New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
HuopEgs THE FRENCH At HOME.

rangernent Of his lines the disposition of his col
or Mr. Rhodes here presents series of lively pic
lures of Partisan society dwelling especially on the
salicnt features which appeal most strongly TO the
curiosity of the stranger He opens his gallery With
some analytic sketches of French character, de-
scribing the elements which make the Freedman
what he is as distinguished from the people of other
natonaties Compared with the American, he has
more compact frame, rounder limbs, and smaller
statnrc The lean, lanky figure common in this
country is rare in France. The American is more
loosely hung together, and has more swing in his
gait aud gesture easily sprawlng over chairs, and
counters, and boxes of goods-an accomplishment
which no Frcnchman could ever attain. Out-ofdoor
exercises of rough kind are not all 10 the
Frenchmalis taste. He has no love of hard row
ms no affinity for the water, fresh or salt, and
would regard the idea of swimming for amusement
IS an absurlity The Frcnchnan exoels III fencing
football and wrestling but in other athletic sports
must yield the palm to the English and Americans
He is not at home on horseback. In easy parade
riding he may be graceful than others, but not
30 firmly seated. Some of them could hardly keep
their saddles in rough scamper across the country
Comanche and Mexican riding would be deemed
miraculous.
The Frenchman, according to Mr. Rhodes has
more religion than theology. For his morality he
trusts greatly to Nature, little TO the Bible. He
seeks to invest his giou and his life with the love
of the beautiful He is the cultivated pagan of the
nineteenth century, whose faculties have been
trained in school of aesthetics, rather than the
discipline of the church. His education is defective
In foreign geography and history. The cultivated
Fr,nchman has q fair knowledge Of the classics, of
mathematics, Of science and art generally, and OF
the literature and history of his own country; but
out of that charmed circle he Is a mere CHILD you
might tell him that Brrkenhcad i'll Ireland, and
That Missouri formed part of the Mexican republic
With little fear of contradiction.
The women of France. are informed by the
author are distinguished from American women by
heir superior richness Of voice. This is still tIuer
t may be added of the English women. whose com
mon conversation, a rule, il lesson III mnsic
The female voice in America is pitched in o high
kew is thin Of en- metallic aud rises at times almost
10 shrek. The French womal's has more volume,
il deeper and moro sympathetic. harmonious
tone il cultivated, instead of calculating the wors
from tn lips, with CHATTER like that OF knives and
forks There gentle vibrations in the expression,
which exert a magical influence. 1t is powerful i'll
defamation, and soft and winning in private lille.
IA America, tie voice is from The head, in France
from the chest. The nasal sounds come up vibiat-
ing from the throat, free from the harsh twanS of
The New-E gland coast But the face of the Ameri-
Eau woman in the opinion of the author, IL more
beautiful than that Of any other country. Ii has
leliclcy Of coloria and neness of expression, but
the body supporting the head, regarded from an ar
listc and hyeicnc point of view. Is Inferior The
French vOnan's face is "a handsome as that OF any
other in Europe, and fades more slowly. At forty
she glidos into an onbOnpoint with unwrnliled face
and clear complexion, at the age when the Amer
can woman grows pale and wIinkled. The Amer-
can has moro intellect than her French sister,
but the latter has sOfiness where she has pert
ness. In the French woman, the mind 10 more even
and cheerful, the character has greater uniformity
IN and InelIowaess. In purely mental qualities the
VI American woman has probably no equal IN the
world But with all her knowledge and intellectual
activity, she has not the organic cultivation which
was the glory of the Greeks, and which constitutes
the charm OF the French. The cultivation of the
French woman moduatos her voice, gives grace to
her movements, and surrounds her presence with
certain erchantDent II impaits the admirable tact
which prevents her from saying a crIdc or nappro-
pirate thing and suggest the right expression for
every occasion. Sine readily forms acquaintance
with the people Of all countries, even with those
whose characters are foreign to her own. The
gular, strong minded woman of American society Is
not to be found in France The French woman can
.lo nothing that would render her ropulsve to tho
other sex. Her chief end is to please man. and with
that view she cuivatcs every feminine quality,
without seeking resemble the sterner SEX. Cult
walton in America is confined to the higher classes,
Mr. Rhodes remaIks,-a position Which j. wholly
uutenable if by the higher classes is understood
the wealthy and fashionable. The most gifted pu-
pills of orr higher female schools often from the
ranks of poverty aud if girls who work with their
hands were excluded from the walks of literature,
the admirers of By ant and LongfclOw would suffer
notable diminution. They might not indeed, ike
the shop-girl of the Boulevard, the coronet of
the countess with the grace of one to whom it be-
lougd by inheritance but in all that belongs to the
finer elements Of cultivation, they need not shrink
nom comparison with any European circles.
The subject of French gistronomy is treated by
the author with lively JUNCTION that betrays an ill.,
innate acquaintance with the mysteries OF that
wonderful cuisine. The American critic accuses the
Frcnchman Of thinking too much of his dinner.
But the latter does not regard eating and drinking
as intended merely - appease hunger and thirst.
With him the dinner 10 a high social institution, con
seerated to the exercise of friendship as well as the
satisfaction of the appetite The banquet is work
of Art. adorned with flowers and beautiful women,
and surrounded by mirrors, statues, and pictures.
Here is an example Of the manner III which the
great ordinance is celebrated in Paris:
couple of diners belong to that Brotherhood of
which Hrilat-Savarn tEe nigh priest enter the Cafe
sr@ater art Of the clients OF MS celebrated ietauran
which, according these elders Is compliment 10
Hueuiiyatod palates, and hence limited knowledge OF
and drink. TIE two cGely diners siuiier IN, and
i,surcly take her seats. They have been preparing
themselves since breakfast for the Iepas OF tie day in
se on D TO- IT, I tne ooi@ 'or nv
svcct their tcta cDear one OF ne window sI""k
ing ON the boulevard, order mat sight may pleased
with she ia sipg iOincnalrs the INC hat the
tate gTatihod with nouLmont. They sctt tsm,cyrs
comfortably ia then easy ieatier CHAIR a. -V1"ei
waiter presents them with the b Of fare wiihOrt asking
what they want well knowing taa they r. ure time Cor
riection. ia an ordinary restaurant nc hits OH nis
Monsieur desire {" Ike shot b here he gracefully
rcties 10 leave them % that nedi. which tne in
p0rtanoe Of the subject nahds Ihclr sight Is MOI so
good their paiates, ana they nave recourse to tIe