New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-03
INDUSTRIAL FRANCE.
nv ROBERT p PORTER, MEMBER OF THE LATE
ID TARIFF COMMISSION.
vi,
rpvr,rE MANUFACTURES IN NORMANDY.

nortly due to its picturesque location on whaI
Michelet aptly called the first river iii France, the
river most capable of civilization and Improvement
the Seine. Between Pont de PArches and Rouen
the Seine meanders round its countless islands, franz
ing them at sunset in waves of gold, while all aohe
the banks the appe-trees see their yellow ana reu
fruit reflected in the water. All along It's COURSE
from Troyes, through Paris and Rouen to the sea-
the Seine allows itself to be cut up and DIVIDED al
will goes to seek manufactures, and lends tnsi It's
water. The tunnel into which the tram dasheS
spOils the grandeur of the scenery to those entering
the city as did. by railway from Paris. Enter
Rouen by the upper road early in the lnornins' anu
one is amazed at the panorama" inc srooi' i
crowned hills with their country houses neio anu
there the Seine with its little ISLANDS anu lts SnpS
half-hidden by the mist on the ngnt DAM e'oeploo
and towers, whole phantasmasorla Vi
roofs with the dew of night still upon them ana
S..;a IN tbo rising sum- The old Norman
ctv is RAPIDLY changing and the modern town, the
osneritv of which is founded on textile industries,
is taking its place.
Some of the old Gothic city, with its anic cross
WAYS dark and narrow streets crooked, Winning
courts gable-ends and turTets, pointed fronts ana
carved beams wooden balconies, krusty shutters,
and oddly carved DOORS still remains. But municipal
ordinances and modern progress respect not IAN
tosv and originality" and under the pretence of
III.
the working people these old worm-eaten, mouder-
ing remains for past generations must go and be
renlaced by rows of undressing brick dwellings,
the only adornments of which are lace curtains
white stone steps, and cOlored shutters lhere ~
enc street in Rouen yet left that according 10 inc
local historian, has undergone no renova'loh'
Such as il was three centuries ago. such Is IL To-
dny The same confusion of dislocated WOODWORK
and angular skylights the corners of which seem
IL 4Ia oct
nj the bottom like a radiant apparition the Cathe-
,ral towers aloft browning itself by its gigantic
spire" This is graphic description of the old Rue
die rFpicerie as il looks to-day. The Cathedral AT
Rouen is one of the grandest in Europe, and over
shadows the whole city. 1t was the work OF sev-
cral centuries Speaking of quarter of ROuen
that has disappeared within the last year, NJ. Aube
"a gifted young author of Rouen, says:
Broken stalls, rckety lofts. wOrmeaten floors
half rotten shanbles, al breaking doMn' tootoains
coming TO pieces eXhaling as 1t fails naheIesSS
smell as if of a graveyard, an underlined odor OF
mould and filth which ehokes one ane makes one
sick 1t is like civilization disappearing anu
leaving behind nothing but heap OF 9ones anu
ashes scattered on every side The old gigantic
ems alone, respected by the axe, proudly falSe
their heads above the ruins and seem TO toretell
the return of spring
There are many remarkable edifces in Rouen be-
sides the Cathedral. The magnificent Church OF
Saint Quen excited my admiration as much as any
building on InS tonllltul lho Nhui'h Va ''"''i'
Maclou, though possessing neither the austere
majesty of the Cathedral nor the poetcal i'm
mensity of Saint Quen, has perfect elegance and
unity of its own The Court of Justice of ROuen Is
said to be the most wonderful monument in its style
existing in Europe. The Belfry, the Arcade and
the Fountain, all found together, form n curious
group of civil edifces. The famous RouVel, or
silver bell for centuries called to arms the citizens
of Rouen to defend the Parish privileges. The
~ :: 81, esx~fao ufY1vtv INIT
old clock dates from 13S9-the oldest in France
Notwithstanding their diversity of age and style,
these three different edifces form the most charac-
teristc group. Says NJ Aube
All those old Gothic forms, vaguely profled are
admirably blended and connected The sharp
rooted Arcade, laid like bridge across the street;
this high BelTy tower, reaching to the clouds WIN
its bell that sings. its clock that chimes this Foun-
tain with sprnging waters shading under It's moss
that gallant god aud wanton naiad: these rI'ted
dials: these chubby cuplds; this Ola shephefd'
with his sheep grazng-all thal CONSUMES, mpo o
mated etching of which the Imagination OF an ar
fist may dream
The want of space forbids even superficial dip
into the rich history of Rouen. Charlemagne was
there in the eighth century. Imagine Rouen on
that day. William the ConqucrOr returned there
to die. and his unburicd body was deserted by his
sons and finally taken to Caen and buried by an
unknown knight. Richard j. was born at Rouen,
and his heart is Inferred in the Cathedral, for he
loved his Norman birthplace. Joan of Arc was
burned alive here, and n miserable old fountain
around which ragged children play. marks the spot
where she suffered. The NOuuans never loved the
English too well. Failing 10 conquer Normandy the
English next tried to "rlin the manufacture OF
Rouen by importing there cheap woollen goods
If must have been before the days of tariffs so the
wooen cloth makers, meeting at CrolX de Pierre,
marched from there to the Harbor, tore into pieces
1 L, IA. mods aud threw INTO tie
Seine a whole cargo of ship which had anchored
there. Having done tins, they kindly called the
Kings attention 10 the fact that IL endangered tile
industries Of ROuen TO grant England the liberty Oh
sending goods in free of duty The Normans ne
lieved firmly in protecting home industries, ana TO-
day the Northwest of France Is the most Hour~hing
from an industrial standpoint. From Rouen comes
that most distinguished Protcctionist Senator,
Pouyer-Querter.
The revocation of the Edict of Nantes reduced
the population Of Roucn and brought misery to the
GROWING point. They lived in Normandy on the
grass of the field" aflirms historian. The III
depeudent industrious. ustice-lOying NOTmans cared
little for especially Louis XIV and XIV The lat
ter 18th the POmpadOur was c0Olly AT Roucn
and the carriage went in silence through the streets.
Rouen was opposed to absOinte monarchy. bnt had
hopes for Louis XIV. and he was welcomed and
dned with great magnifcence. Bonapaite, First
Consul. came to Rouen with Josephine; aiterward
Napoleon l. with the Empress Marie Louise.
Napoleon was at least not an unwelcome guest, for
under the Empire ROuen again resoundcd with the
activity of the artisan her ruined fabrics were re-
stored, her empty warehouses replenishcd. The
vast internal consumption Of the Nation, deprived
OF all foreign competition, rapidly raised from the
dust the once prosperous manufacture which the
coniscation of the Revolution had to all appear
anees destroyed.
Twice during the present century has the city