC.
THE "REcoRD-UNIoN CORRESPONDENT
HAS A CHAT WITH HIM.
his Views of the Political Situation In
France, and the Outlook
for the Future
PARIA November %, 1850.

PARIA November %, 1880.
When | asked the concierge for Mr.
Louis Blanc he directed me to flight O
stairs and told me to climb up to the very
last story. l had mounted five fights
when l found myself at the extremity Of
the banisters and before the only door Of
that landing. On ringing, middle-aged
woman opened to me, and before she
would allow me to pass my nose ever
across the threshold, asked if Mr.. Loui:
Blanc had given me a rendezvous for that
morning. On my answering in the affirm.
alive her severe features relaxed into ar
expression less untractable, and she sol
EMMY led me through rather large entry
into small hall, and then into parlor
This room was fitted up with the greatest
simplicity there were sofa and chairs Of
red velvet; carpette in the middle of the
room, a small table over it with a book Of
autographs aud albums on the mantle.
piece black clock and chimney ornaments
OF the same; on the clock, as its head
piece, a large bust in marble of his brother,
Mr.. Charles Blanc. On the wall were two
engravlngs OF paintings relating to patriotic
events, besides framed testimonials of the
working corporations of France, suspended
to one OF which was an immense wreath OF
laurel leaves with bow of green ribbons,
whaca ends xuara With LOT
weaved in gold expressive of admiration
for the eminent orator and historian True,
the room led out on to balcony overlook.
ing the garden of the Tuilleries, and pos.
sessing one of the finest views of Paris, but
the ceiling was low and every thing seemed
small. l could not help thinking how diff.
ferently
THAT GREAT PATRIOT
And eminently honest man was recon-,
pensed for his valuable services, from the
manner in which more recent statesmen
have grasped upon the fat of the land in
payment of their attention to public affairs.
Gambetta now occupies g palace furnished
in all the luxury of the extravagant days
of the empire, he has a cook formerly be.
longing to grand seigneur and to whom
he pays $4,000 francs year, he rides in
luxurious carriages and commands regi-
ment of servants so it is with others, but
Louis Blanc is the pride of all French.
men because they can unhesitatingly point
to him and say There is an honest man
he has gathered together scarcely enough
money to keep him comfortable In his old
age.
Suddenly the door was opened and there
stood little man, so very small in his
dressing.gown and slippers that although
| had often seen him at the Chambers and
stood beside him as he talked to mutual
friends, | was startled. After cordial
greeting he invited me into his study,
which he said l would find warmer. This
room was small, quite filled with furniture,
and Judged was used as dining room as
well. 1t looked out on to the court and
was heated by large porcelain stove,
that, without a view of either garden or
street, or the cheerful flames of fire,
thought how cherries the surroundings of
this bright mind. [ expected to find, on
seeing Louis Blanc so near, person APP
pearing much older, but he impressed me
as being younger than when | had seen
him at the Chamber his hair is very thick
and intensely black, and [ do not think
that among his ebon-like locks a single
white hair can be found; his eyes are
coal black and very large, the pupil almost
entirely filling the socket; his complexion
is clear and his cheeks rosy ; the only
mark of age to be found is his mouth his
teeth are long and yellow, and whereas in
L l. Z. -. ~
his upper teeth seem to be wanting. He
began by speaking of his heaith-he has
very lately been quite i'll, the effects of a
painful and dangerous operation he under
went some few months ago. He is not yet
able to leave his room, and complains that
the extreme cold, which has suddenly come
on, increases his indisposition. There is
so MUCH SIMPLICITY
In his manner and conversation that you
can scarcely believe there sits the man who
began his labors some fifty years ago, who
has played an important role in the history
of his country, and has covered 1t with
glory through the eloquence of his pen and
his oratorical powers. He speaks low and
very slowly, sometimes with difficulty,
which is doubtless owing to his feeble state
of health, vet when he delivers a speech,
which frequently occurs, he manages to
send out his voice in such manner as to
reach every corner of an immense hall
without single word being lost. AL
though Louis Blanc is well acquainted with
England, it's government and institutions,
and the condition of the laboring classes,
he seems to know little of America, com.
paratively. In speaking of the working
men of France, he said that their salaries
were much lower than those OF England,
but that since in France the people were very
sober, requiring less food and drink to sus
tain them, the amount they earn compares
favorably with what the English laborel
earns, since the latter requires, on account
of the climate, a greater amount OF food,
and his habits entail greater expenditure.
Little has ever been done for the working
classes of France, and it is only since the
Government has been called republican
that they have had the courage to do any.
thing for themselves. All through the
country they now have their regularly or.
ganized committees and meetings, and they
have developed some good thinkers and ex.
cellent orators. The principal question
discussed with them is the hours of work.
The time of labor is not limited, and the
workman is oftentimes retained twelve and
fourteen hours per day, to the detriment Of
his health and strength and the interests
of the patron. Louis Blanc said that
there was soon to be bill presented at the
Chamber to limit the working hours to ten
per day, and that it was his intention ii hi;
health permitted to make speech in favor
of the bill. He said that il 1t should mass