Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-03-28
FEMALES OF FRANCE, STYLE OF BEAUTY. e..
From Cooper's "Gleanings in Europe"

From Cooper's "Gleanings in Europe"
Although female beauty is not common
in France, when it is found, it is usually Of
very high order. The sweet chcrub.Gkc,
guileless expression, that belongs to the
English female face, and through it, 10 the
American, is hardly ever, perhaps never.
met with here. The French countenance
seldom conveys the idea Of extreme, infan.
tile innocence. Even in the children there
is manner, which, while it docs not abso-
lutely convey an impression of an absence
of the virtues, think leaves less conviction
Of its belonging to the soul Of the being,
than the peculiar look mean; One always
sees woman, modest, amiable, spiritual, te-
minnie and attractive, if you will, in a French
girl; while one sometimes sees young
angel in young English or American face.
| have no allusion now to religious feelings,
which are quite as general in the sex, par
ticularly the young Of good families, under
their characteristic distinctions, here as any
where else. In this particular. the grea,
difference is, that in America it is religion,
and in France it is inidelity, that is me:n-
! rhysical.
There is a coquet.ish pret:incss that is
quite common in France, in which air and
manner are mingled with certain saucI.
ness of exrre ssion, that is not easily dcscr:.
bed. but which. while it blends well enough
with the style of the face, is rather pleasing
than captivating. 1t marks the peculiar
beauty OF the grisette, who, with her little
cap, hands stuck in tho pockets other apron,
mincing walk, coquettish eye, and well ba-
lanced head, is creature perfectly SUI &C.
neris. Such a girl is mort like an actress
initiating the character, than one is apt 10
imagine the character itself. | have met
with imitators Of these roguish beauties in
higher station, such Us the wives and daugh.
tiers Of the industrious classes, as it is the
fashion to call them here, and even among
the banking community, but never among
women of condition, whose department ip
France, whatever may be their morals, is
usually marked by gentilIty of air, and
perfectly good tone Of manuer, always ex.
cepting that small taint of roueism to which
nave alluded, and which certainly must
have come from the camp and emigration.
The men of France have the same ply.
scal and the same conventional peculiari.
ties as the women. They are Short but
sturdy. Including all France, for there is
material difference in this respect between
the norlh and south, should think the av-
erage stature of the French men mot wo-
nen) TO be quite an inch and half below
the average stature in America, and possi-
bly two inches. At home, did not fiat
myself greatly above the medium height
in crowd | was always compelled to stand
on tip.toe, to look over tic heads Of those
around me whereas here. ] am evidently
IN grand, and can see across the Champs
Elysees, without any difficulty. You may
remember that | stand, as nearly as may
be, TO five feet ten it follows that FIVE feet
ten is rather IL tall man in France. You
ore not to suppose, however, that there are
not occasionally men Of great stature III this
country. One Of the largest men have
ever seen, appears daily in the garden of,he
Tuileries, and am told he is Frenchman
of one of the northeastern provinces.-
That part of the kingdom is German, rather
than French, however, and the popula'ion
still retain most Of the pcculiarities Of their
origin.