The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-03-28
A VILLAGE OF SOCIALISTS
From the Philadelphia Telegraph.

.
One of the most remarkable commu-
mites in Europe is little village on
the coast of French Flanders, in which
for more than three hundred years a
sort of socialism or communism has
prevailed, uumoved 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
Cesar established q port and a 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 a prosperous and important one.
But its downfall cams when Charles
III. sold Dunkirk, which it adjoiAs, 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 IVA. persuaded Louis Nv. 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 walk along the coast and had
strayed as far as Mardyck, when he
was overtaken by 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 cordiality of his
host that he spent a 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 1879. 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 colony of pure
French there, whose members, steadily
increasing in mum bers, should serve to
leaven the whole lump. He also de-
cided to make it a sailors village, of
which all the men should be bound to
do maritime service for him. On call
being made for volunteers to establish
such a 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 a sailor. At different
stages of its progress the colony Of
Fort Mardyck had to contend with at
tempts leveled against its privilege.
None of its opponents were successful.
however, and in 1873 Louis Nv. ratified
the concessions granted by his prede-
cessor by means of a decree, and re.
served to the Fort Mardyck people tho
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 &c
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 mora 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 mem bers of the community standing
in need of assistance. The remaining
portion of the land is allotted to the
of Fort MardyclS. each one
receiving at the time of his or her mar
rage about half an acre. Under no
may the Fort Mardyck
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
in inducing the villagers
to marry early in life.
Their fields invaria bly, produce more
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
1t sea, the Fort Mardyck woman does !
not depend for her support on his |
wages She is able to subsist on the |
produce of the land, and when the man |
-eturns his pay is intact As soon,
therefore, as a native Of Fort Mardyck /
receives his land and builds his cottage /
lie NAV regard himself as secure for /
lie; for should he be unable to save
enough money for his old age, he viii 1
be maintained ont of the common /
'und.
! The government Of the village is
purely republican The present mayor
S named Everart and Is a direct de- |
.cendant OF one Of the founders of the
place. I'VE manage our own affairs" 1
lie says, ''and defrzy our own expendi-
.ure. We built our public school by /
subscription, and an sure we never
,ost the state a SOU We are a very /
healthy people here. We marry early /
md lead regular lives. Families Of ten
IT twelve children are By 10 means
.ara and in a si7yia year 7 have rHglS-
cred as many as seven births of twins
1t this rate or population doubles in
hirty years / suppose that event