New-York tribune., 1900-10-27
in RURAL FRANCE.
MP. CLIFTON JoHNsoNs NEW BOOK.

ALONG FRENCH BYwAYs. Written and Illus
The Macmillan Compsny.
Mr.. Johnson's book is of a peculiarly winning
sort We know of no other which describes with
60 much homely simplicity and sympathetic
nleasantness the rural life of the fair land of
france His journey was a lesurely one, largely
made afoot and with genial acceptance Of dis
comfort that proves him to be a born trav-
eller" Knowing scarce anything Of the French
tongue. he yet had surprisingly little difficulty
IN pursuing his study OF humble character and
customs. and his chronicle is not only enter
tanning. but suggestive. He tells that he
came away with an increased respect for the
French people, and his recitals leave to the
reader much of the same agreeable impression.
like most other travellers, he makes admiring
mention Of the unfailing poIiteness OF the
French a. polteness which the lowest classes
share with the highest. In his railway Journeys
10 found every one he met friendly, and never
made q request or asked a question that did not
call forth the most earnest effort to understand
him and put him right. Another famous Gallo
oualitv that calls forth his enthusiastic praises
e the thrift that means everywhere in town and
countrv gradually accommodating savings. The
traveller does not say that there is anything in
the French character compelling to save" but
II is the custom of the country, and from child
hood men and women grow up with that dom
inant idea in their heads. Taxation, he reminds
lis is higher than in England or in Germany,
vet the solvency and accumulative thrift of the
French continue phenomenal. He notes that
this persistent economy has a tendency to de-
generate into selfshness and avarice, but it
necessarily results also in habits of rigid sobriety
snd self-respect. He says:
The savings of the rural folk are largely
deposited with the Government. Interest is
allowed and on dividend day the people flock
in such numbers to the local branches of the
State bank that the countryside is depopu-
lated II Is a motley Crowd-important func-
tionaries fashionable ladies. laundresses. labor
ers and artisans all with their coupons, await
ing their turn. Often there will be several bank
accounts in a single ordinary farm tamlly; ana
the servants are almost as Ikeiy 10 De oeposl-
tors as the rest Of the household some OF then
70 a considerable amount. l could not
discover that the farm folk in their work showed
anv marked tendency to excessive labor. They
are much less apt than we to worry their lives
short with haste with the weight or many
cares and however humble they are. almost
never involved in that steady, hopeless grind
which for so many of the English laborers has
the workhouse at the end. To very great
extent the land is owned by those who till it. the
people are content with the plainest living, and
every member OF the family is a worker
Increased riches, with the still active farmer
workman. does not mean, in America a
higher standard of living; saving still goes on
until the point of modest competence is reached.
Pierre retires his income and becomes an
eninently respectable bourgeois, the length Of
whose purse determines his social status.
Closely associated with the French virtue Of
thrift is that Of finding enjoyment in simple
and innocent pleasures which cost little or moth
ing. One enemy of thrift is increasing-the evil
Of alcoholism The coming of the phylloxera
meant the production Of q smaller quantity of
the wine which was the drink OF the common
people The cheap, highly alcoholized artificial
wines which have taken its place have had a
mournful effect upon the French worker Count
less distilleries have been started for the max
ing of alcohol from corn potatoes and beet roots,
and drunkenness is no longer the exceptional
thing recorded by early travellers.
MT. Johnson has an interesting chapter on
Barbizon. the little forest hamlet which Millet
and Rousseau have made famous. Millet's
house. the plain dwelling which saw so much
toll and discouragement, is no longer open to
visitors; il has been improved and beautifed
and the son of Millet's landlord occupies it. The
story told in the village accounts in some meas
for this air Of prosperity The great artist
they say-and it is sadly true-was, in spite OF
his industry often in difficulties and behind with
his rent, and sometimes induced the owner to
take pictures instead Of francs. Master Land
lord is described as uncommonly shrewd in his
dealings. and he gained possession of many of
his tenants best pictures. After the artists
death il is added. he turned the family out Of
the house that had been so long theirs. laid his
hands on all Millets paintings that the arrears
in rent would give excuse for, and after realiz-
ing 100000 by a sale of a part Of the canvases
he had acquired, he shut up the atelier for once
and ALL This is the tale of business acuteness
told by the rich mans neghbors-with exaggeT-
alton it may be hoped.
Mr.. Johnson's Photographic illustrations are
admirable assistants to his text. They are re-
markably well selected, many of them having,
indeed truly artistic beauty of scene