I have seen villages of two or three hundred people belonging to a large scattered commune wait patiently for years and humbly petition for aid in constructing an indispensable fountain, which required only a contribution of 200 or 300 francs, 5 francs per head, to put up.

I have seen others possessing only one road on which to send off their produce and unable to act in concert, when, with an outlay of 2000 francs, and 200 or 300 francs a year to keep it in order, it would easily suffice for all their requirements.

I speak of regions relatively rich, much better off than the majority of communes in France."] [Footnote 4226: In French villages, on one of the walls of a public building on the square are notices of all kinds, of interest to the inhabitants, and among these, in a frame behind a wire netting, the latest copy of the government official newspaper, giving authentic political items, those which it thinks best for the people to read.
(Tr.)] [Footnote 4227: On the communal system in France, and on the reforms which, following the example of other nations, might be introduced into it, cf.

Joseph Ferrand (formerly a prefect), "Les Institutions administratives en France et a l'etranger"; Rudolph Gneist, "Les Reformes administratives en Prusse accomplies par la legislation de 1872," (especially the institution of Amtsvorsteher, for the union of communes or circumscriptions of about 1500 souls); the Duc de Broglie, "Vues sur le gouvernement de la France" (especially on the reforms that should be made in the administration of the commune and canton), p.
21.--"Deprive communal magistrates of their quality as government agents; separate the two orders of functions; have the public functionary whose duty it is to see that the laws are executed in the communes, the execution of general laws and the decisions of the superior authority carried out, placed at the county town."] [Footnote 4228: De Foville, ibid., p.

16 .-- The remarks here made apply to towns of the foregoing category (from 5000 to 10,000 souls), numbering 312.