The French drain. Sounds exotic, continental, elegant, sophisticated, oui? Brings to mind the way the farmers, vintners, and orchardists of Provence drain their water, n'est pas? Pretty slick name for that simple, efficient drain around the perimeter of some basements, golf courses, oui, cherè?
Non, mon ami. You're all wet if you think French drains have anything whatsoever to do with France. In fact, they were invented in Concord by Henry French, father of sculptor Daniel Chester French, whom we must flood with congratulations for their effectiveness.
Henry French was a judge and farmer, and as the latter a veritable fount of information on drainage. He was a great local source to tap on the subject, one which farmers with wet fields, barns, and roads lapped right up. In fact, his knowledge was so deep and unsinkable, he wrote a lengthy book on the subject, one whose subtitle is so long it takes a moment to fully drink in:
Farm Drainage
The Principles, Processes, and Effects of Draining Land with Stones, Wood, Plows, and Open Ditches and Espcially with Tiles< Including Tables of Rain-Fall, Evaporation, Filtration, Evcavation, Capacity of Pipes; Cost and Number to the Acre, of Tiles, Etc,
Alors, let's not slag off our French cousins.