The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1933-08-16
An Inside Hew Of Present
Day France = Country Is
On Mend Reports American
Writer Describes Scenes and Experiences in Relabl-
itated Area of C0nntry-visit to Lenz Mine Area
Is Proof That France Is Building for Future and
Is Fast CELEBRATING War Scars

fhomeward or entering the subway
France.
But the peasant and the Partisan
have in common many characters
tics that distance sometime does
not relay. The typical Frenchman
Is of course gay, bpt not frivolous.
The rising and setting of the sun
finds him sincerely Industrious,
and he is q most devout lover of
his family and therefore we'll
balanced morally. He Ii familiar
with life and is puzzled because
we oftimes misconstrue his frank
ness. You will find the French
dislikes what we call coarseess. No
doubt in a land where death has
actually been seen many times by
nearly everybody, the mysteries
Of life naturally become uncon-
sciously better known.
The French like the outdoors.
Sundays and holidays in France
resemble huge migrations for the
millions of the small Towns and
cities go out into the country, there
to rest, play, and above all else
have a jolly good time meeting
their fellowmen, who hardly ever
cross their door in the cities. His
home may be stuffy, he may like
to keep all the windows shut in
the train compartment in July, he
may ever have q guest in his little
home, but all this pent-up phase
finds due outlet when he gets out
doors and meets others.
So we drive out Of Havre
through Bolbec and Iotet, to Rou-
L., ft a
Seine River valley to Paris, then
back up north to Lens. Then across
Northern France practically a.
long the frontline trench locations
to Arras, Cambria, Vinney Ridge,
st Quention, Bohain LIE Fere, Laon,
Rheims, Epernay, Chateau Theirry
Meaux and back to Paris, and its
suburbs. Twenty-six cities and
villages are visited, nearly two hun
bred individuals interviewed, and
thousands Of people seen daily.
Normandy, F. a ders, Picardy.
Champagne. old provinces with
new merorfes. And-oh yes-a
rest at Deauville before returning
to New York.
The valley Of the Lower Seine Is
harmoniously soft and majestically
peaceful; rounded cliffs are fol-
lowed by rich pastures bordered by
tall willows, and gnarled and
knotted apple trees, yet in this
scenery so absolutely Indifferent to
the past, we come upon ancient
cities of heroic beauty, or some
grim and proud fortress, silent re-
minders Of history. - fe, ~,
Studded with islets where cher
ries grow and golden cider savors
Of contentment, the Seine, which
Is ploudher by heavy barges and
loaded cargos, winds its wau slow
ly to the sea, meandering and
curving with lifting grace and old
fashioned courtesy.
Riding along this river an entire
day-drinking Normandy cider at
q midget sidewalk cafe in the tiny
town of Ivotet, and a marvellous
French dinner in bi roadside
retaurant-rees covered with roses,
at s. German; stopping here and
there to chat with peasant, small
city merchants, visit sChateaus-
what a pulse Of France to feel be-
fore dipping into the serious in
dustrial centers Of the north.
We will now visit three Of the
industrial centers Of Northern
France covered In this trip-Lens
with its momoth coal Mines. Boz.
hahn and its weavers; and Reims,
where we will learn of the Cham
payne industry. And then a splash
of Deauville, an industry all its
own. Paris you will find in another
article.
Lens is a city of around $4,000
people, and here are located the
world-famous Mines de Lens. This
entire city was wiped out during
the war, mines blown up and
flooded. Today you see, not only
here but in all rehabilitated France
the most modern Industrious Sec
ton in the world. Germany did
much to remodel and improve ex-
listing plants, but absolutely every
thing you see in North France Is
new.
The massive main office build
ing of the Mines de Lens Is in the
heart Of the city. For a circle Of
nearly fourteen miles you see hun
dreds of new brick houses, with
stone foundations, and red tile
roofs Generous playground spaces
and parks appear in each settle
ment, and the best sites are oc-
cupied by public buildings and
monuments.
This Mines de Lens company is
comparable to any of our largest
American industries, you see over
twenty big buildings interspersing
the homes.
Also. you see immense coke oven
plants, one Of the largest power
plants in the world sending trans
mission lines for miles, huge
copper plant to which engineers
come from all lands to study the
alluring process Of making copper
sheets direct, also carbide calcium
and cyanide factories. Not one
ounce of coal screenings goes to
waste-the big power plant cares
for that and the other factories
like the copper plant use startling
amounts of electricity.
Maxine Butcher, live president
and general manager of this big
company, had us for lunch in the
main Office dining room. A quiet
six footer, every inch typical of
master industrialist, and artillery
officer during the war, you uncon-
sciously realized you were looking
at the man who had his finger on
the heart Of France, for such are
the coal mines Of Lens.
"As you sit here today, you look
out over properties employing 49,
237 people, a stable payroll any,
where. We own 1904 homes which