The New York herald., 1922-12-31

| 1t is just here that we see the new
Frenchman. The writer or thinker of an
older school. finding it national neces-
sity to encourage work, would seek to do
so by specialized or technical means: he
would go to the employers, he would
work upon the employees, he would i'm
prove marketing. would develop machin-
cry. would establish commissions to dimin-
ish conflicts between capital and labor.
Pierre Hamp. himself an expert. does, it is
true, take an interest in these things He
was for a time. if l am not mistaken, an
employee Of one of the railroads. and dur
ing the war served as factory inspector
In the Meters Blesses." for instance, he
studies the reforms that might lead to a
greater output. and shows himself familiar
with the ideas current in other countries:
he quotes our anti-loafing laws and the
kind of training given at the Bliss S"hool:
and. whether he is aware of il or not, GER
tain of his suggestions are in line with
the Whitley report. and with our Colorado
plan He further quotes with statistics
the good or bad results-both as rega. DIS
the material produced and the physical
and emotional reaction of the workers Of
experiments made in various French
works In the bottom of his reart, how
ever. 1t is evident. and this is one Of his
distinguishing traits. that he considers
such technical considerations of second
airy Importance. He realizes that prepara-
| tions for real reform must be less special
lied. broader and of a different character
I + 10 har. alrx III
the attitude of one vitality committed to a
particular point of view. He GislilSes the
church as he does nationalism. IL narrowly
interpreted. He has even 1uarreled with
those most likely to benefit by his efforts.
not the least interesting data of the book
just mentioned being the hostile replies
OF individuals and brotherhoods to articles
which he wrote in the Socialist rubliSa-
ton. LHHmdnite. The French unions.
or at any rate the powerful Union des
CURRIERS' mecGniciens de la Seine. evidently
resented the attempt to force their prob
lens into general national discussion.
Pierre Hamp for all his experience and
than a technical expert. Like so many of
the more recent French writer's. he is a
believer in the spirit rather than in the
organ. in what Peguy calls the "mystique"
rather than in the ''pratiqHe." Strong in
this belief he will have little to do with
this or that clique. with this or that organ
lied body. He appeals to the public at
large. He seeks to work upon the feelings.
to mold the attitude of mind of his
countrymen as whole. with the conviction
that, the spirit being right. a satisfactory
practice is sure to develop. Only thus can
we explain the apparent disconnectedness
of his works and the tone in which they
are written.
Hamp by every kind OF means strives to
set a respect for work-modern, industrial.
mechanical work-in the heart. the feelings
and the spirit Of France. He has written
novels upon the trade of the fishmongers.
Of the vine growers and. in volume which
appeared only few months ago. of the
perfume industry initiating us to the con-
ditions under which perfumes are manu-
factured and sold. from the fields of Grasse.
where humble folk gather the flowers for
a modest wage. to the elegant Paris shops,
where the most fastidiOus of society
beauties come TO buy the choicest scents
AT correspOndingly rare prices. On the
other hand. he has written essays full of
data upon the textile trade. upon the man
agement and discipline of railroads where
I in we find the most varied kinds Of infor-
nation; the speed of trains. the hours of
WOrk the cOndfffous of Go Uara