The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-07-28
! Leason for &c southern Pe0pls

We could not anywhere find better
lesson in the science of economy and pro-
gress for the Southern people than the
example of the French. 1t is admir-
rably stated in the following article from
the Sedalia Mo- Democrat, which we
viii commend to the attention of our
readers
France is the most prosperous coun-
try to-day in Europe-Probably the
most prosperous on earth-and the rea-
son for it is that the French people have
reduced the small economies of life to
absolute perfection. NothingIs wasted;
what America throws away France
would live on comfortably. Cooking is
a science. Whatever comes upon the
table appeals to the appetite. A piece
of meat, bunch of garlic, bread, few
peas or beans, and little wine-these
have been known to constitute a feast.
An American would starve ON such a
diet He must have bacon by the joint
or beef by the quarter; gallon or two
Of coffee; great masses Of dough, bitter
with saleratus or soda something fried,
fried, and always fried; and grease,
grease eternally. But this French
economy extends not alone to the food
but to everything else. Ten acres of
ground are enough for large family.
Twenty acres are a plantation. Fifty
acres are a fortune. Every foot of
earth is utilized. Whatever else hap
pens, there must be surplus raised for
the market--whatever else happens,
every year must see little money laid
by. This is. generally invested in
national securities, but the possession
of greater or less sum in the stocks
makes no difference in the daily routine
/ of the thrifty husbandman's life. Ac-
cordingly as he grows in worldly posses
sions, so, also, does he grow in constant
care and supervision. Understanding
well this rigid rule of French economy,
the government issues its bonds in the
small denominations From five francs
to FIVE hundred the whole range is made
especially to accommodate itself to this
we'll known trait in the national charac
ter. Then gold and silver are laid away
in every conceivable manner. Wher
the enormous war indemnity Of about
one billion Of dollars was laid upor
France by Germany, and the govern
ment, in great distress, was forced t'
appeal to the people, not single securI
ty was negotiated abroad. Every dol
lar of the loans were taken so rapidly a
home and with so much enthusiasm tina
even Bismarck, rot much given over t
expressions Of admiration, YES force
to exelaim "What wonderful race
We did not demand enough by half.
Old stockings that had been bidder
away for generations, came out witt
their contents The tide Of gold tina
.
wonderful Coins of the reign of Philil
Augustus were exchanged for bonds
Silver, that had been in the darkness
for fifty years, came suddenly forth t.
the call of patriotism. Instead of tn
amount required there were proffers o
four times as Ancl, and feeling o
real sorrow peryaded the masses &heI
it was found that the government n
| longer needed to borrow. The thrift
;. of her people had made France indie
pendent OF the world. In every citizen
house there was reserve fund Of hard
understandable cash. Not a bond wa
sold at less than par, and not dollar
worth of Interest irqm that day to thi
has ever been paid to otitel then
! Frenchman 1t was a home loan, an'
instead of one billion of dollars, it nigh
/ have been made five.
The French are also united people
with perfect love for their country
] The French never emigrate. No lane
is fair enough to tempt them from
France. A few adventures may g,
about the world for gain or glory, bu
the great mass of the population
whether in the cities or the country
worship their skies and their institutions
and ask for nothing beyond the suprem,
happiness of living and diving while
their fathers had lived and died before
/ them.