The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1921-11-11
FRENCH CLING
TO old WAYS
RrejudlCes Hamper Work Of Re-
building Area Devastated
by War.
DON'T TAKE TO NEW IDEAS
Hard to Convince Inhabitants That
What Was Good Enough for Their
crandfsthers ls Not Good
Enough for Them.

New York.-Model cities and VIII
lagos win soon be sprInglng up In the
war districts Of France provided the
inhabitants can be convinced that
what was good enough for their grand
fathers IS not good enough for them.
There is the rub. The civic ldeallsts.
many OF them Americans, who set
out with a vision Of model towns
rising from old ruins are running
up against the same quirks Of
human nature encountered by Sir
Christopher Wren, when he tried to
rebuild a London beautiful after tlie
great FIRE OF 1865, remarks the Liter.
AIRY Digest
n left TO themselves Jean and
Jeanne would rebuild their homes and
shops exactly as they we're before
German artillery reduced them 10
dust and tender memories A shop
keeper fears that his customers viii
not find his shop unless II IL the replica
of It's predecessor And madam would
Ike 70 have her spinning wheel set
Rs It was when she stopped spinning
In the summer Of 1914.
Habits are Strong.
The habits OF centuries Bre strong
among the poIIns Nevertheless. The re-
consiruetionists are hopeful. Outlines
~ plans FOR model towns 60 replace
those destroyed have been appearing
on and on IN French. and other
periodicals for some time. aud one Of
the latest projects eili be tried out
rs an experiment. with the financial
backing Of nm American committee
This plan was prepared under the
auspices OF the French organization
known as Ia Renaissance des cites
which Is seeking 20 have spring ~ on
the ruins ~ northern France communal.
ties which shall combine modenity
with the charm that Is 50 striking \
Characteristic OF French towns many
centuries old
la Renaissance dea Cites has al.
ready helped over 90 towns In north.
ern France 20 prepare reconstruction
plans In addition. Il T. doing odnca.
iinnal work ~ various kinds IN the
rest ~ the communities IN the tlsyns
tated lands aggreEating about 200
II order 10 further The work Of re-
construction. Ia Renaissance dies
Cites decided to create model vi
lnpe After studying more ihnn 100
towns and villages throughout the
devastated areas. u finally selected The
village 81 PinOn. on account of lts hny
ing population typical ~ northern
France, both from the farming and
industrial points ~ view, and also
ON account of is being near Paris
on direct rail- and road routes. which
viii make II cnsy ~ access beth 10
Frenchmcn and foreign visitors
Natives orumbls.
Pinon was completely destroyed IN
the war Al least one member ~
practically every family tbnt lived
there before the wur haa returned
10 live IN some sort Of hastily built
shack, whiting for The old homes 10
be rebuilt AZ first most ~ The ma
tiyes did not favor the Idea ~ having
pinon used Ms model village. hut
Wtfr long discussions ihgF urfiNrH
a. lei Ia Renaissance ,les cites erruie
one FOR them The general plans were
drawn up BY Charles Abella n winner
Of the much coveted Prix dc Rome In
architecture. An American committee
has been formed % set funds from the
United states to expended IN The
Reconsideration ~ riam. This cnni-
mlttee has Representatives 10 many
large American cities The committee
plans to turn over 70 the French or.
ganizaiion an amount sufficient not
only % rebuild one devastated town
but 20 provide a humber ~ homeless
war victims with permanent shelter.
The planners continue with their
work. but some Of the old natives ure
reluctant 10 take up these 'newfaneled
fads."