Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-24
WEALTH OF FRANCE
Enormous Sums Have Been Lent to
Other Countries.
TALES TOLD OF THE PLUToCRATs
"Gaulois" Has Some EXTRAORDINARY
stories of American Extrava-
gance-An Original Raphael
soon to he Put on view.

PARIS Jan. b.-M. Edmond Thery, one
OF Frances soundest experts on economical
and financial statistics, has Just published
a book on The Economic Progress of
France Since 1892" which tells once more
the story of the enormous increase in the
wealth Of the country.
1t shows that in the last sixteen years
France has lent 50, 200, 100000 in gold to
foreign countries after making deduction
for repayments made during that period.
AT the same time the gold in France has
increased by SIS. SOO,O0O for the same six
teen years.
This means to say that between the end
OF 1891 and of 1897 Frances balance Of
accounts with foreign countries leaves it
nearly AGO 100000 to the good. of which
these foreign nations have paid 1t four
fifths in securities and one-fifth in gold.
The worlds production of gold for the
same period was about $500. 900.
OF the SS5, 10000 gold which FRANCE has
received s411. $4,000 has been converted into
French coins, $20. OOo,OO0 has been absorbed
by the artistic industry Oewelry. gold and
silver manufactures, etc., and the surplus,
Sl50.o0o,000. remains in the form OF ingots
or foreign gold money in the Bank of
France, or the vaults OF other big banking
firms.
Source of Revenue.
NJ. Thery explains the origin Of these
large revenues from abroad in this way:
Before 1892 France exported every year an
average of I15s, 600. 700 worth Of food products
(wines, butter. fruits, vegetables. etc.). and
bought an average of 1921. 10000 worth OF
wheat, cattle, coffee, tea, etc. Thus 1t
paid out every year a sum Of $1S9, 900, 900.
Since 1892 the annual production Of wheat
has increased by 1900. 900 hectolitres, wine
has increased by ar annual average OF
seventeen hectolitres, sugar by 275, 500 tons,
alcohol by 2s6. 600 hectolitres, and all ex-
port food products have increr sed to a
great extent, so that France now pays for
its\ coffee, tea and all imports by the
surplus OF its own food production.
NJ. Thery points out that on the other
hand Germany's annual deficit in food
products has increased in the same sixteen
years from 1851. 400. 900 to 1881 10000 and
England's deficit has increased from $751;
400, 900 to 1897, 10000.
Another source Of Frances wealth and
one that cannot be valued with any &C
curacy is the immense amount spent by
strangers who come to visit the country
or to settle down In It. Public wealth has
developed enormously In the last sixteen
years In America, Canada Mexico, Brazil,
Argentina, Chile, Australia, South Africa,
ETC., and France has benefited by this de-
~velopment, which has allowed the inhabi-
tants Of these countries to visit Europe.
The French In 1891 drew an annual reve-
nue. Of 500. cO, 900 from their investments
in foreign countries, while today they col
lect something like $500, OOO.OOO from that
source.
stories of american Extravaganza"
The Gaulois is moved by reports from
America OF a dinner given to dogs by one
whom 1t calls IN. Harry Sandwers Of
Chicago" and another to cats by m. Liner
de Sokton" to describe some of the prodi-
galities that 1t says have been committed
by millionaire Americans in Paris.
1t quotes a conversation between an
| American and the head cook of a leading
hotel:
81 should like. to know, monsieur, what
is the most expensive dish that exists.
Don't answer me at once. take your time
to think it out and then come and tell
me-"
A few days later the cook reports that
apparently the dearest dish in Paris is a
certain Chinese bird, which even in China
Is very expensive. 1t is made into a soup.
"welI," said the American, "I want that
soup. But only put the birds eyes in it,
The American had his EYE soup" and 1t
cost him $500.
Another, and not quite SO improbable.
story told by the Gaylois is of an Amer
lean who said to his hotel manager:
1T want a banquet that will have an idea
In It, an idea in harmony with the summer
that we are having. Sixty guests. As for
the cost, so. 900. 800, 900 or 500. 600, whatever
you like, If you'll give me something grand,
something that will be remembered"
Three weeks later the guests on arrival
were ushered into a room that represented
q tropioaI ardan full nf the aralf anna
torial flowers and plants. where hundreds
of humming birds flew about.
For dinner the guests found themselves
in a Polar landscape. Great blocks of ice,
sparkling with electric lights surrounded
the room. All kinds of larch and frs, un-
known in France, brought from the north
at immense cost, were sttewn on the floor,
boar frost seemed to be every where, the
bright moon and stars of the north shone
from the ceiling and the rare flowers OF
Norway covered the table.
Coffee was served in a third room, q
Partisan salon where every effort had beer
. made to spend money in flowers and won.
a derful furniture of art nouveau style. The
cost Of this dinner has never been ii.
vulged.
Original Raphael Found.
4 When Lucien Klotz, the art critic OF tn,
4 Eclair, received a letter a few days age
. inviting him to see an original Raphael II
a the writer's collection he smiled a sceptit
smile. Then the signature OF the lettel
caught his eye. NJ. Luglien Leroy, and h,
remembered that this name carried no littl,
weight, as it belonged to a we'll know
/, manufacturer who Is also one of the varies
4 picture collectors in the north of France
a Accordingly M. Klotz betook himself t.
I, Prevent and made a long examination o
a the picture, which is called La Vierge
a roeillet," as It shows the virgin with tn
\ infant Jesus on her knees holding a car
n nation in his hand. As a result of his ex
a animation NJ. KlotZ does not hesitate 4
. ascribe the picture to Raphael. judging 1
n a fine example of the artists first style
a NJ. Luglien Leroy possesses document
a giving the history of the picture, from
n which 1t appears that 1t was bought Il
y l6S6 by a NJ. de Rosainville. The cata
a logue OF this gentleman's pictures contain
q the entry;
No. lO-A picture representing a virgil
\ holding. the little Jesus, ten inches min
lines high, eight inches nine lines wide
NJ. de Largelliere, who has examined Il
B told me It was an original by Raphael
NJ. De Largelliere, here quoted, was
noted French portrait painter.