The Golden Lion of Granpere

The Golden Lion of Granpere

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Title: The Golden Lion of Granpere
Author: Anthony Trollope
Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5202] [Yes, we are more than one
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THE GOLDEN LION OF GRANPERE, BY ANTHONY TROLLOPE.
CHAPTER I.
Up among the Vosges mountains in Lorraine, but just outside the old
half-German province of Alsace, about thirty miles distant from the
new and thoroughly French baths of Plombieres, there lies the village
of Granpere. Whatever may be said or thought here in England of the
late imperial rule in France, it must at any rate be admitted that good
roads were made under the Empire. Alsace, which twenty years ago
seems to have been somewhat behindhand in this respect, received her
full share of Napoleon's attention, and Granpere is now placed on an
excellent road which runs from the town of Remiremont on one line of
railway, to Colmar on another. The inhabitants of the Alsatian Ballon
hills and the open valleys among them seem to think that the
civilisation of great cities has been brought near enough to them, as
there is already a diligence running daily from Granpere to
Remiremont;--and at Remiremont you are on the railway, and, of
course, in the middle of everything.
And indeed an observant traveller will be led to think that a great deal
of what may most truly be called civilisation has found its way in

among the Ballons, whether it travelled thither by the new- fangled
railways and imperial routes, or found its passage along the valley
streams before imperial favours had been showered upon the district.
We are told that when Pastor Oberlin was appointed to his cure as
Protestant clergyman in the Ban de la Roche a little more than one
hundred years ago,--that was, in 1767,--this region was densely dark
and far behind in the world's running as regards all progress. The
people were ignorant, poor, half-starved, almost savage, destitute of
communication, and unable to produce from their own soil enough
food for their own sustenance. Of manufacturing enterprise they
understood nothing, and were only just far enough advanced in
knowledge for the Protestants to hate the Catholics, and the Catholics
to hate the Protestants. Then came that wonderful clergyman, Pastor
Oberlin,--he was indeed a wonderful clergyman,-- and made a great
change. Since that there have been the two empires, and Alsace has
looked up in the world. Whether the thanks of the people are more
honestly due to Oberlin or to the late Emperor, the author of this little
story will not pretend to say; but he will venture to express his opinion
that at present the rural Alsatians are a happy, prosperous people, with
the burden on their shoulders of but few paupers, and fewer
gentlemen,--apparently a contented people, not ambitious, given but
little to politics. Protestants and Catholics mingled without hatred or
fanaticism, educated though not learned, industrious though not
energetic, quiet and peaceful, making linen and cheese, growing
potatoes, importing corn, coming into the world, marrying, begetting
children, and dying in the wholesome homespun fashion which is so
sweet to us in that mood of philosophy which teaches us to love the
country and to despise the town. Whether it be better for a people to
achieve an even level of prosperity, which is shared by all, but which
makes none eminent, or to encounter those rough, ambitious,
competitive strengths which produce both palaces and poor-houses,
shall not be matter of argument here; but the teller of this story is
disposed to think