eilles on the eve of the famous January elections in
Paris. Passing through one of the squares of the Mediterranean city, I
observed two _cochers_ engaged in an animated debate. One of them from
his box exclaimed 'I tell you Boulanger is the only real man in France!'
To which the other replied as vehemently, 'And I tell you that he is
nothing but the dealer in a low political hell! _c'est un croupier de
mauvais aloi!_' He may have picked up the phrase from the _Petit
Marseillais_, which is one of the few really well-edited newspapers in
France. But it was a notable phrase, and it expresses, I think, the
opinion of the sincere Radicals and Socialists, not only as to General
Boulanger, but as to the politicians, now his bitterest enemies, who
were his original friends and 'promoters.' A very smart and outspoken
Provencal Socialist who drove me on a delightful morning from the once
royal and always delectable city of Arles to the majestic ruins of
Montmajeur, and the unique and wonderful deserted fortress-city of Les
Baux, set no bounds to his speech about the official Republicans. We met
near Montmajeur a neat private carriage. 'That is the carriage of
M----,' he said, as we passed on. 'He is an aristocrat--but I think he
will be Mayor of Axles. We have had an aristocratic major who gave to
the people, and a Republican mayor who took from the people. I prefer
the aristocrat, till we can make an end of all majors and all this
rubbish of governments.' At the Legislative elections the Monarchists of
Aries threw 8,540 votes, the Radicals 9,858, and the Government
Republicans none at all. Of course the Radical members support the
Government--but on their own terms. As these terms grow more exacting,
the strength of the Monarchist reaction increases, and as the
Monarchists grow stronger the Radical exactions become more imperious.
The most active and earnest Monarchist whom I met in Marseilles, M.
Fournier, assures me that the Marseilles Radicals are more intolerant of
the Opportunists than they are even of the Monarchists.

As one of the largest employers of labour in Marseilles, M. Fournier is
in constant touch with the working population of the Bouches-du-Rhone.
He is an earnest and devoted Catholic, and he has encouraged the
foundation of a Christian Corporation among the people employed in his
works. These works were founded half a century ago, in 1840, for the
purpose of turning to practical results the interesting discove