The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-12-31
THE LABoRERs OF FRANCE
They Differ from Those Of This Coun-
try in a Number of
Ways.

ence between the French and the
American laborer. Although the for
mer pays twice as much for his food
and gets one-half Of the latter's wages,
he saves more than his fellow Amer
lean Some time ago l had occasion
to stop in a bank of one of the larger
cities of France, writes an American in
France to the New York Tribune.
Standing before the cashiers window
was a middle-aged workman, who had
somewhat the appearance OF an Amer
lean farmer with mortgaged crop.
In exchange for the little piece of pa
per he handed in at the window the
cashier counted out At 100-franc bills
T ($907.10) and gave them to him.
learned, upon inquiry, that this was
his savings for many years, and that
he had Withdrawn it to go into bust
ness. Do you doubt that lie will sue
coed? This is not an exceptional case
common in France than America-and
why? Why is it that the Frenchman,
handicapped by lower wages and high
er-priced necessities, saves more than
his fellow workman on the other side
Of the Atlantic?
First, he practices an economy that
the American laborer never dreams Of
Where is there an American workman
who would be satisfied with two cents
worth of cheese, two cents worth of
bread and a cup of coffee for his morn
ing meal? Or, forsooth, where is the
Frenchman who would not turn away
in disgust from a breakfast of fried
meat and gravy, hot biscuits and such
diet? The American workman eats
twice as much as the Frenchman, and
has the advantage, perhaps, of a bet
ter physical well being, or feeling, for
the time, but as far as the pocketbook
and future are concerned, the French
man is far ahead. Nearly every French
laborer wears wooden shoes. l never
saw an American with a pair on; it
may be below his dignity, as much so
as it is below his ability to wear a
beaver and fur coat, as the Frenchman
can, if occasion demands.
Another superiority of the man on
this side is his indomitable stiekto-
itiFeness. He is contented and happy,
year after year, to go through the same
old grind, and concerns himself not
SO much about the amount of his
wages as about their regularity Year
after year he continues at the same
work, drawing, perhaps, the same pay,
while many an American workman
would have drifted through two or
three different occupations in as many
different places.
Then, the French laborer always
looks ahead. He never assumes re-
sponsibility without knowing he can
meet 1t. He never has more children
than he can feed and clothe. If he
goes in debt, it is not until he has al
ready carefully counted where every
cent will come from to discharge it.
He never buys anything that is. shod-
dy, nor anything he does not absolute
ly need. Certainly, no class of peo-
pie seem to have more thoroughly
learned the proverb: IF you buy what
you do not need you will probably
sell what you do need" And when he
buys thing he takes care of it. It
is part Of himself. His overcoat, for
Instance, would look comparatively
new while the Americans would be
worn out
Further, be is contented; he is hap
py. This doubtless saves him from
many a doctors bill He does not take
his work and trouble to bed with him.
He leaves them up on the scaffold
with his troWel or hangs them up with
his ploW gears. This spirit Of salts
faction is, IL most cases, due largely to
a knowledge Of a hard-earned bank ac-
count and no debts.