Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-10
French Manners and Customs

The French are said to be the politest
people in the world, and in some re.
spects they are So Their polteness
may be only skin Deep it may be only a
stllted etiquette, without heartfelt emo.
ton. Bat, on the whole, it is better than
studied indifference and rough incivility.
1t cot absolutely sincere, it has the ex-
ternal appearance Of being so, and saves
the feelings from sense of outrage. "A
Frenchman always takes off his hat on
entering a shop, or an omnibus, or auy
other public conveyance He is ex.
pected always to bow first TO lady OF
bis acquaintance; it would be thought
quite out of place for the lady to take
the Initiative On entering drawing
room French people bow to every one
who may be in the room, whether they
are acquainted with them or not. The
omission OF these trifling civiIities by
the English causes them to be considered
rude and boorsh.
The line of demarcation between df.
ierent classes Of society is less strongly
defined in France than in England. Ser.
wants consider themselves pretty nearly
upon an equality with their masters and
mistresses, and their manners are
marked by free.and.easy coolness.
which would be considered the hight of
impertinence in England. They wish
You good morning and good night"
as friend might do, and expect to be
thanked whenever they open the door for
you; Frsnchman Of every class touches
his hat TO the servant who opens the
door for him.
The lower classes in France live much
more frugallY and inexpensively than
people Of the same rank in England
Soup and boui!li form the usual dinner
and supper Of the upper class of farmers,
workmen and servants in French fami-
lies. The rich farmers have the pot an
fen every day, others only once or twice
week, and live on bread and soupe aux
choux on the other days, with a relish of
cheese, salt fish, and sometimes butter.
Frenchwomen Of the middle class,
such as shop-keepers' wives, ETC., are, |
think, better educated, and have more
pleasing manners than similar class in
England. In the greater number of
restaurants, cafes, hotels and large
shops, 1t is the women who keep the
books and make out the accounts. These
women are generally ladylike-looking
have pleasing manners, write q good
hand, speak we'll, and are good acceunc.
ants. They know the price Of every.
thing, and how every dish should be
cooked, and could cook it themselves if
necessary. A Frenchwoman almost
always looks better dressed than an
Engllshwoman, for several reasons.
With a very few eccentric exceptions,
they study much more what is likely to
suit them than what is the extreme of
fashion, aud combine the two so as not
to a6near particular, and yet not wear
anything usbecoming They buy very
few dresses AZ a time, only what are alb
solutely necessary, aud wear them
while they are fresh. A dress that
has been laid by for some time
never looks fresh and new They
keep one dress ior going ont early in the
morning, another for visits, and one to
wear in the house. Each one is folded
carefully mot hung up) when taken of,
and thus they keep fresh all the season
They are we'll aware that common
dress well made looks better than rich
silk which fits badly, and has been lying
by for some time. knew in Paris three
girls, sisters, who had only thirty dollars
year each to dress themselves with, and
they always looked neat, ledy'like and
well dressed. They make all their own
dresses and bonnets, embroidered their
collars, sleeves aud trimmings, and knit.