Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-02
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IN letter published in the New York Times
The Boston transcript, in endorsing the septi-
nenss OF the writer, adda:-"There would he
rebellion in every house here, If the attemut YVES
made 10 introduce Partisan customs, and compel
mamma 10 accompany her daughter on all occa-
sions. An extra sister is hardly tolerated by our
young couples, when they visit places of public
amusement, and the very idea ola mother to act
as body guard for young lady in America,
would be hooied by all damsels of spirit, and
would be equivalent TO non-inereourse on the
part of young men of self respect.
We may copy French sly les Of dress, and toll
crate French cooking; but we shall be content to
allow three thousand miles of water to separate
US irom the etiquette which prevails in Paris, in
regard to social customs. The correspondent of
the Times remarks:
Newly arrived Americans always express an
unmlnged surprise at contrasting a ballroom
here, with the bathrooms they have left behind.
The distinguishing features of difference are the
form and manners of the young unmarried ladies
at home, and their retiring demeanor here. This
difference is worth making note Of Married
ladies upon the Continent, sway and give tone
TO society, while in America, it is TO those ladies'
whose youth and extent OF experience render their
conversation and manners anything bat instructive
or interesting, that the task Of sustaining social
intercourse is committed. True, you all know
Hhdl young huy III bdli-IUuiH ~ at uUtu6-
Let me say in few words, what she is in ball
room here.
In the hrst place, young unmarried lady is
expected to dress modesty and simply. She cam
not wear velvet nor lace; she cannot dress in vel
low; she cannot wear jewelry, except perhaps
earrings, containing each single diamond, with
little setting possible. II is only of late that
she has been allowed to have founces to her
gowns, and 10 arrange her hair with artificial
flowers. She may wear false pearls, but not real
ones-nay wear necklaces aud bracelets of coral,
ivory, Venice, small agates, &C., but not of pre-
cious stones. She cannot go to ball without her
mother or an elderly lady TO chaperone hers she
cannot go alone with her father. She stays with
her mother or ChaperCne throughout the evening,
except when she dances-and then does not leave
her place till the music gives the signal, and re-
turns TO il the moment the dance is over. She
cannot promenade with her partner--a ete-a-tete
| Is hopeless; private interview in corner, or
| behind a curtain, would compromise her forever.
The free and easy manners Of an American par
Tor transported into the Faubourg st. German,
would make Frenchman imagine he was in
bedam broke loose,
This restraint is necessary for many reasons.
A gentleman, invited by the lady of the house,
is considered authorized to ask any lady present
TO dance withoutintr0duction. 1t is evident how
eyer, that he cannot expect to become an acquain
lance, or to claim any thing further than the hon.
or of the dance. Again, if the same facilities
were allowed In France for the intimacy fyoung
women and young men that are permitted in
America, the most disorganizing consequences
would ensue. A home believe that the free
dom Ct intercourse between the sexes leads to
but little disorder and laxity Of morals. / have
heard that our young ladies go alone to the thea
| tire with young men, 90 10 walk with them, to
ride with them-seigh-rdin overland come
home no wiser than they went, or perhaps only
kiss or two worse. This would be utterly out Of
the question here. A young lady seen walking
or riding with gentleman in Paris, would be at
once supposed TO have lost all she had worth
eSeeping, and probably the superstition would be
correct. Insurnountable obstacles are thrown
in the way of greater familiarity between mas
ters and misses, it is because they have been
found Indispensable.
| American families that live here as residents
are Of course obliged to bring up their daughters
| in the French fashion. They never leave their
mothers side and walking, driving, and thea
| tire going with them is as much out of the ques-
ton keeping company with the stars.
| But families not familiar with Paris sometimes
make very strange appearance without knowing
| it, l remember to have seen, some time since,a
very beautiful young lady walking arm-in-arm
with a. daring-ooNing New Yorker, on the
Champs Elysees They had been accustomed
10 do SO believe, on Fifth-avenue | thought it
my duty to 60 straight to the fair offenders moth
er, and demonstrate against proceeding SO inad-
mssabie. The young lady hates me to this day,
though she now knows enough of French man
ners to blush scarlet whenever she thinks Of the
appearance she must have made, on her first and
! last promenade. In an American parlor, too,
one night. l saw Boston girl who supposed her
self still in Summer street, get behind door and
talk through the crack with Baltimore boy
! Two French ladies who were in the room, seri-
ously contemplated rushing out into the street, as
they were hardly sure that the place was respec-
table. Not wishing to earn this girls hatred too,
l got somebody else to immediate HIMSELF and to
restore the two French ladies' composure.