THE DEVASTATED HOMES OF FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 277, 19 August 1919, Page 8

THE DEVASTATED HOMES OF FRANCE

UliCOis STH U C'l'l X' THE VILLAGES. Much is being ;aid just at present about the reconstruction and reorganisation oi toe devastated districts, yet to oua.w peiiifips displaying a more useiul activity in this direction taan ilr. .uui'ii:!!, i-re:cot ot tne ftomme (writes tin.* Ptina correspondent oi the "Christian Science lUoiutoi"'). During the critical and anxious Hours of tne light lor arniens, Air., Jtqrain reveaied a remarkable iirmness of character, and he lias una- ruined his energy and prganisiug qualities to the great task of assuring l:;e reconstruction ot I'icardy, which is under his administration. Whilst studying the best way. of setting to work, Jir. Muruin was struck by tue undeniable met tnal, once the destroyed homes have been rebuilt, they will need to be refurbished, and he conceived tne idea of organising at Aniieus an exhibition of simplo furniture tuul ot all' the objects necessary lor the temporary reconstruction of a home.

This idea was Scon put into oxeculion, and the i J lace Longueville has been transformed into a complete village in v.ood, each building of which-cburoh, niairie, school, and fai'mhou6es—can be taken topieces, a lact which will assuredly greatly interest all the visitors. In the great hall of tho lino old Museum of Picardy concerts and fetes will Iw held, whilst another large room of the same building is now a Theatre des t.'abotins—tlio celebrated Punch and Judy chow of Amiens—which is as renowned in France as the Guignol of Lyons.

The organisers of this exhibition nave been continually hampered by tho transport crisis, still extremely , severe in France. Nevertheless, an important number of large furnishing firms took part in this scheme, and each day Jlr. .Morain and' his collaborators found' new adherents. •

This exhibition qnly comprises tho products of French firms, which were asked to exhibit objects characterised by usefulness, solidity, cheapness, and good taste, li they realised theso conditions, the exhibitors were almost assured of doing an important business, for tho I'icardy peasants are for the most part well-to-do, and are quite willing to buy furniture, and also wooden houses, sheds, stables, and granaries, which wilL enable them to tide over tho timo until their former homes are Tebuilt.

The exhibition at Amiens will doubtless be appreciated as much by the inhabitants >>f the towns as by tho peasants, tor it will enable tliem to acquire, at comparatively low prices, all tho objects they need for the reconstruction of their homes, whilst unconsciously obeying a general artistic direction which they would lack, if loft to their own devices.*