Evening journal., 1921-09-09
CHESTNUTSCOME
FROM CORREZE
France Fears American
Tariff Will Hurt Profit
able Industry
HALLOWEEN THERE
is CONTINUOUS

WASHINGTON-correze another
''place where the nuts come from"
is the subject Of a National Geo.
graphic Society bulletin in connec-
ton with the reported anxiety OF
that department Of France because
a schedule in the new tariff doubles
the duty on chestnuts.
"A region OF chestnuts. walnuts
and cider apples may suggest a land
of perpetual halloween" continues
the bulletin. "But. in reality. the
department of Correze. in south CEN
trail France. is a place where the
struggle for existence has developed
a serious, sturdy, grim type OF
peasantry.
"The infrequent visitor TO the
basin of the Garonne will find
families whose diet. in winter con-
sists largely of chestnuts and pota-
toes and goat cheese, who eat their
simple repast off tables with depres-
sions followed from the wood to
serve as plates. and have gravel
floors in their tiny cottages. He may
encounter inns. with their invariable
menus of veal. buckwheat cakes and
potatoes, where he is supposed to
furnish his own knife. custom sur
viving from not more than CEN
tury ago when the guest OF a
Provence hostelry was expected to
carry his own cutlery.
But IL this visitor thinks prim-
tive conditions connote a backward
people he will be as much surprised
as many a city-bred recruit in the
A. +. +. who took the literacy OF a
southern mountaineer to be a meas
ure OF his intelligence.
"Correze has an area nearly equal
10 that of our own state OF Delaware.
Ii lies along the western edge Of the
great central plateau OF France. It
Is corrugated with valleys ravines
and gorges. 'Moors, heaths and
bracken' are words most needed in
descriptions Of its landscapes
Groves OF chestnut trees, white
birches. and walnut trees often give
a suggestion Of gaunt New Eng
land scene. only in an occasional
valley is the soil fertile. Scatter
ed over this Department are about
as many people as live in Indian
apolis.
THE sons Of Correze who rubbed
elbows with Allied soldiers on the
Western Front may have brought
back news Of the trade opportunities
which lurked in the outside world.
Perhaps that is why Correze farm
ers awoke 10 the fact that chestnuts
n.-1rr -
lean winter might have a higher
value in exchange. Anyway they
found their way to the channels of
American exports and Correze clti-
zens now are reported TO be greatly
disturbed az the proposed tarin bar
rier.
Chestnut gathering. rather than
a savings account. represents the
starting point Of many a home in
Correze. Communes usually own
ed the land about them, and gave
citizens legal title TO tracts they
cleared and cultivated But Il takes
three or four years to produce a
crop and, in the meantime. many
a young man has found his economic
salvation in nut gathering. Mush-
rooms which abound under the
chestnut trees. afford another edible.
Not only is this land hard to
clear and till. but the market Sec
tions know only the simplest tools.
A plow is made Of two poles. Joined
at an angle. with the ground end OF
the pole held by the man constitut-
ing the plow share. Every hamlet
has It's church To the pedestrian
who would tramp through these
parts, and thus get the fun flavor OF
most interesting environment. the
angelus is a bell buoy for his inland
travels from village to village. and
the frequent creator Of such scenes
OF simple devotion as that immortal
lied by Millet.
Tulle, with a population OF few.
er than 5000. is the capital ant
principal city Of Correzc. Quain
houses line the streets OF step
which Tulle is situated Near IN,
'city are the beautiful Gimei Falls
IN Il is a firearms factory"