The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-05-15
The French and the. English.

Rev. F. A. Mood, of Charleston, who is now
sojourning i'll Paris, contributes a very inter.
esting letter to tho columns of that paper. in
which he gives an entertaining sketch Of tile
habits and manners of tbepeople, and presents
these in favorable contrast with those of the
English Our people, too, might we'll profit by
many of the suggestions of the writer, and
learn many useful lessons in the art of living
from Johnny Crapeau." Whilst we follow
his lead so blindly in fashions of dress, we
would do well.to cultivate as sssiduously the
amenities of,social intercourse, and an attention
to those trides which make up the sum of en-.
Joyment We makethc following extracts:
The Rarisans are as particular in their man.
ner of eating as peculiar in their manner of
living. Ealing with them is very grave
and systematic affair. The American "bol-
ting" process is happily here utterly uu-
systematic viyacity of John Bull nor the
locomotive guIphing of Brother. Jonathan,
but it is like everything else Parisian-a
deliberate, polite and easy movement, sup
erinduced somewhat may be BY the liberal
use of olive oil i'll their food. In England,
every man at hotel sits by himself to
little table, and a huge piece Of beefis car
ried around-somctimes carted round on
small car, and huge piece with the par
boiled blood spinning out of its laid upon
your plate. and when you have finished
that, if you need more, tile round is carted
to you again, and again your plate is filled
with what is called slice.
They have no idea of variety in meal
at an English Hotel. In Paris the case
reaches the opposite extreme. The week
spent at the hotel l did not observe the
same dish on the table repeated once. and
though boarding now over month in
private family, am very far from discover
ing the slightest routine in eating. The
versatility oftheir cooks is truely wonder
ful, and if they are trying just "to fill you
up" they manage most successfully to keep
it out Of view. At dinner--tleira great
meal, both in tie houses and at the hotels,
all sit down to table together, which seems
only the dictate of decent civilization.
But the rush of the people and the clatter
OF the plates and knives, that seem to be
an indispensable addenda of The American
Hotels arc alike unknown, and real centil-
ty and quiet is had. think if ANYTHING
would make Frenchman fight, it would be
an attempt to force two things on his plate
at the same time. Each thing is eaten by
itself and change of plate is demanded
down to little articles like pickles, DC, he
Will sometimes require a change of plates
SO that you may expect at French Hotel,
Mt the shortest possible time, not to get
through under an hour anda half. It is
marvellous the quantities of bread a French
man can eat, this is the prelude, the inter
lude and the conclude TO everything, from
soup, clear through fish, meat, vegetables,
dessert and wine, he is packing away bread
all the time, and tlati is about the only
thing OIL will see at French Hotel, that
seems 10 be deliberate effort ito fill up.n
but that. remember, is voluntary, and pro.
badly as much habit as hunger.
I cannot well put upon paper how entire
]yrl have been carried away by the uni
form and UNIVERSAL poIitcness of the French.
1 had heard of it and read of it, but, it is
beyond description. 1t seems to be nm ex-
qaisitc compound fkindly feeling and pres.
ence of mind, and is born with them. for
the waggish boys and sprightly girls are all
possessed of the same grace and kindness of
manner: A French lady is never confused
at any sight or any occurrence, however un-
seemly or shocking, and she has the hap
py art of preserving her natural color and
being blind Mt tue same time at events
that an: English woman would require
four, or Ave bottles of smelling salts with
cologne to boot, to keep life in her-for an
English or sAmerican lady aoiH see every
thing That is going on and have not the
power to stand the shock.
AT: table nothing ,agitatcs the lady pre-
siding. A tureen soup may be upset on
the table, and into her lap by any awk-
ward ssyant, and instead of screaming in
fright, or completing the catastrophe by, up
setting the table in a sudden and spasmodic
effort 10 escape the liquid, she with the
most graceful air, possible, will push back
ber chair and commence shaking the folds
Of her dress, as though the whole occur.
renee had been matter of course, and fully
anticipated Instead of breaking OFT into
outrageous. wrathsagainst the servant, and
abusing INN. III he pickpocket for his awk-
wardness as.seems to be theirresistibIeS in.
stinct%o[: Anglo Saxon blood, she Sssends ont
asmetryAaugh and orders more soup. !
confess have been delighted over every .ac-
eidenf at table that r6aVe witnessed, and It
has been MY good fortune to: witness sever
all was ,worthamuch. more the pudding
sauce that was upset, to seeis the admirable
tact Of the good lady laughing it off and
giving TO us dry pudding. "A gentleman in
trying to escape demolition by an Omni-
bus may run against alady, nearly knock
her down. besides playing sad work with the
shape of her bonnet ,sIiDmediately, with
graceful bows, while size u6fsed the bon.
net, she begins "Pardon Monsieur, Par
don Alonsieur,". while lie is bowing and re-
Heatlng with many apologies "Pardon
Madam" The egentleman could not but
feelsgratitied at politeness' which made
the invaded party ap6Kgize for the acci,s
Our papers seen,.to delight iu the use Of
one set phrase in' abiding to public meuL.
Ills this: "beistaresl gentleman of the old
English sel,ool Now the AOad EnsIish
echoop,snays mean two. OF three~ centuries
ago. hog doestbis writer know lwheth-
er OciI0f ft(lieSor that rnon,a r1onnn..s a..