The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-25

AND InIs Is now IN france you see 5n0
good things of this world more equally
divided than in England. There are few
colossal fortunes; but in the provincial
towns pauperism is not known as an in
stitution, which makes up for 1t. l de
not hesitate to affirm that not only does
the small French bourgeois not covet
wealth, but that he is almost afraid of it.
He prefers comfort to luxury. He con-
siders $1,000 year very snug income.
When his government securities assure
him this sum, he knocks off work ana
prepares to make himself happy and
comfortable for the rest of his life.
You may well imagine how amusing II
is to hear sometimes that the good fellow
has the reputation of being unmanage-
able and revolutionary.
He is so easily manageable that every
time we have a new ministry he says to
his neighbour:
Il see NJ. So-and-So is made prime
minister; do you know who he Isl"
mot l." answers the neighbor; II had
never heard his name before"
And both seemed to be concerned
about the new ministry about as much
as | am concerned about the ministerial
crisis in the Sandwich Islands. He is SO
easily manageable that for peace sake
he will endure things that would rouse
an Englishman to rebellion. He has the
good fortune to live under governments
that looks after him and sees to all his
little wants, which makes and sells him
fireproof cigars, matches that have
''struck" is to say. which obsi-
nately refuse to strickland that keeps
his public accounts and carries them to
the fourth decimal, a luxury which costs
him good fourth of his revenue in per-
sonnet and red tape, but which saves the
treasury at least half crown per an
mum.
The confines column is guaranteed
exact by every government clerk in
France, and thus it is that FrenchmeD
get consoled for the little errors which
occasionally occur in the column of the
millions. The Frenchman is kept in
order by legion of civilians in uniform,
from the project down to the omnibus
conductor, who takes him under his pro-
lection, demands his fare with an air OF
command, and sets him down at his des-
tination as if he were parcel. What
ever his government is, he is constantly
complaining of it; but the dear man
ought to know that nations have the gov
ernments they deserve. He generally
accuses his administration of doing toe
much for him. Well, he is quite right,
but he does not attempt to do anything
himself. AS a clever writer on French
manners said, He is taken charge Of,
bag and baggage, by the government on
his travels, and carefully looked after in
his domicile as if he were a child" The
man clothed in government uniform as
sumes that arrogant, not-to-be-ques-
toned air which would send an English
man into fits.
When the English appoint u new gov
eminent official, it is another servant
that you add to your household. When
we French appoint new governments
official, it is a new master that we give
to ourselves to snub us or to bully us.
l have an interesting illustration Of
this:
Two young chemists Zone English, the
other French) were in partnership in
Paris, and one day made up their minds
to start afresh in Egypt. Each wrote to
his consul in Cairo The Englishman'E
letter ran thus:
''DEAR SIR am about to open bust
ness as a chemist in Cairo. Will you be
good enough to tell me what are my
chances of success in Egypt, and what
formalities, if any, Ishould hav~ to com
ply with before entering upon the under
taking? Yours truly,
"JoaN."
By return post he received a most po-
lite letter containing all the detailed in
formation he wanted.
The young Frenchman wrote:
MONSIEUR LIE CONSUL GENERAL-I
am DESTROYS of setting up as chemist
in Cairo. Dare l hope that you will
spare a few minutes of your valuable
time to give me such information and
advice as you may consider likely to be
of use to me? With many apologies for
intruding upon you, have the honor to
be, Monsieur lie consul general, with
greatest respect. your most obedient and
humble servant. JACQUES"
This letter was written four years
ago The dear fellow is still waiting for
that consul's reply Of course, his Eng
fish friend is now established in Cairo,
comfortable and prosperous, doing q
roaring trade in pills with the new pro-
teges of her Britannia majesty