Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-04-02

FRENCH ErIoUErTE.-The following inter-
esting account of social manners in Paris, we
| find in letter published in the New York
| Times. The statements of the writer ore cor
rect.
| Newly arrived Americans always express an
unmiEgled surprise at contrasting ballroom
here with the bathrooms they have lef 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 a 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 expert
ence render their conversations and manners
anything but instructive or interesting, that the
task of sustaining social intercourse is commit
ted. True, you all know what young lady in
| ballroom is at home.S Let me say in few
words what she is in ballroom here.
In the first place, young unmarried lady is
expected to dress modestly and simply. She
cannot wear velvet nor lace, she cannot dress
in yellow; she cannot wear jewelry, except
perhaps earrings, containing each single dia-
mond, with as little setting as possible. 1t is
only of late that she has been allowed to have
founces to her gowns, and to arrange her hair
with artificial flowers. She may wear false
pearls, but not real ones-may wear necklaces
and bracelets of coral, ivory, Venice, small
agates, &C., but not of precious stones. She
cannot go to a ball without her mother or an el-
derly lady to chaperone her; she cannot go
alone with her father. She stays with her mo-
ther or chaperon throughout the evening, ex-
cept when she dances-and then does not leave
her place till the music gives the signal and re-
turns to it the moment the dance is over. She
cannot promenade with her partner-a tete-
atete is hopeless: private interview in a cor
ner or behind a curtain would compromise her
forever. The free and easy manners of an
American parior transported into the Faubourg
St. German would make Frenchman imagine
he was in bedlam broke loose.
This restraint is necessary for many reasons
4 gentleman, invited by the lady of the house,
is considered authorized to ask any lady pre-
sent to dance, without introduction. 1t is evil
dent however, that he cannot expect to become
an acquaintance, OF to claim anything further
than the honor of the dance. Again, if the
same facilities were allowed in France for the
intimacy of young women and young men that
are permitted in America, the most disorgani-
zing consequence would ensue. At home be-
lieve that the freedom of intercourse between
the sexes leads to but little disorder and laxity
of morals. l have heard that our young ladies
90 alone to the theatre with young men, go to
walk with them, to ride with them, sleigh.
riding, even, )and come home no wiser than
they went, or perha $ only a kiss or two
worse. This would be utterly out of the ques-
ton here. A young lady seen walking or riding
with gentleman in Paris, would be at once
supposed to be lost to virtue, and proba.
| biz the suspicion would be correct If insur.
mountable obstacles a-s thFossE zvsyy JS
a great familiarity between masters and misses,
it is because they have been found indispen-
sable.
American families that live here as residents
are of course obliged to bring up their daugh-
tiers in the French Fashion. They never leave
their mothers side, and walking, driving and
theatre-going with them is as much out of the
question as keeping company with the stars.
But families not familiar with Paris, some
times make very strange appearance without
knowing ii. | remember to have seen, some
time since, a very beautiful young lady walking
arm-in-arm with daring-looking New Yorker,
on the Camps Elyseesl They had been &C.
custoned to do 50, believe, on Fifih-Ayenue.
l thought it my duty to go straight to Che fair
Offenders mother and demonstrate against
proceeding so inadmisiable. The young lady
hates me to this day. though she now knows
enough of French manners to blush scarlet
whenever she thinks of the appearance she
must have made, on her first an1 last prone
made. In an American parlor, too, one night,
saw Boston girl, who supposed herself still IN
Summer Street, get behind door and talk
through the crack with Baltimore boy. Two
French ladies who were in the room, seriously
contemplated rushing out of the house, as they
were hardly sure that the place was respectable.
Not wishing to earn the girls hatred, too, got
somebody else to immediate himself and to re-
store the two French ladies, composure.