The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-29
How the French Peasants Live.


by the revolution OF 80, but 1t has not been
easy heretofore to obtain detailed informa-
ton which would enable US to compare their
present situation with that Of the rural pop
ulations in other countries. The want Is now
to some extent supplied by n careful study
Of the condition of agricultural laborers In
the north aud northeast OF France, whose re-
suits are communicated by II distinguished
economist, NJ. HENRI BAUDRILLART, to the
Rerue DIES DeLr Mondes. In reproducing, how
ever, some Of the facts brought out by his
researches, 1t is necessary to remember that
the departments In question are the most
prosperous in France. and that we see in
them the French peasant at his best.
We shall mainly conflne ourselves to the
data which exhibit the earnings and mode OF
life Of the unlanded portion of the peasantry,
tho agricultural laborers pure and simple,
who depend upon their hands for support,
as distinguished from those who own the
house they live in, together with piece Of
ground. What Is true OF the landless work.
man will be true a fortiori OF the peasant
proprietor. According to NJ BAUDRILLART
it is precisely this lowest category-tho low
est II classes are to be graded by the amount
OF capital possessed-that has made the most
progress during the past fifty years. The
rise in the rents paid to landholders, the in
crease in the profits made by tenants, cannot
for moment be compared to the advance In
wages. which have nearly tripled. On the
other hand, the cost OF the articles consumed
by the agricultural laborer has by no means
been augmented in corresponding degree.
Clothing is less expensive, bread Is no
dearer. and vegetable products which con-
stitute such an important part Of a work.
mans nourishment, have not risen very
much in price. The minimum pay Of an
agricultural laborer in Picardy. Artois, and
French Flanders is Is cents a day, and he is
invariably fed by the employer. In summer
the wages are much higher, ranging from
IS cents to IS cents day, while in the harvest
season reaper often earns So. Farm hands,
who are lodged as we'll as fed, receive from
$50 to $40 year. These rates seem very
low, when compared with those which obtain
in this country, but they are far higher than
those which formerly prevailed in France,
and the purchasing value Of the wages will
be made clear when we point out the cost OF
lodging and clothing, and show what consid
cradle savings are made by the French
Let us glance first, however, at the food.
which, as we have said. is usually fur
nished the agricultural workman by the
farmer who employs him. Bread still holds
the most prominent place in the nourishment
OF the rural population, but it is OF much
better quality than formerly. The black,
tough, and often indigestible bread Of half a
century ago is now seldom seen. Again,
during the last generation the only kind OF
animal food eaten by the rural cultivator
was salt or smoked fish, and pork in very
limited quantities. At the present time not
only has the consumption OF pork SO much
increased that it has become an article OF
daily food in most families but beef and
mutton, which formerly were almost I'M
known, are now frequently added. Thus ut
Amiens, where thirty years ago only fifty
or sixty horned cattle were consumed daily,
there is now market for five times as much
butchers meat, half OF which must be
credited to the adjoining villages. By way
Of exemplifying the nourishment OF agricul-
tural laborers, NJ. BAUDRILLART cites the
case Of large farm where every man en-
ployed was given every three days seven
pounds OF bread, besides an ample allotment
of soup, and, in addition, several ounces of
butchers meat twice day. The usual bev-
erage in the north and northeastern de-
partments is cider or beer; wine has almost
wholly disappeared from the workman's ia
BILE in these parts, and the culture OF the
vine has we'll nigh ceased in Picardy.
For the cost of clothing, NJ. BAUDRIL-
LART has recourse to a monograph pub
lished by NJ. LIE PLAY, which sets forth all
the disbursements made for this purpose by
the family of peasant who was only slight
ly raised above the category Of agricultural
laborers by the ownership Of a tiny plot OF
ground. Like them, however, he wore
wooden shoes, costing % cents, on week days,
reserving his leather shoes, costing $40, for
Sunday. The total cost of his work-day
clothes amounts to S24, and that Of his Sun
day garments to $49. Thus far we have
spoken only Of the head of the household
the outlay for his wlfe's clothing is computed
at $22 for the everyday garments, and SIT
for those of Sunday, the latter including u
merino gown and pair OF gloves. The dis
bursements on account OF the son and daugh-
ter combined are estimated at SAG for work
ing-day and Sunday apparel. 1t must not
be supposed, however, that this outlay repre-
~
most OF the articles are made to last many
years. Neither must we imagine that the
cost Of clothing the whole family falls on the
head OF the household. Among the agricul-
tural laborers the wife tolls as sturdily as
the husband, and the children are set to work
at an early age.
The rents paid by rural cultivators in the
north of France are still quite moderate, and
the habitations are less open to objections
on hygienic grounds than they once were.
A cottage OF the smallest size can be hired
for from $40 to SIG year, while for from
s25 to $50 a laborcr can obtain four-room
house and the use of IL small garden. The
furniture is still meagre enough, though
here, too, there are signs OF progress within
the last half century. AS n rule the arrange
ments for sleeping are wholesome, mattress
es stuffed with clean white straw being
stretched on strong wooden bedsteads.
The pillows are stuffed with feathers. and the
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