Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-11
The City that was Taken.
METZ AT THE PRESENT TIME-How THE FRENCH AND
GERMANS GET ALONG TOGETHER.

METZ AT THE PRESENT TIME-How THE FRENCH AND
GERMANS GET ALONG TOGETHER.
l had not been in Metz twenty -four hours, writes
a correspondent OF the 81. James Gazette, when
was Informed that the commissary OF the police OF
the third section wished TO see me- / found this
little room. Without being cordial he was perfect
ly polite. 1t appeared that l had not given
sufficient Information concerning myself in the
printed police form which had been requested to
NIL up on the previous night The police not only
wished to know my name, nationality and
profession, but also the date or my birth and INV
religion. was also asked how long intended TO
stop In Metz, and how proposed 10 spend my time
here The account gave OF myself seemed to be
satisfactory; for the Inquisitorial expression had
left the commissary's at the close of The inter-
view, AMI he was almost bland. The police keen as
firm grip upon MeLz in civil sense as the garri-
son does in a military one. The town Is divided
into six police sections, the CHIEF commIssaries OF
which receive their instructions from and make
their reports to a central authority. ANY stranger
who enters this place soon becomes aware that
he is watched with an interest that may or NAV
not be disturbing according TO his degree of sensi
bility 20 such surveillance.
My first impression On coming here was that the
attachment OF the native population to France
was by no means SO strong as the French would
have US believe. Nothing could be calmer than
the life Of the people, judged from the surface.
grown thoroughly accustomed to the presence OF
the Germans In their midst, and to have become
BIZ nded with them. Closer observation has forced
me TO "A very different conclusion. Metz has been
greatly GermaniZed by continuous immigration
from beyond the Rhine; but the Messins are more
French in sympathy than they were before the
war They mix freely with the Germans in the
ordinary business OF liTe but the two elements do
not mix socially. There are many cafes where only
French Is spoken, and Others where one hears
nothing but German. Even those LOrrainers of
the lower classes who habltually speak in German
patois persist In calling themselves French when
ever they can do so with discretion. Young MesSns
who were boys when this city belonged to France
and who have served their time In the German
they are free; and they have the credit OF being
more hostile to the Germans than the older gem
Grafton Yet direct taxation falls less heavily upon
the workman here than It does In France Bread
and tObacco-only to name two artices-are much
cheaper than they are on the French side of the
frontier On the other hand trade Is languishing and
work OF all kinds Is hard TO obtain. The Germans
have spent vast sums upon the construction OF
forts but they nave been careful to employ only
German and Italian la6orers: The Lorrainers and
Alsatians are evidently regarded as conquered
people ready for rebellion. All attempt at concil-
iaIton appears to have been abandoned. and it
looks as me OF were sr 20 De
TO France by family Ties as well as by political
sympathies AS the Inhabitants leave, their
places are saAen lew veas aao was a Sne sraae OF
siyely in the hands OF the native population, IL
now to O large extent In the hands OF the Ger
All who have capital invested here, whatever
their political differences on other points may be,
are deeply disconnected with the new passport reg.
ulatiOns on account OF the injury to trade move
ment for petltioninR the government to do away
with restrictions so injurious to the interests OF
its own subjects Is on foot. And the passport
grievance has been succeeded by another-unlm-
portant by comparison, but one which the Gallo
phil part Of the population regarQ as an extra
drop to their brimming cup OF exasperation.
Until recently French money was allowed to
pass currently here; then an order was issued
forbidding shopkeepers TO accept IT. The Messtns
nave kept up the practice until the present day
OF reckoning in all their transactions by francs
and sous They continue TO do SO In spite OF the
Official order. II you enter shop TO buy anything
you are told the price Of It In French money and
are expected TO know what the equivalent ID In
marks and pfeniga