New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-30
INDUSTRIAL FRANCE.
nv poprRT p. PORTER, MEMBER OF THE LATE
p TARIFF COMMISSION.
xv,crs AND TRADE IN THE WOOL DIS
y" TRICT

TRICT.
,o,, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuNEJ
p,,,',,,s MARNEl. France, Sept 30.-Rheims was
~, imnortant place in the days of the Romans ana
;ndoed. boasted a population of 20,OOo many
Gods centred here, and it became city OF conf
,oercial importance. 1t is to-day celebrated ahke
for its wine-cellars, its wOollen factories us
cathedral and its historical associations 10 say
nothing of the famous "Jackdaw OF khelns.
Colbert was born here in the Rue de Ceres h1
was the son of a merchant OF Rheims, anu
a stool in the cOunting-hOuse awaited tne
futnre statesman. But at twenty he obtained a
position in the War Office and from that foSo ~
fame. Indeed, 1t may be said that Rheims owes i.S
;unyortance from a manufacturing point of view, 10
its distinguished tOwnsman. Though INC ,n'nu
facture of wool is probably ancient an INDUSTRY
in France as in England, Colbert gave IL renewed
vioor nv establishing new factories, protecting IN
ventors inviting workmen from other countries
and in securing the home market Tor the rehch
m old cathedral of Rheims is one OF the hneSt
Gothic edfces in the world IL uhlteS' say .
violet le-Dnc. d" the true conditions OF beauty III
tbe arts-power and grace" Wlthln thls maghh-
cent church the Kings of France were crowned. It's
oIIo witnessed the Joyous tears of the Maid OF
Orleans when Charles VII. was crowned. Rheims
did not escape from terrible scenes during the Reign
+bo souars and streets and their bloody limbs dis
trihnted among the people. The mangled limbs OF
nriests who refused to take the oath TO the Con-
stitution were carried around in triumph. The close
of the eighteenth century IN Rheims witnessed
fagots in its public squares. and priests burned awe
amid shouts of " Vve la Nation" These crueitles
took place in the presence of all the municipal Off
GERS of Rheims and of five thousand armed National
Guards.
4 few years later Rheims was captured by the
allies. Then followed that quick movement OF
Napolcon. From distance he viewed the town
and dryly Observed:
"The ladies Of Rheims will soon have bad
quarter Of an hour"
M rigbt he had recaptnred the city and made his
.,,try nj I o'clock in the morning by torchlight.
The Inhabitants were transported with JOY. Hum
i,,tions and festivities followed 1t was the last
town NAPOLEON ever took. few days afterwari
occurred at Rheims the review of the remnants OF
that once splendid army. How was the great chlet
IMPRESSED as the procession of haggard men with
tattered garments and soiled accoutrements passed
him with falterng stepsl What scene Rheims
presented that day! The gaunt figures and w0etul
aspect of the houses, the broken carriages and
blaekened mouths of the guns. the crazy and tract
ured artillery wagons which denied past. Inc
general confusion of arms, battalions and uni
tb, vast military array which had so long stood
triumphant against the world in arms
Rheims again was invaded, and on September .,
1870. the Mayor surrendered Rheims to the King of
Prussia. who marched thther on his way to Paris at
the head of $4,000 men. For some time it was the
Headquarters of the German army after the conclu-
sion of peace.
The Department of Marne is perhaps better
known TO Americans through its celebrated cham
pogne wines than for its woolen stuffs, though
Rheims is the centre of one Of the most important
cloth districts of France. The wines of Epernay, of
Rheims of Chalons, are sent to all parts OF the
world. not over one-sixth of the production being
retained for home consumption. Some years the
production reaches nearly 25,000.000 bottles, of
which probably over 20,000,000 bottles are ex-
ported. the United States alone taking 100000
francs worth. But the woollen industry is more
important to France occupying in the vicinity of
this city no less than 10000 wOrkpeople each year
producing nearly 100000 pieces of cloth, valued at
$50, 600, 900. The following table shows at
glance the class of goods made at Rheims: