Page 13 Advertisements Column 3

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 413, 23 January 1909, Page 13

It is not often that London lias an "Immortal" within, its walls. Tho appearance, therefore, at.Caxton Hall on a recent Saturday afternoon of M; Kouo Bazin, tho French Academician, as a "conforencier" proved'an event, of unusual'interest. Tho place was filled to overcrowding Eomo considerable time before the lecture commenced; In thoau-. dienco were-the"French and Italian Ambaa- ; .sadors and.a great number of society-ladies, many of whom' remained standing heroically ' end. After a-few words of introduction'from'Professor Salmon, president of the Alliance Francaiso,' under whoso auspices the lecture was given,'M. Bazin began his discourse on "Rural Life in 'France." In the polished stylo traditional at tho Acadomie he delineated tho oharaetor of the French peasant, his pationco and endurance, and the other qualities that contribute to malto him such'an important factor in the prosperity of tho .country. ."The peasants of France," ho said, "may be called tho infantry, and the working men the .cavalry of' the national army. But in order'to approciato the toilers of the soil ono must live among thorn, and Jiavo a strong sympathy for . thorn. The peasant is somewhat reticent, and taciturn. I It is very difficult to- get information from •him. In the Midi ho will talk a great deal and say , very ;littlo, . but in tho northern provinces, like Normandy and Brittany, he will talk vory little.and say nothing at all." Mr. Bazin is an ardent apostlo of the ."Baok to tho Land" movement. In a conversation with a nowspapor representative he alluded in enthusiastic) terms to tho progross of the ' movement in France. "Life in our large -towns has .become so; exacting and expensive," lio'said, "that whole families emigrato every year to the country. Many of our ~ young men now, instead of entering tho' Civil Sendee, 'go as "farmers in the provinces." :