Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-20
IMPRESSIONS
fContinued from page So


fairs. Events have proved that their
jealous fears We're well founded. Eng
land alone welcomed the outcome of
the war and our new position as Il
world power, for England realizes bet
ter than we do how inevitable it is that
these two nations must work together,
shoulder to shoulder. for the civiiza-
ton of the world. This work of the
Anglo Saxon race must be done along
the same lines that have marked our
own moral, intellectual and Industrial
development"
Does one need to know the French
language to enjoy the exposition
No. One can get along very nicely
at Paris without knowing French.
though of course knowledge of that
tongue is convenient 1t is the same
almost anywhere in the world. Eng
fish is getting to be a universal Ian
guage. made 50 mainly by the com
nercial activity of the English, and by
the fact that Americans are such eX-
tensive travellers. In Japan, for in
stance l found English-speaking ser
wants and officials at the hotels in all
the leading cities. All over continental
Europe they count heavily on Amer
lean travellers as a source Of revenue
and decreased travel by Americans il
a serious matter for them. Thus they
have learned to respect America, and
Ike is people for their easy manners
and generous ways"
AS . the French people and their
government"
1.-The republican idea is on the ascen-
lanay " France and ln fool th4
popular government is in danger there.
But the republican idea there is differ
ent than in this country. In France.
republic though it is. the individual
enjoys very little freedom of action
and has very little to stimulate his
ambition, in comparison with this
country. That is. the government in
France is more despotic and is harsher
and stricter in its enforcement Of law.
The government not only rules but il
reigns. Sill it is popular government,
and is many steps in advance Of an
absolute monarchy. As to the French
people, they are happy and thrifty and
the most contented people in the world.
They do not travel much and are We'll
satisfied with their Lot. There is little
abject poverty. The per capita wealth
u
ton. Though thrifty, they do not have
the American hunger for wealth.
When French mechanic or farmer
gets a little money laid away, he settles
back to enjoy it, and no people know
how to enjoy themselves as we'll as
they do. They know their place
and are satisfied with it, not being
jealous Of the class above them or
seeking to appear differently than they
are On holidays, the French peasant
is peasant still in dress and manner,
not doing as the American labOrer does
who proceeds to dress up and perhaps
put on more style than his employer
can afford. There are SO many for
eigners in Paris that to see the real
France and the real Frenchmen one
has to travel through the small cities
and the rural districts"
Then you would not say that
Millet in his great paintings presents
type of the French peasant"
No. He was artist enough to select
and emphasize the unusual the artistic
and the picturesque, not the typical
To my mind Markham has grossly
perverted the meaning Of The Nan
with the Hoe" To me The Angelus'
represents simple. strong faith not
stolid. stupid peasantry. Millet was all
right. but in their interpretations of
his works. some of his critics are very
unjust to the prosperous. cOntented
peasantry of sunny France"