The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-02
FRENCH WOMEN UNDER THE EMPIRE.


the two sexes in France. They appear to have
nothing in common, neither ideas nor interests.
There Is no sympathy between them, scarcely
mutual forbeNrance. They are coming to regard
each other not only as necessary evils but as
natural enemies, restrained alone by the force
Of circumstances from coming into collision.
The domestic hearth" he continues, "is cold,
the family dinner silent meal; and at night
each retires to a separate chamber. Even in
society, the amiable hypocrisy of ordinary
poteness is insufficient to draw the men to wards
The women. II there be several rooms open for
the reception OF the company, the ladies will
pc found crowded together in the most spacious
and respondent apartment, whore they are left
10 their own devices, except when at long
intervals some fine old gentleman, one OF the
few survivors of the ancient school OF courtesy
ventures within the magic circle to offer a
graceful compliment, or to say a few kindly
| words to the wife or daughter Of an OLD com
rade or fellow-collegian.n
This reciprocal alienation of the two sexes so
isiIhiuliy depicted BY M. Mlchele, is particularly
| observable by the seaside, where, in England,
an exactly opposite state of thing usually
prevails. The men there pass their time IN
playing at cards or billiards, in reading the
papers, in slipping coffee or absinthe, while the
ladies are left to amuse themselves as best they
may. Immediately after dinner perhaps the
bappy family" will sally forth in group to the
Terrace, or jctty, but no sooner do thew encoun.
! ter another "6appy family" of their acquaint.
ance than the constituent elements fly apart
the gentlemen invariably falling to the rear,
and presently vanishing from the scene. Even
on public ball-nights at the Saloon or Casino
Ut Is only the very young men who are intrepid
enough, or sufficiently fond of dancing for Its
own sake, to enter the arena-the gems 6rdccatd
ior the most part contenting themselves with
blocking up the doorway and craning their
necks to mark the results Of waltzing in short
iskirts. The dance over the lady is conducted
I suaightway to her seat previously secured by
her mantle and cane, and her partner, seemingly
half ashamed of the exhibition he has made OF
himself sinks back among his fellows. But
there is no attempt at conversation, no
interchange OF ideas or sentiments, and
3certainly no lovemaking, OF less serious
hiltation. few whirls round the room,
followed by soulless smile and an unmeaning
sbow, constitute the chief pleasure of the bi-
weekly ball at fashionable French Watering
places while on other nights the two sexes are
divided by barrier not the less real for being
Aiuvisible.
y Public manners are the reflection of public
fmorals. 1t is not merely question of polite
ness and good breeding that there should exist
&f cordial and sympathetic understanding
&petween the component parts of each section of
ESociety-0ut OF love and reverence for all that
*ls good and true and noble in the conduct of
3Iite. The most careless aud superficial observer
fcan hardly fail to be struck by the deteriora-
non OF the upper classes OF society in France,
unrlng the last ten or dozen years. The type
<of thorough gentleman has become almost
&fur1osity. The very countenances of the men
begin to betray the gradual lowering of the
moral tone. Nine faces out of ten wear The same
Repression of coarse seldshness of habitual dis
®ard for the feelings of others, of disbelief in
the present and OF reckless indifference as to
the luture. The women, too, are vain, conceited,
insoent and supercilious, though they can be
Exceedingly graceful in manner, and at times
yeyen fascinating, notwithstanding their harsh,
shrill voices, which are usually pitched
3in particularly high key. Their only
lobject in life appears to be, to enrich
their milliners at the expense of their
Husbands, and to display on their persons
the greatest possible quantity OF silk, or
satin, or muslin, of every hue under the sun,
ln.the company OF men they are comparatively
~, though 9uivering with mods and becks
sSfH wreathed smiles;" and it is only among
themselves that they give the reins to their
tongues, and show OF what volubiIity female
utterance is capable. To their children they
are excessively indulgent, SO long as they are
31oo young to enter into rivalry with them
3selves, but they take no trouble to impart a
Mound moral training, or to set up for their
Rguidance any higher standard than the ruling
ashton of the day. To float with the stream
2 60 with the multitude-that is, the fashion
liable multitude-is the sole principle they teach
#or pretend to illustrate by example.
The fact is, the mpire is materialsm. It is
the reign OF brute force tempered by sensuality
Euccess, however achieved, is alone respected
The means are as nothing;. the end alone is
Regarded. Somewhere in Louis Napoleon's
WRITINGS it is laid down as an indisputable
dogma that there is nothing demoralzing in
lne supremacy Oh the sword; and that while
the arts OF peace and the pursuit of riches cor
Hrupt and eneryate the national character, a
thirst for martial glory elevates and purifes it.
M. Eugene Pelletan, indeed is of different opin-
lion. for he insists that under military and war
pike government the men are enslaved by the
&{women, that is, through their personal charms;
#aDd as there can be no real union where the man
alone is possessed Of sound kno Wledge and useful
&ldeas, he draws the conclusion that in such cir
ZRcnmstances the society Of the equally beautiful
& but more amusing Hetaira will be preferred to
8 hat OF her insipid, If virtuous, sister. And to
MS theory, we need only turn to authentic pic
Hlres OF the court of the first Napoleon. At the
same time it may be freely conceded that q too
assiduous devotion to mammon is also apt to
#pwer the moral tone, by engendering hard
el6shness, by contounding wealth with desert,
md by eXating the acquisition of wealth to the
s ank of meritorious achievement. Bat it is at
east equally unquestlonable that the certain
-. onsequences OF passing ones children thro lgl
"a he fire to MolOcb are vain egoUism, an in
Oerable nsolence of demeanor, an habtual
contempt for human sympathies, an unhappy
fiisdan for ali that is weak, an immoderate
sdmiration of all that is strong. And history
ellis us that the restless eXctabllity induced by
Frequent indulgence in Warlike enterprise, and
Il ensequent imperlment of life and limb, seeks
- natural outlet, during the intervals of peace,
E. II plungiEg headlong into the most hazardous
REGULATIONS, airily based upon the doctrine of
hances. Reckless gambling supersedes legti-
late commerce; patient industry is held tolndi-
y ate the absence OF ingenuity and selfreliance:
nd the episodes and accidents OF life are reduced
% q system of lotteries. And of these, not one
contains fewer prizes or greater number of
,anks than the lottery of marriage; Tor though,
ccording to M. Michelet, Frenchwomen make
HE best as we'll as the worst OF wives, little, if
My, circumspection is displayed by the gene
alty of Frenchmen in their choice of apart.
-, h haaE ENNN