BRITTANY : FOR AUIvD LANG SYNE 



Though their lives are full of hardships, privations, and dangers, the fishermen of 

 Brittan}' still are a contented lot of people, sociable and vi^arm-hearted toward their fellows. 

 They are a strong, sturdy race, holding as fast to the legends of an older time as the Medes 

 and the Persians held fast to their laws. 



PERSONAIv FREEDOM 



A personal experience of the restric- 

 tion on individual liberty came with a 

 shock in 1876. While arguing with 

 French students, one expressed his keen 

 regret that he could not have my pres- 

 ence at a private discussion of the sub- 

 ject. He added : "I have invited nine- 

 teen, and if you came we would all be 

 arrested." "But," said I, "this is a sci- 

 entific and not a political question !" It 

 was startling to learn that not over 

 twenty persons could assemble without 

 a formal permit from the government. 

 Triisty concierges, registration cards, po- 

 lice agents' identification books, and hotel 

 spies were universal methods of surveil- 

 lance to which aliens and natives were 

 subjected. The cabinet noir no longer 

 opens your letters, and liberty is general. 



Freedom of assembly came m 1881, 

 followed at mtervals by other forms of 

 liberty — of the press, of commercial or- 

 ganizations, of labor unions, etc. Unau- 

 thorized religious orders are refused 

 freedom of action along special lines 

 unless they conform to governmental 

 regulations — a restriction that yet causes 

 bitter strife. 



FACTORS IN FRENCH DEVELOPMENT 



Various French conditions can be men- 

 tioned by title only, as space fails. Vastly 

 beneficial are cooperative operations in 

 agriculture, commerce, trade, insurance, 

 and other lines of public utility. Rural 

 credit, road systems, and workmen's 

 houses are factors of prosperity and pro- 

 ducers of comfort. In Africa and in 

 Asia France has displayed an amazing 

 aptitude for prosperous colonization. If 



213 



