St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-10
Col. Robertson, Just Home, Talks Freely
of the French and Their
Home Life.
Results of Two Years of Careful Study
in That Sunny
Country.
The Culture of the Vino is Gradually
Growing Less--Interest-
ing Facts.
Questions of Sociology and Industry
Discussed--AnI Interesting
Interview.


culture, economic meteorology, manu-
features, etc. Col. Robertson had made
the tour of Europe many years ago and
seen the sights, and this time devoted his
entire time to study and investigation,
which was undertaken for the beneht or his
own people. The results OF his laborS will
III time, should he retain his health, be laid
before the public. He was seen yesterday at
his residence, IA Nina avenue. and con-
scented to give GLOBE reporter some OF
the information which he had procured
abroad. He was asked particularly in rela-
ton TO the industrial and political condi-
tion of the French people, which, as is well
known, he had thoroughly studied for years
previous To going abroad, and on these
points the following very interesting talk
was obtained:
l look upon France as the great
center OF Europe on account of its homo
geneity Of race. Although they were Orig-
nally Gauls, which is a characteristic of this
people, they have Teutonc elements in
their population, but they are now
homogeneous in race, thus unlike
most other nations of Europe, their civil
iZatiOn is homogeneous, too. The Reyolu-
ton of 1889 changed the condition of the
people because the feudal system was de-
Stroyed and the lands were divided among
the people, giving them liberties they never
had enjoyed before. The spirit of the Rev
olution has prevailed ever since. The will
of the people is considered, as in the cleo
ton Of Napoleon L, although this was no
doubt influenced by the army. The French
are
ESSENTIALLY A MILITARY PEOPLE.
The Gallo blood, which is Celtic blood,
makes them waTlike. NapoeOn's war with
Germany was for no other purpose than to
unite his own people to preserve his
power, and prevent his overthrow.
The cause of the war was only a
pretense, and there was no nation at
that time with which the people
were more ready to engage in war than
Germany. The French feel that they have
long dominated the movements of Europe.
They believe that by their authors, their
teachings and their aid they made the re-
public of the United States. They recog-
niZe, as in 1S4S, that their revolution pro-
duced reflex action in all Europe; they be-
lieve they are the greatest people on the face
of the earth in knowledge, and look on all
nations of the world as fit to come TO them
for instruction in everything. This national
egoiSm results in national isolation which
largely withdraws them from community
with the progress of civilization in all other
countries of Europe and America. They
have led in matters of trade and
The influence OF French taste,
of French invention has long dominated the
world. but now the competition of other
nations, and especially of the Germans, has
caused the leSsening Ofthe success of many
French Industries. There is a very large
population of Germans now engaged in
trade of different forms in France, more,
have no doubt, than of any other nation.
Many of these are born in the country.
others have lived there many years and
speak the language of the country, but the
prejudice against them is very intense, and
the French now demand a tax by the gov
eminent upon all foreigners. The Ameri-
cans in France are few, comparatively,
being chiefly in Paris, and representing va
rious interests, commercial and professional,
and living upon their incomes in good style,
constituting what is called the American
colony. Perhaps the chief pref
udice against Americans arises in
Paris from the discrimination between
importation to the United States of works
of American and French artists, the former
being free, or nearly so, and the latter
highly taxed. The schools for teaching
art are quite or almost free-open TO the
world. American students of art, both
sexes, excel from their
OPPORTUNITIES OF EDUCATION
there, where they have all the appointments
and appliances necessary to SucceSS-and it
is the same in all departments of knowl-
edge and art. They look upon this as a very
unfair discrimination, and | consider it SC
myself. This is view entertained by
American artists in Paris, of which there
are many, and by students other schools
also.
There are two branches of industry
among the French people, one agriculture
and the other manufacturing. which are
diminishing rapidly from competition and
other causes. The silk manufactures of Ly-
Ons, which is the center of this industry, is
brought into competition with the Germans,
Swiss and other nations, and with the
growth of silk manufacturing III the
United States, which is depriving
them Of their old markets. The
great staple of French agriculture-wine
and brandy, requires brief explanation in
this connection. The culture Of the vine
for the production of the wines of France
has seemed to be until within the last
twenty-five years assured as one Of the most
profitable industries Of the country, taking
the lead of all agricultural enterprises and
furnishing its chief staple for expectation;
but within that time what are called there
diseases of the vine have cut it off. The
first OF these appearing there upon the vine
and not understood by the French people ]
am fully satisfied, was a fungus growth,
which, from my previous studies OF
plant growth and decay in
vegetation, found to be evidence either of
Don-adaptation of the climate or natural
decay OF old age, as in the potato rot, OF
plants propagated by cuttings or CRAFTS.
On investigation in France l have learned
that its vines were introduced there MANY
centuries ago and propagated since then by
cuttings, now indicating the approaching
death from old age. After the fungus had
done its work on the vines there appeared an
insect called the phylloXera, now regarded
as the chief cause of the death of the vine and
which has deteriorated or DESTROYED the
vines of France TO such an extent that the
wine makers are unable to supply a
sufficient quantity of pure wine for home
consumption, much less for expectation.
The same is true of brandies. L have all
the statistics at hand and all the docu-
mentary assistance of the department Of
agriculture of France and am fully con-
WINGED that the only way to
RESTORE VINE-GRowING TO FRANCE
is 10 20 back to the original source of vine
supply TO Europe; to resort to the bes L
native varieties of the vine plant in Asia,
chiefly In the countries of Asia Minor. and
begin with the progressive culture of
vines from the best seedlings. In nv
studies OF this subject l have travelled
through the great vine regions of France
and visited their agricultural school-the
cher point for experiments in vine culture.
ana IN which experiments embrace the stocks
Oh American vines upon which to graft the
wine vines of France From all nv Studies
of this subject l am perfectly CONVINCED
that this attempt will not result in The nrec-