The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-04-05
A VILLAGE oE SOCIALISTS.
The Little Town in Flanders Where Pow
erty is Said to be Unknown.

| the coast OF french FLANDERS, IN winch
for more than three hundred years
| sort of socialism or communism has
prevailed, unmoved by the numerous
revolutions that have in all that time
swept over France. The place is known
as Fort Mardyck, and it is historic
ground. Here the Romans under Julius
Caesar established a port and fortress,
and from this place they set out on
their invasion of the British Isles. When
Roman rule in Gaul was ended, the fort
remained, and the port of Mardyck was
long prosperous and important one.
But its downfall came when Charles
II. sold Dunkirk, which it adjoins, to
the French.
1t was soon after this event, how
ever that the socialist village was
founded. Nor was that the last of the
Stuarts' interest in the place. For it
is told that when the Young Pretender
had, in 1774, persuaded Louis XIV. of
France to aid him with money and
men in his efforts to regain the throne
of England, the expedition was de-
layed by storm, and the leader of the
Jacobites was awaiting his opportunity
at Gravelines. One day he had set out
for a walk along the coast and had
strayed as far as Mardyck, when he
was overtaken by a heavy shower of
rain and compelled to seek refuge in
the farm of certain Andre Lamotte,
who, unaware of the quality of his
guest, received the Pretender with
great hospitality. The prince was so
delighted with the cordially of his
host that he spent week on the farm,
his officers being, meanwhile, greatly
alarmed at his disappearance. He is
said to have frequently revisited La
motto before setting sail for England.
The village of Fort Mardyck was
founded by Louis XIV. in 1870. French
Flanders had down to that time been
subject TO many owners, and its in
habitants were chiefly Flemish. At
any rate almost none of them were
French. The king deemed it well,
therefore, to plant a colony of pure
French there, whose members, steadily
increasing in numbers, should serve to
leaven the whole lump. He also de-
cided to make it sailors village, of
which all the men should be bound to
do maritime service for him. On a call
being made for volunteers to esta blish
such village, four families of Cucq, in
Picardy, responded. Their names
were Everart, Zoonehent, Bernard and
Goden. The king accepted them, and
granted them, for their own use and
that of their descendants, some three
hundred acres of land situated at Fort
Mardyck.
These men entered into possession of
the land on the understanding that
they were bound to submit to mari
time CONSUMPTION and to exercise the
profession of sailor. At different
stages of it's progress the colony of
Fort Mardyck had to contend with at
tempts leveled against its privilege.
None of it's opponents were successful,
however, and in 1773 Louis XIV. ratified
the concessions granted by his prede-
cessor by means of decree, and re-
served to the Fort Mardyck people the
exclusive right of fishing off Mardyck.
The village and its royal grant of land
have remained unaffected by the nu-
merous changes which have occurred
in France since Louis XIV. down to
the present time.
The area of the land grant, 800 acres,
has not been increased. But the popu-
lation of the village has grown, until
now it numbers more than seventeen
hundred. 1t is therefore becoming de-
cidedly crowded. The land is divided
into two portions. One half is let to
farmers. The rentals thus received
form the revenue of the village and
serve amply for the payment of state
taxes and for the distribution of relief
to members of the community standing
| in need of assistance. The remaining
portion of the land is allotted to the
inhabitants of Fort Mardyck, each one
receiving at the time of his or her mar
riape about half an acre. Under no
| circumstances may the Fort Mardyck
I native resign his ownership. He may
secure tenant for his share of the
| land. but no further transfer is permit
ted. This rule, which, unlike Others,
is marked by no exceptions, has proved
instrumental in inducing the villagers
| to marry early in life.
! Their fields invariably produce more
F; vegetables than they require for their
own maintenance, and they are, there
fore. enabled to derive a fair profit
from the sale of the extra supply
Moreover, while the husband is away
at sea, the Fort Mardyck woman does
not depend for her support on his
wares. She is able to subsist on the
produce of the land, and when the mar
returns his pay is intact. As soon
therefore. as a native Of Fort MardycL
receives his land and builds his cottage
he may regard himself as secure fol
life: for should he be unable to save
enough money for his old age, he viii
be maintained out OF the common
fund.
The government of the village il
purely republican. The present mayo
is named Everart, and is a direct de
scendant of one of the founders Of tn
place. eve manage our own affairs,
he saws. ''and defray our own eXpendi
ture. We built our public school b,
subscription, and l am sure we neve