curious sidelight
on English politics in 1710--How St.-Omer escaped a
siege 23-43

CHAPTER III

IN THE PAS-DE-CALAIS--(_continued_)

Aire-sur-la-Lys--Local objections to a national railway--A visit to a
councillor-general--Pentecost in Artois--The Artesians in 1789--Wealth
and power of the clergy--Recognition of the Third
Estate long before the Revolution--The English and the French
clergy in the last century--Lord Macaulay and Arthur Young--Sympathy
of the cures with the people--Turgot, Condorcet and
the rural clergy---The Revolution and public education--M. Guizot
the founder of the French primary schools--The liberal school
ordinance of 1698--The Bishop of Arras, in 1740, on the duty of
educating the people--The experience of Louisiana as to public
schools and criminality--The two Robespierres saved and educated
by priests--What came of it--A rural church and congregation
in Artois--The notary in rural France--A village procession--'Beating
the bounds' in France--An altar of verdure and roses--The
villagers singing as they march--Ancient customs in
Northern France 44-52

CHAPTER IV

IN THE PAS-DE-CALAIS--(_continued_)

Aire-sur-la-Lys--Local and general elections in France--A public meeting
in rural Artois--A councillor-general and his constituents--Artois
in the 18th and 19th centuries--Well-tilled fields, fine
roads, hedges, and orchards--Effect of long or short leases--A
meeting in a grange--French, English, and American audiences--Favouritism
under the conscription--Extravagant outlay on
scholastic palaces--Almost a scene--A political disturbance
promoted--Canvassing in England and France--Tenure of office in
the French Republic--'To the victors belong the spoils,' the
maxim not of Jackson but of Danton--'Epuration,' what it
means--If Republicans are not put into office 'they will have
civil war'--'No justice of the peace nor public school teacher to
be spared'--'Terror and anarchy carried into all branches of the
public service'--M. de Freycinet declares that 'servants of the
State have no liberty in politics'--The Tweed regime of New
York officially organised in France---Men of position reluctant
to take office--The expense of French elections--1,300,000_l._
sterling the estimated cost of an opposition campaign--A