Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-20
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
Andree Siegfried and His Studies
of American Conditions.

His Views of the French In Canada.
New York Compared with Euro
penn Cities-WIII Report ia the Mu-
see Social.
NEW YORK, Jan. 1o.-[Spccial. II have
just had a talk with NJ. Andree Sicgfricd,
young man who is now making his first
visit to this continent for the purpose of
studying social, industrial and political
conditions here.
From his name and somewhat from his
appcarancc-he is tall light haired and
blue cycd--M. Siegfricd might be taken
for Tcuton, but nc is really French
man. This is apparent the moment he
talks, for, though he speaks English fluent.
ly and we'll what there is of accent in his
speech is decidedly Gallo and not German.
Young Siegfried Is the son of NJ. Jules
Siegfricd, a member of the senate of the
French republic, high official in the
Legion of Honor, former minister of
commerce and the president of the Musee
Social, an organization of long standing
in France that has objects very similar to
those of the League For Social Service
here in New York. Though not repre-
sentative of the Muscc Social, NJ Siegfricd
will probably furnish the organization
with a report of his observations here and
his conclusions thcrcfrom. He is being
shown about in New York by DR. William
Howe Tolman.
Mr.. Sicgfried In Canada.
NJ. Sicgfred's observations are by no
means being confined to the United states
He visited Canada before coming to this
country, being especially DESTROYS of see
ing for himself how the French citizens of
the British empire are getting along. His
Investigations in Montreal, Quebec and
Ottawa have interested him very much.
Il was especially impressed, " he said
this morning, by the attitude of the
Canadian government toward the French
1t appears to me to be cmincntly wise and
just, and so far as / could learn the French
In Canada have nothing to ask from
the authorities have come TO this con
clusion from the fact that everywhere
among the French Canadians | found the
heartiest loyalty to the government.
Il do not mean by this that Frcnchmcn
In Canada today are any less Frcnchmcn
than their ancestors who came to these
shores hundreds of years ago l do not
mean TO say that love for the mother coun-
try and for French ideas has died out;
quite the contrary. Tho French Canadian
still loves France. He still vcncrates
French traditions in his heart. But his
understanding teaches him that British
rule in Canada is benenCcnt and fair, and
his intelligence impcls him to accord it the
sinccrcst allegiance. The strongest proofs
of the wisdom Of English administration
rs carried on in Canada that could posi-
bly, be brought forward arc furnished by
the material comfort Of the people and
their wonderful numerical increase. From
mere handful, so to speak, they have be-
come !, 800, GOO. 800 900 in Canada and
1000 600 in New England
NJ. Sicgfricd did not touch upon the in
hucnccs that have brought So many French
Canadians to the United States.
Canada and the United states.
Il was at once and powerfully impressed
by the difference between Canada and the
United states and their people when |
crossed the dividing line and came TO Buff
falo from Toronto, - NJ Sicgfricd contin-
ucd. a European traveller might almost
fancy himself still in Europe while travel
ing in Canada, but il is not so here. The
very air is unlike on the two sides Of the
Niagara river. buildings are taller, cities
are bigger, people are buster here.
why this should be so 1t is not so easy
to understand. The Canadian laws and
institutions are such as to enable many
poor boy to become prominent citizen
in fact, l was particularly struck in Canada
by the number Of public Percentages who
began life at the bottom Of the ladder and
Canada is certainly country in which
every one may have "A chance if he will only
take 1t.
My present idea is that the difference
arises from the fact that there are even
better chances here; that there are conse-
quently even more striking examples in
this country than in Canada Of great sue
cess, and that, stimulated by these exam
pies, the Americans try harder and more
universally to win than the citizens of the
Dominion. Certainly there Is no such
general striving among the French Cana
dians as among the Americans. The
French Canadians try, and successfully,
to make themselves comfortable; to have
pleasant homes and TO provide against
want But save in exceptional cases they
do not try to win the great prizes they do
not try to make millions"
New York and European Cities.
NJ. Siegfried is very modest about ex-
pressing definite views upon affairs in the
United States, and he offered no observa.
tions touching the Spanish-American war
Before coming TO New York he went to
Washington, where he inspected all the
government departments and found them
decidedly interesting. Concerning New
York city he said that it reminded him
much of Berlin.
"New York and all the American cities
I have SEEM" said NJ. Siegfried, are
splendid towns. They have wide, long,
straight streets and wonderful buildings
wherein to buy and sell and manufacture.
The cities seem to be built mainly for the
purpose of doing business, and they fill
their purpose admirably. They are espe-
cially unlike Paris and many other Euro
pean cities in that not nearly so much at
tention is paid to architectural harmony,
to the beautiful 1 should say that the
Americans and the Berliners-North Ger
mans generally, in fact-resemble each
other in their devotion to business"
NJ. Siegfried goes from New York to
Albany, where he is anxious to inspect the
now completed capitol and certain depart
ments of the state government, especially
the department of public instruction and
the bureau of labor statistics. After AL
bany he will visit Boston, where he will
remain week. He will also go to Phila-
delphia, Pittsburg, New Orleans and per
haps Chicago.
While in New York he has been put up
NH Ill \