To those who even in the darkest hours of socialist and labour agitation kept their faith in the strong common sense and patriotism of the bulk of the French people, the events of the past three months have been a source of deep satisfaction. Even the "dear food" riots which began a month ugo in north-eastern France and spread thence to Brittany and Burgundy have not been without their bright side. In one or two particulars the riots in France present a curious parallel with some nearer Shanghai. The original cause of high prices, apart altogether from the influence of the drought in Europe during the past summer, is the work of food speculators, into whose doings M. Briand, then Prime Minister, promised an investigation more than a year ago. And when prices took sudden upward tarn some few weeks back, it was the French women, those admirable housewives who are the centre of the unparalleied economy of their nation and have so clear an idea of what they ought to pay in the kitchen, who took the lead and attacked the provision shops, just as was done by the peasant women of Pootung. Within some twenty-four hours of the outbreak of every disorder, the General Confederation of La-hour had taken command of the agitation. This body has gradually been losing its hold upon the French working classes; there is reason to believe ti has been meditating a food strike, for more than a year, as a desperate means of regaining its position; and whatever outward success it may claim, the character of its leaders and adherents and the methods. that they pursue have been exposed with fatal conspicuousness. In common with the Federation, the practical results of political Socialism have received " rude shock. In one of the worst disorganized communes, that of St. Quentin, the mayor and his councillors are all Socialists, and it has been plainly shown that they were equally to blame for allowing what occurred to germinate and for their
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.