Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-09-22

AHeOVINd1ly uney should De failures,
but in fact they are successful. They
consider Paris the greatest city of
the world and the way the people
OF other countries come here and add
TO the circulating medium seems to
prove they are right. They practi-
cally refuse to learn any other lam
guage, but all other countries study
French. Thousands of English and
American Puritans come to Paris
every year, but the Frenchman who
travels for pleasure is unknown. Why
Is it? l give it up, unless we have
some French tastes along with our
English standards.
The French people are the most
temperate, most economical and
most saving of any of the peoples of
ETope-or America. With all their
fun they love money and never forget
the necessity Of having some in their
old age. Get off the Partisan boule-
Yards, which are spoiled by visitors,
and you see the French, pure and sim
pie, though not so very pure and not
at all simple. They will bargain and
figure down TO the SOU, the popular
coin, worth two American cents.
Every French family figures on spend
ing less than it makes, and does it,
There are practically no saving banks
and no one much has a bank account.
but as soon as a little money is saw
e 1T is invested in government bonds
which bear four per cent interest.
Every family has government bonds
and this habit of investing in secur-
tiles is the reason which makes
France so great and strong financially
The people pile their savings into the
government treasury, the only bank
they know. The family, which is al
ways small in France must save for
the daughters dot or she will never
be MANNED, and for the last years of
the parents lives. There are prac-
ticaIly no abjectly poor people in
France. It is not fashionable to be
poor, and Frenchmen and French
women must be fashionable.
The Place de la Concorde is a
wonderful square, larger than a cou-
pie of our city blocks. In the center |
is am obehsk, presented by Moham-
med Ali when he was viceroy of |
Egypt and before the bargain sale of |
obelisks took place. 1t is a block of |
red granite, rs feet high and covered |
with hieroglyphicS which tell the
deeds of an Egyptian gent named Ra-
meSeS. The obelisk is surrounded by |
large fountains with mermaids and
Tritons and dolphins spoutmg water |
lnUo lower basins. Around the square
are statues representing the eight |
principle cities of France. Since the |
monuments were erected one of these
atieS, StraSSbug, has been taken by Il
The Germans. This was forty years
ago, but the monument still stands
md it is draped in mourning. In any
'ther country the statue would have
'een quietly removed, but the French
NE not built that way. They have
heir wreaths around Srassburg,
wear vengeance on the Germans, and
ave good time.
This mourning habit is very popu-
ar I'M Paris. The ladies' who are
allied upon to mourn do so with
roper regard for appearances. AS
ear as l can figure it out the
cath Of a second cousin puts all the
emale members Of a family into deeplI
lack. A mourning gown with a very
oOble skirt with the hosiery and mil
merry to match and with plumes and
ecollete necks TO strengthen the ef-
ec-well it does not detract from the
man interest one naturally takes at
lch time. W. Y. MORGAN.