BRETON CHILDREN 



Photo by E- M. Newman 



The children of Breton have Httle to boast of in the style or fit of their clothes, but when 

 it comes to health and contentment they compare with the children of any other region 



Established at every industrial center, 

 and composed equally of masters and 

 workmen, each class elects its own mem- 

 bers of these courtsrthe presidency alter- 

 nating from year to year between the 

 two classes. Appeals are permitted only 

 on amounts exceeding 200 francs. Most 

 cases are satisfactorily adjusted, but 

 when the vote is equally divided the case 

 is retried, with a selected justice of the 

 peace as the deciding arbitrator. 



THE SCHOOES OF FRANCE 



The elimination of religious instruction 

 from the national schools has been pur- 

 sued to a successful end, though bitterly 

 contested. Of the 5,629,906 pupils in 

 1909, only 2 per cent were taught in au- 

 thorized religious establishments. Pri- 

 mary instruction is obligatory between the 

 ages of 7 and 13. The announced aims 

 of the public-school system are to culti- 

 vate patriotism, to instill morality, to teach 

 tolerance, to make French language uni- 

 form, to develop accurate observation, 

 and to enlarge spheres of interest. Doubt- 

 less it has shortcomings, but the system 

 has greatly reduced the percentages of 



ignorance among the people, the illiterate 

 conscripts falling from 16.85 per cent in 

 1880 to 4.40 per cent in 1908. 



The Financial Chronicle dwells on the 

 remarkable advances of France along in- 

 dustrial and educational lines as due 

 largely to the efficacy of her education. 

 Stating that its basic schools of research 

 in various branches have improved meth- 

 ods and enlarged the scope of industry, 

 the Chronicle adds that it affords a "deep 

 lesson for America." 



Of 86 technical schools no less than 57, 

 covering all branches of modern industry, 

 devote their efforts to grounding their 

 12,000 students in the maintenance of 

 artistic standards, in the perfection of 

 methods, and especially to the training of 

 managers, etc. Through the medium of 

 these institutions artisans and workmen, 

 foremen and managers, manufacturers 

 and dealers, are not only kept familiar 

 with alien methods and inventions, but 

 are instilled with artistic ideas, subjected 

 to cultured influences, and stimulated to 

 perfection of plan and of accomplishment. 



The typical French artisan takes pride 

 in his work, and it is characteristic of 



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