The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-10-06
.hE CITY OF METZ.
How tue Germans and French Get Along
Together in Lorraine.


had not been in Met twenty-iour
hours when | was informed that the
chief commissary OF the police OF tho
third section wished 10 see me.
found this pc.ronagc sitting in uniform
before desk in little room. With
out being cordial he was perfectly
polite. II appeared that | had not
given sufficient information concerning
myself in the printed police form
which had been requested 10 fill zap
on the previous night. The police not
only wished 10 know my name, nation
ality aud profession. but also the date
Of my birth and my religion. was
. also asked how long intended 10 stop in
Metz. and how | proposed TO spend my
time hore. The account | gave of my
self seemed TO be satisfactory; for the
inquisitorial expression had left tho
commissary's face at the close of tho
interview, and he was almost bland.
Tho police keep as firm IA grip upon
Metz in IA civil sense as the garrison
does IN IA military one. The town is
divided into six police sections, tho
chief commissarics of which receive
their Instructions from and make their
reports 10 central authority. Any
stranger who enters this place soon
becomes aware that nc is watched with
an interest that may or may not be dis
turbing according TO his degree OF
scnsibility TO such surveillance.
My first impression on coming here
was that the attachment OF the native
population 10 Franco was by no means
so strong ns the French would have us
believe. Nothing could bo calmcr
than the lifo of tho people, judged
from tho surface. The old French or
Messin stock seemed 10 have grown
thoroughly accustomed 10 the presence
of tho Germans In their midst, and
have become blended with them.
Closer observation has forced mo TO
IA very different conclusion. Metz has
been greatly GcrmaHizcd by continuous
immigration from beyond the Rhine;
but the Mcssins arc moro French in
sympathy than thoy were before tho
war. They mix freely with the Cor
mans in tho ordinary business
OF life. but the two elements
do not mix socially. There
are many cafes whore only
French Is spoken, and others where
one hears nothing but German. Even
those Lorraincrs Of the lower classes
who habitually speak in German patois
persist in calling themselves
Wrench whenever they can
do so with discretion. Young
Mcssins who were boys when
this city belonged TO France, and who
have served their time in the German
army, return 10 their old associations
rs soon as they arc free; and they have
the credit Of being more hostile 10 the
Germans than the older generation.
Yet indirect taxation falls less heavily
upon tho workman here than IL does i'm
France. Bread and tobacco-only TO
name two articlcs-urc much cheaper
here than they are on the French sido
Of the frontier. On the other hand,
trade Is languishing and work Of all
kinds Is hard 20 obtain. The Germans
have spent vast sums upon tho con-
struction Of forts, but they have been
careful % employ only German and
Italian laborcrs. The Lorraincr5 and
Alsatians are evidently regarded rs n
conquered people ready for rebellion.
All attempt at Cancellation appears TO
have been abandoned; and 10 looks az
IL the provinces were 10 be German
lied by the forced emigration Of those
who are bound 20 France by family ties
ns well rs by political sympathies. As
the inhabitants leave, their places aro
taken by Germans Thus the trade Of
Metz, which IA few years ago was almost
exclusively In the hands Of the native
population, Is now 90 large extent In
the hands Of the Germans.
An who have capital invested here,
whatever their political differences on
other points may be, nrc deeply dis
contcntcd with the new passport rcgu-
lations on account Of the injury 20
trade. A movement for pctitioning
the government 90 do away with re-
strictions 50 injurious 60 the interests
OF its own subjects IS on foot. And
the passport grievance has been sue
cccdcd by anothcr-unimpo by
comparison, but one which the Gallo
phil part Of the population regard az
an extra drop 20 their brimming cup
Of evaporation.
Until recently French money was al
lowed 70 pass currently here; then an
order was issued forbidding shop
keepers % accept IL. Tho Mcssins
have kept up the practice until tho
present day Of reckoning in all their
commercial transactions by francs and
sous. Thcy continue 20 do 20 in spite
OF the official order. II you enter a
shop 70 buy any thing you are told tho
price Of 1t in French money and are
expected % know what the equivalent
Is In marks and pfennigs. -Cor. So
james Gdzenc.