The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-02-10
FROM ABROAD.
From Mansfield LIberal.l

From Mansheld Liberal.
Mines France Dec, &, 1880.
"Gath," of the Cincinnati Enquirer In letter to
his papers from this country last summer sad a
friend who had lived here many years told him
"the French we're nation Of thieves and liars"
This is rather broad assertion, and most any one
would refuse to accept 1t as correct without addi-
tional testimony, though it were made by as close
an observer as Gath" himself, and I am glad to
say l have moi, found 1t so.
In these letters want to keep within the truth
always and try to be fair and If their weak points
or those that appear 80 to me- are touched upon
do not forget that in many things they are su.
perior and far In advance us. l am not preju
diced enough to make too little Of the good quail
tiles In the French character nor patriotic enough
to cover the bad in our own. While we are ahead
Of them In many things to be proud Of, we are
not, think, up to them In honesty, one Of the
qualities referred to above. Confidence games,
thieving, grand and petty swindles, great and
small, are much more common, and are carried
much nearer to perfection on our side Of the
water. Here they must be more honest, for they
treat each other and strangers as II they thought
60, and In America this Is not the rule, In the
hotels the people do not lock the doors Of their
rooms when absent, though proprietors are mo-
liable unless you do and to landlords being eX.
orbtant or trying to take advantage Of you In the
bills, It has not been my experience. On the
French steamer was surprised to see the gentle.
man in the next room to mine, left fne watch
and jewelry in his room all the time where they
were in sigh! Of any one going along the hall
and hall where any one could go, and here
many things are left about that with US are kept
under eye, or lock and key. Servants have access
to places and things they would not have in
America, and believe sometimes have control Of
money for NEE ing the current expenses. Al
Paris one day / gave q coaohmRn q twenty franc
piece in payment for ride; he handed me, as
supposed, the right change, and put 1t into my
pocket as II 1t was for one don't like to show their
ignorance, and II you try to count hastily money
that you are not familiar with you are lost; thai
is get bewildered, and never can get II right, and
giving him few sous for hlmself-"pour bolre"-
l was making rapidly of, but was stopped by his
clamor and violent gesticulation. Examination
Showed me he had handed me the fill amount
leaving me to give back the proper fare, and thiI
they always do, whereas with some New YORK OF
Chicago cab drivers you are lucky ifyou get back
anything. 1t seems strange that more sharp En-.
gl!sh and American rogues do not come here for
1t must be tempting field. Shop-litters, for In
stance might ply their vocation with great profit
aud indeed Dr. De Camp told me that a couple Of
Englishwomen had been detected awhile ago who
had made comfortable fortunes in this way in the
large stores Ia Paris Another thing one is forced
to admit, although 1t Is anything but pleasant t
do so and that is the greater safety for ladies rav
cling alone II had grown up daughter
would much rather she would travel alone IL
the United States, although there she could hard
" be alone In car Without other ladies' whilI
here IT Is ,he case on every train owing to the wa
the cars are made,
As we crosse the bridge leaving Avignon tn,
l4lst Regiment, agout 1900 men, was on dress pa
rade along the river bank Just outside the CIT!
walls and they presented very good appearance,