New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-20
LAST OF THE WALDENSES.
ENFORCED EXPATRlATION OF THE REM
NANT OF \ HEROIC RACE.

NANT OF \ HEROIC RACE.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBcsLl
Geneva, July 5:
The romantic and tragic history Of the Wal
denses has reached its final chapter, and the rem
nant of that indomitabe people will presently
be known no more in the wild places that have
been sanctiied by the blood OF their ancestors
few centuries ago they nurnbeTed 10000 souls.
At the beginning Of the present century, when
their enemits began TO tire Of prosecuting them,
they numbered about 1000, distributed among
the valleys Of Fressiniercs and QueyTas. In the
ValOnise there was none LEFT. Since the great
massacre of 1855 when no less than 5000 persons
were cXtermina;cd at a single stroke in the Baume
Vaudoisc, the few surviving families have by de-
qrccs disappeared. Driven back among the In
accessible HEIGHTS which overlook the valleys. and
robbed Of their little remaining cultivable land,
the jewellers in the Vale of FreSslniercs were re-
duced to a state of dist rcsS while the people OF
the Valley of Qucyras are little less miserable,
but still in needy circumstances.
Man having done his worst the very forces u
nature seem now to have turned against them
Storms. floods, avalanchcs and landslips have de-
prived them Of the little productive soil Vhlch 10
NAMED 10 them. Their little mountain homes,
crushed under falls Of rock, have been in many
places abandoned. Life is becoming fearful
where the naked rock is seen on every hand, where
carly frostS of autumn and the late frosts OF
spring render cultivation quite impossible. They
keep I'D the struggle manfully, however, and need
but little 10 enable them 10 live. Black bread
made of rye and bran. Of which they prepare .
sufficient quantity once year, and which
hard enough to need breaking with a hammer
this with milk diet, little salt pork and a few
potatoes. forms their subsistence. Even this food
cannot he had now, and the country is fast DO
coming sterile and uninhabitable.
II is now about sixteen years since the Rev.
" Il. Frecmantle. who visited the district, found
that the Valley of Fre>snicres was being slowly
depopuated. The help which he asked for and
obtained on behalf of the poor people was not,
however. sufficient to enable them to live. 80
that in spite Of the affection which they feel for
their miserable home, they see that they must
periorce leave it. Emigration has become ne
ccssity. Some of them have gone TO La Plata.
where they have had but indifferent success;
others have departed and their whereabouts arc
unknown. Help has been given, however.
Protestant committee formed al Lyons has been
able 10 assist the more needy. Ten families from
tie Village Of Dormouse were enabled 10 emigrate
TO Algeria, tney have been put In possession
of grants Of land at the village of MaraboutS
They had hard time at first, but are now IN a
fairly DroSpPrOuS condition. OWING 10 the EFFORTS
of the Societe Protcstante de ColOnlSatiQn de
Paris. twenty-five other families from Dofmhlouse
have been conveyed 10 the village of GUARD. which
is distant a few kilometres from Ir0lS- Marab0utS
To complete this sad work Of expiration 10
all that is now left TO do. And 10 DO IL funds
are needed Emigration Is costly. Inc french
Government requires each family to possess az
least 500 as a means Of subsistence whilst await
ING results Houses must he built ana Tools
bought and the Lyons Committee ana me society
in Paris find that they have exhausted their funds
There are still a few families at Dormllouse ana
a few poor isolated creatures for Whom grants
, of land have not and cannot he obtained. In me
valley at Neolicrs Frcssniercs and elsewhere tere
are other families who in the most DIRE as
trcss and ask for aid To emigrate. An oiter has
been made Ia enable them 10 go 10 Iunls, ana
the Protestant Society, finding the terms much
| more favorable has accepted il. In Iunls me
land is for the most part cleared, SO thar cnHl,,
votion is much less expensive. There is lana
enough for all Still. although the expense OF
emigration is reduced to about one-halt what IL
would be in other circumstances II is necessary
Ia lodge and feed the emigranis until they arc
| able 10 get in the first crops. In these cltcum-
| stances an appeal is being made 10 Proestahis
| in all parts to help forward the cause ~ -
! asked that an cndeavor should bc maze 10 si'o
| The few remaining members Of the WaldensiAn
| pcoplr and give them an opportunity OF beglhptnS
| life afrcsh in new country. In TINS way, '.o
| little community, which seems to ne aoout I"
disappear altogether. may be enabled 10 tsM
new lease of life and prosperity