Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-05-08

And, after all. this is right in princi:
pie: the objection to tobacco is only per:
sonal; aud whenever its smell is not in-
supportable to themselves, women show
sound wisdom in suppressing the purely
theoretical objection that drawing room
is not the place TO smoke in. But what!
ever be the concessions which she makes
in order to fulfil her first duty Of keeping
society together. no FrenehwOmau who
respects herself viii permit concessions 10
degenerate into liberty. No Frehehman
will dream ofshowlng less Difference TO
the women around him, or Of less stri,tly
observing forms, because he is allowed to
smoke in the company of diamonds and
white dresses.
In questions of this sort the French
show gemarkablc tact. Impertinent and
eHterprenaRts there is no English for
that as they often are with women that
they do not know, they rarely attempt
to profit by the familiaritiss which the
modern system of life permits among peo-
pie who meet on footing of recognized
equality On both sides there is a senti.
ment Of measure and proprieiy which is
not often forgotten; the result is, that ci-
gars authorize no license. that natural
abandon produces no disrespect. The
material attitudes of the men prove this.
there is no loling about no carelessness
of position, no neglect of the observances
which are habitually practiced in the press
ence Of women.
And yet there is but little ceremony in
our meaning of the word. The people do
not sit straight, they do not forbid them
selves to move, immobility is not supposed
to be CONNIE Il taut-quite the contrary;
there is perpetual shifting of the body,
especially of the arms and legs-a cous
slant adap tation of physical action to the
which are being expressed, an unceasing
working of the features. All this gives
singular animation to French society, but
it is all regulated by the unwritten code
which fixes "manners." The absence of
s self-imposed restraint creates a freedom
q of which we have no idea; but the pres
!. encc of cOurtesies which ne one would be
= permitted TO neglect, maintains a polite-
/, ness which we but rarely attain. Who
IA ever saw wooden Frenchwoman? She
n may sometimes be ungainly, but she is al
;. ways thoroughly alive. Even her affec-
e tations do not become namby-pamby; the
,e sentiment of vitality is all over her, it
g leaps out in everything she does: but with
ar all her vehemence Of movement she never
r forgets that she is woman, and never
n. fails to exact what is due to her as wo-
as man.
ct There are, however, many details Of
10 life, or rather of customs, in which femn-
ar inc action is not specially expressed.
as Such are, for instance, among others, the
n announcement of deaths and marriages
wv In these there is no distinction of the sex
RS es. The circulars which are sent round
c. to all acquantances newspaper advertls
ly ments are not employed IN France for such
or ends as these) contain, in one case, tht
lv names of the father and mother, if they
III. de alive, and in the order those of all re
ls- lations, to the third degree. A billet d.
is faire part, as these documents are called
in. is couched in invar;able language, what
n; ever be the position of the sender.
1st All these things, however unimportan
of in themselves, are signs not only OF habi
he but of feeling. They show how muc
es. the French associate themselves, exter
ay nally at least, with each others joys an
of sorrows; how every opportunity of demon
straton is seized upon and utilized; hoy
the manners of the nation reflect the ser
timents which guide it. or which at lcas
!, are supposed to guide it.
'D' One of the highest merits ofthe FrencI
mi ~ :. .,,
Ns' down the principle that all persons NEE
~ iug at the same house know each othe
20 without the formality of introduction.
WV Any man may ask girl to dance, c
~ speak to anybody at a private party .Thi
e'' in no way extends to public gathering
~ where the guarantee of supposed equalit
% which results from knowing tho san
re- host does not exist. But in DRAWN,
eiy rooms the rule is absolute; everybed
! ~ talks to everybody.
This is an intelligent and most prac'
cal custom it facilitates conversation
. dispels all awkwardness toward yo1
: neighbor; it melts cold natures; it max
it possible to spend pleasant hour in
house where you do not know a soul;
gives look of warmth and unity tc
- room. No one is obliged to sit gloom
and in silence between two repelling stri
!. gers. If you want to speak you are su
H. of a listener. OF course, people are r.