New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-23

Two Volumes 0ctayo PIP $50 General Sls aaf des
Lois ct arrets. l.. Larose, Dtrecteur
NJ Ievasseur confines himself in these volumes
to the story o. the aborng element, which the
progress Of science and industry has made one
Of the most important factors in the history OF
the United States. It can be said OF him that
he speaks lex cathedral" not only because ne 10
a member Of the French institute, and pro-
fessor at the College de France and at the Paris
Conservatoire des Arts ct Meters but mainly
because he has lived in America He first came
to this country in 1876 and was sent back in
1893 on q mission ntrusted to him by the
Academic des Sciences Morales ct Politiques.
with instructions 10 study the condition Of the
American workman. NJ. Levasseur spent half
a year In the United States. visiting factories
mills. lodgings. etc. and talking in his fluent
English with the workmen as well as with the
manufacturers, the economists and the stalls
ticians
The two volumes are divided into three parts,
dealing with the workman at work, the work
man In his home. and "the labor questions"
In the first part. THE Workman at Work" the
author considers the laborer In regard 10 his
relation to the industry OF which he is one OF
the agents to the increase OF production
with which he is intimately connected by his
associations by which he tries TO fortify
himself. In order TO settle more advantageously
the conditions Of the labor contract. A formid-
able array OF figures, local observations and
statistics drawn from every Industrial town in
every State Of the Union, is presented by NJ
Levasseur. and his deductions are favorable to
the condition Of the American workman. He
shows that the average day OF labor In the
United States. compared with that OF most
OF other countries has constantly decreased in
length: and that America occupies a high rank
among the nations whose working day Is the
shortest AS TO wages. NJ Levasseur observes
that the decrease IN the duration OF the days
work has no: caused a corresponding decrease In
the salary. This is a fact" he says quite
patent in the United States: and to dispute it.
requires a bad faith which would limit observa-
ton TO few cases. in the general and complex
movement Of labor, or blindness voluntarily
caused by passion. The American workman
receives q very high salary. superior to that re-
ceived by his confreres in the other countries OF
the globe The situation Is thus very favorable
for the workman. who can give himself more
and more comfort: and. II we connect this with
the facts relative to the decrease IN the length
Of the days labor. we see that In tho United
States II is proven that truth is on the side OF
those who assert. despite the Socialist theorists.
that the condition OF the workman who knows
how and who is willing to work continues to
improve in modern societies"
NJ. Levasseur, In the second part Of his book,
''The Workman at Home" describes the latters
mode OF life with respect to food lodging. cloth
ing. pleasure and habits-''the sum OF comfort
which the workman procures to himself as a
man with the money he earns as laborer
The picture drawn by NJ. Levasseur Of the
bopoa 70 ~ the American workman might seem
an Illusion TO some European laborers. but 1t is
supported by facts statistics. descriptions and
testimonials which the author has gathered
from every portion Of the United States He
does not assert. Of course. that the American
workman Is living in a terrestrial par adise, but
he is astonshed at the evidences Of the intel
lectual and material happiness. which Is the
share Of the laborer In the great Republic OF the
New World as compared with the condition OF
his fellow workmen in Europe. This state OF
affairs is due not only to higher wages here
than in the Old World. but also to the fact that
at is possible to live with less money in New
York. Boston. Chicago etc. than in Paris. II
the family Of an American workingman spends
more for It's food. It is not because the dollar is
only equivalent to one franc. Frenchmen are
pleased to say, but II Is because the American
workman lives with more generosity. plus
largement' eats more meat. and sometimes
wastes more" The author describes with ad-
miration the neat lodgings Of the American
laborer the clean and comfortable attire worn
by the female mill hands on the Sabbath. and
their decorous and quiet amusements.
NJ. Levasseur says in the third part OF his
book: "If the first parts devoted TO facts,
can claim that the third. The Labor CUES
tions' is devoted 10 ideas" He examines, con-
dennis or praises the different methods intended
TO settle the labor question to the best advan-
tage OF all humanity. He discusses the prob
lens OF immigration. the currency. exportation
trade-unionism. benevolent associations and
the working of the system of profit sharing. and
he concludes his interesting study thus:
The American people have faith in their
destiny, well In progress; and though |
somewhat intoxicated BY their prodigious fort
une, they are pleased to think that II is they
who are now holding the sceptre Of civilization !
This optimist faith is a barrier against violent
revolution. / do not doubt that the twentieth
century despite the agitations which may occur
will see the prosperity Of the United States still
more increased. If that country does not sue
coed any better than ours In solving by CHI
mercal process the pendng questions, II will
situation Of the working class, and can, with
the same confidence that Americans have in
their future, say of their industry and OF Its
problems: "Fata viam invenient." Destiny will
find its way
FOR THE STARTING CUBANS.