The evening times., 1898-10-15
THE ANGLO-SAXON.

One of the books of the year, says
writer in the Chicago News, in English,
as 1t was the book of the year before in
French, is the work of NJ Edmond Demo-
Inns on the superiority of the Anglo
Saxon, thee English translation now be-
ing made from the tenth edition in Paris.
The book, "a plain, matter-of-fact and
wholly literal examination into the
sons why the Anglo-Saxon race is occu-
pying the world, and the French taking
subordinate place in comparison with
it, has been received by the critics of
France, not with howl of the chauvln-
ism patriotism gone to seed which Is
only too characteristic of the nation, but
with much humility as intoxicating a bit
ter yet necessary lesson.
AS the judgment of an intelligent for
eigner is always worth having, repre-
senting, as has been pointed out before,
much the same view that is to be taken
OF us by coming generation. ii is worth
while listening to M. Demoiins. He De
gins at the beginning, taking the English
or American child in school and contrast
ing him with the youth of similar posi-
ton when similarly placed on Gallo SOIL.
He finds first of all that the embryo
Frenchman is sent away from home 10
be instructed in almost the sole purpose
of gaining knowledge enough to pass one
of the governmental examinations for the
better posts in the civil service. from
the tenderest age the French lad is made
TO believe that earth has no such boon
for the person of average ability as d
post under government where the duties
are comparatively light, the emoiuments
considerable, the tenure OF office secure
and the establishment in life almost an
absolute certainty, pension awaiting
the close of active service for the state.
Placed in school with this in view, the
French boy gives himself up TO MS studleS
with an intensity which would alarm any
healthy English-speaking lad, as well as
his parents. Play. pastime, as we under
stand it, baseball football, cricket, golf
shinny or la crosse, tennis, hare and
hounds any one of d mentiOnable score OF
recreations common i'll every scnool IN
England, America or the colonies, are un-
known to your French lad. BY prefer
ence he takes short walks-never the long
breatherS OF his rival in the future busl-
ness of the world-never going far from
the great barrack OF a place where, sleep
ing scores in single room without parti-
tions, he is turned out just like his fellow,
a machine ma de product if there ever was
one. And solid attainments in the sense
in which we use the word are not his goal
by any means. Your French instructor Is
engaged in getting into his pupils heads
just so much may enable them TO pass
the required scholastic test with the ut.
most certainty. and nothing more. For
rounded culture or the ability 10 get the
utmost out of life he has no time to care.
From infancy. therefore the boy in Ia
belle France is taught to be dependent
upon somebody. His father struggles 20
give him a substantial contribution
toward settlement in life at the time
of his marriage, just as the father of his
future bride pinches and scrapes to get
together the dowry without which his
daughter cannot hope to enter the bonds
OF matrimouy Another significant thing
pointed ont by VI. Demolins IS the matter
of a home. His countryrsen live for ap
peardnce, not comfort. Whether the
Frenchman inhabit an apartment or house
of his own. the living rooms and chambers
are small and unprepossessing, the space
being given 10 the drawing and dining
rooms wherein the outside world is enter
tanned.
Now. 1t is an undeniable fact the au-
thor goes on To show. that the French
man. as might he expected from this
sketch OF his career. ending as 1t does in
his obtaining a good position in some gov
ernmentaG bureau and being happily mar
ried to bright, beautiful and well-dow-
cred girl of his own rank in life, is aVerse
to doing what the American calls taking
chances" He does not go away from his
parents and great distance any more than
he took long walks away from his school
He is not success in 4 colony and does
not seek his career there-rather is his
heart set on making a fortune abroad for !
the sole purpose of spending 1t al home
OF the life which has given Great Britain
so great a share of the globe Of the life
which has just added the Sandwich ISL
ands to the United States he knows moth
ing and cares less Possibly the most GU
riuus feature Of this is the contrast which
the French race. as seen in Canada. is
presenting The habitat" is settling
abroad and making a good American citi-
zen Of himself while his cousin from the
motherland Is merely s0iourner in this
country. attracted hither by the tales of
quickly amassed riches, not soon TO be
CLEANED and garnered in his own country.
NJ Demolins since he is writing for his
countrymen, takes up most of his book in
showing what it is the AuSloSaxon does
TO tit himself for living anywhere on the
surface of the globe, a procedure needless
here Every American can supply the
omitted details from the experience of
his neXt-door neighbor if not from his
cwn life.