The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-08

its frivolis;es-
On this trip had some experiences
which have fingered in my memory. When
a man has somewhat active mind and IL
dread:ng news from his own country. II r.
not 50 easy as might be thought to Kill
time. His emotions cannot but relate TO
things material. To A,e lost In dense and
pathiess woods. TO be there on horseback
In the night. to call out to each other to
make sure we are all together-thss
causes q feeling that cannot define, for
there IL a tendency 10 q sort Of contagious
merrsment over the most trifling incident.
When called our. tx, are you there
and he answered oh. mon Dseu. yes.
monsiegneur. I am here. IL was impossi-
bic for me not to laugh over the situation.
That "Oh. mon Dieu." 80 piteous. and that
'monsiegneur.'' referring TO my being
bishop OF Autun. could not but make me
laugh, since. IN the interior OF Connecti-
cut, after very long march. we came 70
a house where they were quite willing TO
give US lodging. and even something TO
eat. There we're rather more provisions
that day than is usual In an American
house. The family consisted OF an old man.
a woman about 50. two large young men
and young girl. They onered US smoked
fish. ham. apples. strong beer and brandy.
In very short time the beer and brandy
made the conversation lively. The two
young men, who were slightly exhiIarated.
were about going of to hunt beaver for
several weeks. and they talked OF their de-
parture In such droil way that, after a
few drinks Of brandy, Mr.. De Beaumetx,
Mr.. Heydecoper and were dying from a
desire to go with them. Here was a new
way 10 employ, or KILL several weeks.
Every time we asked them a question they
gave us drink. OF that long evenings
remember that beaver fur
IL good only in autumn. that one must Ire
In wait to kill them; that baited wooden
traps are set for them: that when ii
freezes their huts are attacked, where
upon they escape TO the water, but. as
they cannot stay there lorg. they come to
breathe at holes cut in the ice. and there
they are caught by the feet. All this small
warfare Interested US SO much that De
Beaumetx. who was more OF a hunter or
more joviai than Heydecoper and l, pro-
posed to them to let US into their enter
prise. They consented. and behold us en-
rolled In the society of Connecticut hunt
ers. Having made our promises, we wen.
to find our bed as best we could When
morning came. sleep had overcome the ef-
feet Of the brandy and We began to think
that the things Ii was necessary to take
with us were rather heavy. I believe the
weight of provisions was in fact, about
forty pounds We thought two months
was a rather long time to pass in the
woods or. rather. IN swamps. and We tried
to get out OF the engagement made the
previous evening. few dollars that We
left in the house released us from our
promise. and We went our road, or, rather,
on our journey. feeling somewhat ashamed
of what we did the previous evening.
/ must be pardoned for some prolixity
when speak OF America. for / was so
much alone there that many things which
be-
now find place under my pen.
I took advantage of the two winters
passed in Philadelphia and New York to
see the leading men whose names the
American revolution has given a place in
history. and particularly Mr.. Hamilton.
who In intellect and character seemed to
me to be the equal OF the most dis.in-
guished statesmen OF Europe, even In the
time of Pitt and Fox
As previously stated. / had noted on my
travels that agriculture was little favored:
that trade was favored more: that. as be-
tween these two sources OF prosperity the
government had thrown Into the scales a
great weight IN favor of commerce. and
moreover. while increasing the real facifi-
ties of the country. had quite recently in
creased all the artificial facilities afforded
By the establishment of public banks. with
which America is covered, and which ben
eft trade exclusively. This direction once
taken. vanity and cupidity are sure soon
to class everything that partakes of wis
dom. moderation and simple probisy as
narrow mindedness. While overthrowing
the barriers formerly erected by the
mother country. which gathered into It's
own fold the products OF the colonies and
restrained their specuations within limits
prescribed by herself. the United States OF
America are making successful use of the
advantages OF the position and power
given them by their independence They
are throwing unexpected quantities of
products upon all the markets of the Old
World. These at once upset all prices and
bring about Inevitable commercial disturb
ances. The chief cause of all this disorder
is the great disturbance between the ports
of Eastern and Southern America. from
which thousands OF ships loaded with the
same kind OF products sail at the same
time for all parts of Europe Commerce
between America and the Old World will
thus. for long time. be- left to chance.
During the long evenings my thoughts
always reverted To my unhappy native
land. whose existing troubles AFFLICTED me-
so sadly. and / often allowed myself TO
dream OF the future. AT such times 7
sought for the means of destroying. or at
least diminishing. the difficulties that
stood in the way of reciprocal beneficial re-
lations between France and America. r
was quite conscious OF the chimericaI eIe
rent in the reflections in which / INDUCED
my imagination, but they gave me pleas
ure. The commercial and maritime reia-
lions OF the great nations could MOI In fact
take more settled course till the difricuI
ties already foreseen and preng9resl be-
tween Spain and her colonies should he
settled one way or the other and reason
suggested delay in making conject,ires till
that time: but this was deferring hope too
long. Besides. my hopes of order we're
daily unsettled by what I saw
In 1924 ! witnessed the return az tho
first American expedition TO Bengal. Tho
shipowners made enormous profits FarIv
the following year fourteen American
ships sailed from different ports FOR m
dia to contest with the English comnanv
for the rich profits. There IL sannethinr
hostile in the sudden appearanc OF Amer
lean competition. II mui;ipiies Infinitely
the risks OF commerce. and the results ave
sssdon racompenss fer skillfuI planning
and this az a time when population e
increasing in all civilized countries aua
when the wants to which this Increase
gives birth add 10 the already great A.
sivisy OF human passions
All these considerations render .he ri
iure difficult TO foresee and well-nlrh i'm.
possible 10 guide; but nothing embarrssses
a man in tavern or poor lodgings far
from his native land. everything aura.rv