It is said that...

A manufacturer of canned goods is mentioned who bought, some time ago, several thousand kilograms of tomatoes at the price of 10 francs per hundred kilos, or one penny per pound. Now, the current prices of this house indicate the one-kilo can at 8 francs.
Assuming that the tinplate and the labor cost 2 francs, which is certainly above the truth, we have reason to suppose that this merchant who sells for eight francs what he pays 2.10 francs for will soon be able to live on his income.

Two years ago, the Masonic lodge of the Grand Orient of France expressed the wish that as soon as possible the French school legislation be applied to Alsace-Lorraine. In recent days, it voted a motion demanding the annihilation of the reaction and the immediate introduction of Masonic laws in the recovered provinces and, reminding Mr. Herriot of his promises (???) it demanded the suppression of the Vatican embassy. How much in a few words! Freemasonry feels all-powerful, it no longer asks, it demands; For once, Freemasonry speaks... frankly; it no longer says: secular laws, but Masonic laws; it could not render greater service to Catholics, by warning them of what awaits them; Mr. Herriot has made promises to Freemasonry, he has made commitments to the worst enemies of the Church. What are this hypocrite Herriot and this imbecile Raynaldy telling us when, feeling themselves entangled in the history of Alsace-Lorraine, they hide their claws and declare themselves more respectful than anyone of the religious convictions of the recovered provinces?

The Government has, it seems, removed from the draft of the next budget the credits for the Vatican embassy. Mr. Herriot is stubborn, probably the Chambers will follow. We will see what the country thinks, which alone must suffer from it, because we should, once and for all, remember that it is not the Vatican, but France that has an interest in maintaining relations. The radicals themselves, at least those who are not blinded by sectarian hatred, have realized this. Moreover, during the fifteen years that the embassy was suppressed, the French Government tried, by indirect means, to maintain with Rome a contact that it felt was absolutely necessary. It remains to be seen whether it is appropriate for a great country like ours to enter the Vatican through the service door, like a pariah, or through the grand staircase, like all civilized nations.

On the shores of Lake Geneva, gentlemen in jackets are gravely discussing the possibilities of maintaining peace in Europe. Each has his infallible means and is trying to make it prevail. The League of Nations has the war by the throat and is going to strangle it. It is over, no more wolves, the lambs will now sleep peacefully. Now, sinister irony, the cannon thunders to echo the voices of the grave gentlemen; people are fighting, they are slaughtering each other in China, Mexico, Morocco. The situation in Georgia is particularly poignant. The Soviets, in the name of the Third International which must emancipate the human race, are bombing, shooting, and disemboweling the Georgians who are not socialists in their own way. It is a fine piece of work and blood flows. The League of Nations, which has remedies to prevent war in thirty years, and which would have such a fine opportunity to try them today, finds itself disarmed before these armed peoples. Let it not be surprised if, faced with this failure, it finds us skeptical.

It is a story of melons, but where there are pears which really let themselves be beaten with disconcerting perseverance. Three weeks ago, melons from the South arrived in such abundance at the wholesale merchants of Paris, that they were liquidated for almost nothing. A traveling merchant bought 1200 at the rate of 0.20 francs each, therefore for 240 francs; the same day he resold them for 1.50 francs on average, making a profit of 1560 francs, or 650%. On the 240 francs, the producer had to pay the costs of transport, handling, etc. and received net 27 francs. 50. Between the farmer, this bald, this scabby, this exploiter and the consumer, there is therefore a margin of 1772 francs. 50. Don't you think that both are suckers?

In Paris, on the front door of an office, rue de Courcelles, we find an enamel plaque with the inscription: "Albert X..; advice of all kinds. Obviously, this giver, or rather this seller of advice is at the same time a lawyer, notary, banker, industrialist, merchant, to be able to give advice to anyone, unless he is simply a crook.

What is his advice worth? Perhaps not much to the client because one must always be wary of universal men, but it is certainly worth a lot to the adviser, because at 10 francs per pear, and six pears per hour, we can say that time is money. The advisor is not the payer; on the contrary, he collects. There are no stupid jobs, but there are dishonest ones.