New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-20

N. born for a better place. She has birds,
too; feeds the fishes in the fountain is so-voiced
and maidenly. She receives messages and shows
people the drawing room. She does up hadames
caps. and acts as dressing maid TO her daughter,
Mdlle. NJ Then there ia the Irish Katy, VINO
,peaks French and English, who longs 10 go home
but who waits on her MISTRESS table and takes
care OF her private rooms.
You will think there is no end to the employees
Beside the six clean-cspped servants in the kitchen,
there are the concierge and his pretty vile az tne
lodge who attend the door-bell, trim lamps sweep
the courts and do errands. Little Madame I. Is
in mourning now. One evening at she lett Tue
door in charge Of her husband, and went 70 some
poor friend lodging, where soon she was mofher
The father told us all the news the next day, and
the girls sent delicacies TO the happy mother. In
twelve days she came back again. The baby mad
been left with nurse such one az ITS poor, gen
tle mother could afford; her own breast consumed
with grief to leave it, but 80 it must be. There
was no place or time for the child here. In three
more days il died. All you young mothers know
the rest all but the cursing Of that fate which
obliged her to fOrsake her infant.
The old nurse Of the infrmary is a mourner too;
she has buried eight Of her children: the ninth IS
frail thing iedrnDg to make artificial flowers. Sne
ia her mothers idol, and tears of Joy and gratitude
flowed down the old nurses cheeks when she told
me once that Madame, the mistress OF the house,
bad given her permission to have the child spend
fete day with her. never saw even young per-
sOn manifest so much jubilee.
So YOU zee We live in world of tried
hearts. Strange that the ancient philosophers
who ina gined oil else never perceived that Suffer
ing is the great teacher Of Humanity. The New
Adam came to prove it.
But we must return TO the pupils and their daily
life They rise at in the morning and retire at 3.
They sleep in large dOrmitories with their teach
erg and surveillantes. The beds are single on iron
bedsteads, ranged in rows along the rooms. One
wonders how the occupants can be so ruddy and
well when air is so feared in their sleeping apart
ments end 70 little water furnished in their dressing
rooms. But entire warm baths are frequent In the
establithment, and the class rooms and gardens
offer more fresh air during the day than our school
girls are accustomed TO enjoy.
The refectory is bare, uncomely ROOM on the
rez-de.chaussee, with brick floor, wood benches
and oilcloth-cOvered tables. The fare is good,
abundant and most healthful. At eight in the
morning after each class has had its prayers, and
some have been to mass, all come IN tocks to
breakfast. Each mistress stands at the head OF
her table and says grace, meantime crossing her
self twice while the pupils do the sane. Small
white earthen bowls with bread are placed before
each, and a choice of hot or cold milk is offered.
Tea coffee, chocolate and soup are prepared for
those who need them, or have made special ar
rsngement for either. At noon the second break
fast is served, which is almost like dinner, and
at three Baskets of dry bread are handed about
during recreation At five the pupils dine. The
lady of the house and her superior teacher serve
both the dinner and second dtjeuner, while SER
wants hand the plates of rstions to the various
tables. The cook is melted TO excellence BY her
mistress's constant inspection of her productions
and on the other hand the girls restrained from
grumblings by the same presence.
Contrary to the custom with us in similar
q 10. e bo Tpcfi tnfa har fan nd
parlor bOarders. take their meals apart from the
scholars. Thus the privacy of domestic life is
preserved, and the table kept open TO any friends;
thus the elegancies and comforts which large
establishment precludes can be gathered into the
smaller circle of private family.
The system Of French female education is very
different from that in our own country. Here the
dead languages are left to blue stockings. Simple
arithmetic is the extent Of mathematics acquired;
but history, literature, style, composition, read
ing ard defamation, are much more studied than
in our schools The best professor OF geography
and history which Paris affords, spends three hours
a day three times week in the various classes.
Monsieur i. is just the opposite of what his name
would Indicate He is a tall man, bearing high
head replete with the profoundest erudltion. lie
was instructor TO the Queen OF Spain, and wears
her decoration on his breast. His lectures are
mostly written down by the pupils and committed
TO memory for future examinations.
The Professor Of Rhetoric renders his lessons
also most useful and interesting. He is a man OF
high rank among French Swans, yet he is proud to
be teacher of youth He is not only master OF
eloquence and style, but distinguished writer on
botany and medical scence-a kind of universal
and mcst agreeable genius. He comes but once
week for two hours. He reads the girls compost
tiOnt alOud-commends their exceencles and crltl-
cises severely their faults He listens to their
repettions of Boileaus Art Poetique" and their
repeated readings of some chosen bit of poetry or
prose, previously studied and read aloud under the
direction Of the superior mistress. The History of
Literature and the lives Of great men are copied
from his manuscripts and committed 10 memory
word for word for future cOneours. His lectures
take the form OF conversation, interpreted with
the choicest quotations and the incest criticisms.
When time permits he recites extracts from the
great Poets, reads popular play or witty story
Morality, thought ard style are sought in all. His
memory is great stOre-house of all he has ever
known Nothing has been for gotten either of origi
mails or TRANSACTIONS. Homer, Virgil, Dante, and
Racine flow with equal harmony from his lips.
The age Of Louis XIV, and, par excellence, the
writings of Madame de Sevigne, are his
favored loves in modern literature.
French girls read perhaps less than ours, yet
far surpass them in acquaintance with native
authors They excel US, too, in discrlm-
mating use of words and in delicate appreciation
Of their value. With them style in expression is
Of parallel Importance with distinction and grace
in manners. The great models such as the letters
of Madame de Seyign6, the plays of Cornee and
Racine, the orations of Bossuet, and the fables of
Lafontsine are most familiar 10 their lips.
Beside the superior instruction given here in
Ethics and Bellies Lettres, there is another de-
partment Of education, which, fear, your Prot
estsnt prejudices will deny as really existing 1t
may be styled the Professorship OF Religion. The
religious teacher is as punctual as the masters of