The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-02-22

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Paper Read Before the Cha,ttauqaa Circle.
TRANCE, at the present day, has
- for her boundary the English
Channel, the Mediterranean, the
Atlantic. the Alps, the Pyrennes
and the western line of Alsace-Lorraine;
but she will never be reconciled until
she has regained Alsace-Lorraine which
she lost to Germany in 1871.
France is y great agricultural and
fruit growing country. more of it's land
being under cultivation, according to
its area, than that Of any other Euro
pean country, Holland excepted. 1t is
we'll known that she is the greatest
wine producing country in the world.
Her mineral resources are limited, and
that is perhaps reason why her people
have reached such fine state of per-
fection in the finer manufactures.
She has the finest effects and fashions,
and we must go to France for all that
is exquisite in laces, gloves and trim
mings; for that which is rich in gold
and silver plate and ornaments, and
for high perfumes and toilet articles.
For delicate porcelains, such as are
made in the great Sevres mandatory,
rich tapestries and fine silks, Paris
leads the world.
The French people are not so tickle,
as history would lead one to believe.
The many changes in government,
approved causes. The French revo-
luton was complete severing from
the rule of royalty. Revolutions in
France have been violent, and are not
to be considered in the same class with
those of England, which have always
come on gradually, and been brought
on by continued agitation and due
thought. The English have not suffered
the setbacks which have characterized
the revolutions of France and of which
the people were often unprepared. The
present constitution of France was
established in 1875, after several
months of thought and deliberation;
and it seems to be the constitution that
the people bave been striving after for
many years. 1t will probably be many
years before France has another revolu-
tion if they ever have; and, as the COM
mon people are devoted to agriculture
and the commercial pursuits and are
the large holders of government bonds,
they want stability and must be reck-
oned with.
Another reason why revolution is
unlikely is because Paris no longer
offers the facilities that it once did for
easily barricading the streets. Paris
has recently so widened and improved
her streets that barricades would be
almost impossible. Remember5 Paris
is where the revolutions always started
Paris leads France 1t is there that we
find the leaders of thought, the shining
lights of literature. They are located
in the Latin QUARTER on the left bank
of the Seine A great many people
think that the Latin QUARTER is com
posed of artists, scribblers, students
grisettes and wickedness almost en-
tirely. It is not true. 1t is no worse
than the rest of Paris. 1t is more
distinguished as the location of tht
many institutions of learning and art
the legislature, and the French
Academy. To become member o.
the latter is the goal of the ambition o:
every Frenchman who is devoted tt
literature, art or science.
The Academy was founded some
time before the middle of the seven
teenth century, and was assisted ant
protected by Cardinal Richelieu. It
object was to perfect the French Ian
guage and tongue, and it is due to i
today, it is said, that the language o
France is purer and more perfect thai
the language of any other nation
There are many prize awards, and
believe that the Nobel prize award
are, to certain extent, patterne
after the prize awards of the Frenc
Academy. There is hardly any hon
orable limit that Frenchman will no
got to become an Academician. Man
men of letters, art and science presen