New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
FRENCH HOME LIFE.
FRENCH HOME LIFE. REPRINTED FROM BLACK
40 Inn M ID Annlntnn ~ 20.

WOODS MAGAZINE I2mo. PIP, 800 ID. Appleton Co.
The way in which their nerghbors live Is always
an object of curiosity with large class of inquiring
minds that can find no other vent for the divine
energies Of their nature. 1t is not often that the
subject falls into the hands of persons with so much
good sense and just perceptve powers as the author
of this volume. he processes to have resided in
France for many years, and IN fact to have found
second home in that country, so that he is entitled
to speak with the freedom and authority of personal
experience. At all events, he shows an equal
familiarity with the domestic customs OF England
and of France his comparisons are often piquant as
well as informing and if he lifts the roof from many
private manage in the capital 1t is because ne can
disclose nothing to disadvantage in the interior.
The first chapter in the volume is devoted to the
yexatious problem of household service, which pre-
sents SO frightful bugbear to English and Ameri-
can families as often to deprive the retirement Of
domestic life of moro than half its charms. The
French service we are told, is marked by certain
equality between master and man. But it is an
equality of peculiar character. 1t involves no
doubt Of the temporary superiority of the employer
over the employed. 1t in no way diminishes the
habitual Difference which is expected from servant
1t does not affect the privilege of the master to
command or the duty Of the servant to obey. Still
it preserves the abstract principle that both in
morals and in law one is as good as the other. 1t
protects the dignity of the towards the served
by the assurance that whenever they separate their
relative positions will once moro become iden-
teal. Hence it is that French masters are so
friendly with their servants. They often talk to-
gether about the affairs of the family, and service
assumes almost the form Of aflectionato intimacy.
The master sacrifices nothing in chatting with his
servant for he feels that behind the servant lies the
man; the servant gains nothing by the act, for he
knows that it IS the exercise of custom reguatedby
the obedience which he incurred when he yolun-
tarily accepted the place. Bad tempers, however,
prevail in France as elsewhere; sudden ruptures
are not infrequeut; dispute may grow out Of moth
ing and in five minutes your servant may tell you
that he packs mp his things and is Off.
The sentiment of equality coupled with the liberty Of
action which the law allows may produce yer mie5ee
Is unite possbe that ali your servants may leave you
without warning the very day you nave sc eeed iof
large dinner-pary. Such an extreme This may
noss6ly never have occurred; il IL did, IL
be asserted with certainty that IL was the masters
fault for in the largest experience example can be
found of an entire household leagung and quitting to-
gether without good But in almost every family
Isolated Instances of sudden departure have occurred.
where me cook mas flung her snucepans into the air
the Uaet de cdDGre has thrown down his BROOM OF the
LADY,. maid has she will sew no more Such faets
prove that the French system is not perfect ana that
French servants not always pleasant; but theY are
exceptions-the rule is the other way and individual
cases cannot urged serious arguments against the
theory of equality the practices which grow from it,
The French servant has power of adaptation
which is rarely out OF France. This is perhaps
only an expansion of the initiative power which the
entire nation possesses in so marked degree. lie
fits himself everywhere and to everybody. lie gets
the tone of the family in which he Is placed at once;
he may suddenly give up the new situation as not
to his mind but if he does take it, he accepts the
rules of the house without any words, however diff
ferent from those to which he has been accustomed.
The Paris servant man or woman, leads two sepa-
rate lives the second of which begins at night when
work is over The sleeping rooms, which are always
placed together the top floor of Paris houses IA
cilitate all of Illicit practices. The liberty Is
absolute after bedtime With such freedom as this.
il is wonderful that Paris servants should be so good
as they are
There are scamps enough among them, but there are
great many excellent creatures tOo aud quantities OF
brave girls who stick their religious duties, who get
up the early morning TO 20 10 mass VINO walk 10 tDt
beds down those foul corridors with their ewes straight
before them and their rcsOlucly closed, like tte
saints whom no temptation can touch Those are tne
S y p4sSs no Tor TER ss2dea SS selling your oats
Aud among the men there are go9d fellows s 700
CHEEKY handy, honest, wiling and clean, ready anu
able to do everything: men who can prepare dessert
flowers included for dinner OF forty covers can cook
q breakfast emergency can varnish boots so as
shame the Brightness OF the sun can darn your SOCKS
On journey can clean rooms peter tntn brush
h0usemaid; can nurse you when you ere III ana can
er does not constitute danger; they do not abuse it,
they generally indifferent to It, because they have
it-ls pastrycOo6s girls ana grocers Ooys are nd1cr
enl 90 the tarts and sugar which surround them.
The author expatiates upon the charms of the
French table with special JUNCTION. In no country,
he assures rs, are the higher uses of eating more
thoroughly appreciated than in France. The dinner
is raised to 4 level which elsewhere is rarely
reached. This superiority is not solely due to the
culinary ability Of the nation. The scientific cooking
is but Of the secrets of success The other lies
in the temper of the diners and their keen of
the character of the operation which they are per-
forming. In almost every decent house in France,
dinner is regarded the principal event Of family
existence as a moment of moral expansion rather
than as a simple process Of nourishment. The
people come TO their meals not only to eat but to
laugh to charm the heart as well to satisfy the
stomach. The consequence is that, az rule, great
cookery is neither used nor needed i'll daily home
life. The ablest professors can contribute little
more than their less learned colleagues to the real
object of every day dinner. 1t is only on
special occasions great festivals, that there is
room for tho exhibition of their delicate art
Ordinary life cannot utilize transcendent ability III
the kitchen Lghtness, and brightness, and laughter
are the essential qualities and it is because they
unite those merits true home cookery that French
families know how to dine. The highest law of
French cooking is the possession by every dish of
the particular taste which is proper to it.. This does
not demand any extrayagant outlay. Most French
families are poor rather than wealthy. Prudent
thrift is generally practiced. The spirit of John
Gipin's wife rules the roast and though pleasure
they are bent, they have frugal mind Economy
of housekeeping stands first among domestic duties
Still this does not imply any terrible priyation
Though the French generally live very cheap though
pay FOL- they do not suffer as Others would from this
~ hn,u IA, Ia