Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-09
LAND THE PANACEA OF nEcLus.
No Need for Books IL Every Man Had
His Acre.

Paris Correspondent London Telegraph.
REGENTS events have brought Elisee Re-
clus, the geographer. into considerable prom
inence. The name of one of his near rela-
tives has been frequently mentioned in
connection with Valiant, the bomb throw
err whose dealings with some OF those who
are called gentlemen anarchists" were
detailed last week at the Assize trial. Elisee
Reclus now lives at Bourgla- Refine, not far
from Paris. and he has made some rather
Interesting statements about his geograph-
ical labors and hts views on humanity.
When living in exile in Ireland during
the second empire. he first began his study
Of general geography under the auspices
Of u past manager Of the Hachette firm.
He has now. after forty-three years OF
study, finished the last volume Of his work.
but he nn1s that lie Is too short TO enable
a man 10 describe the whole superficies of
the terrestrial globe. he has, therefore not
Travelled for all his facts, but has read up
;or them in books published in different
languages. These volumes he compares TO
express trains at the disposal Of thought
In geographical science NJ. Reclus de-
clares himself to be what he is in political
theory--an internationaiist. living without
legal frontier or positive laws, or rather
one who recognizes no borderland save that
of the infinite and no laws. except those of
liberty. He believes in free men: not the
men OF bouISet ana BarreS, the nOveliStS,
but men who work for their own living-in
one word the cultivators OF the soil NJ.
Reclus is. in fact. one who holds to the
theory that every rood Of land should main
tain its man, and he points out that a large
portion of the surface of the earth is un-
productive forest land, or what he calls
pleasure grounds" The Car of Russia
for instance. has forests thousands OF kilo-
meters In extent.
While such a vast amount OF land is be-
yond the reach OF the tillers OF the soil.
hunger assails people dwelling in Paris
garrets or in London cellars AT this mo-
ment. says the savant, when the fam
ishing and the rebellious ought to be ac-
corded the patch OF earth which is their
right. society allows them to seize the bran
irstcad Of the plowehnro. ana to propagate
barren and devastating revolution through
a world which IL weakened, but only wants
to revive" "Evervbody his own planter
OF potatoes and cabba yes." 10 the motto of
VI. Reclus, judging from the published re-
port of his utterances. He himself is even
ready to put on a flannel Jacket or blouse
to wear sabots. and to Join the horny-
handed ones in the field instead Of writing
bonks.
There would then be no necessity for
require them, and authors would be con-
scientious enough not try to write them.
For nv part. ] assure voa that I do not
ask anything better" This Is the hates,
version Of the peculiar views OF the VEN
cradle geographer and revoiutionist on the
future OF MANKIND. and his utterances have
caused fancful visions to arise OF the iynI-
tators OF Ravachol and Valiant peacefully
engaged minding sheen or planting the
humble potato. instead of making fiery
speeches In clubs or manufacturing ex-