Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-03-07
French and English Manners.

"a number of years ago two Scotch la
dies paid visit to Paris, accompanied by
their brother whose business led him to go
thther every year. He was slightly &C
quainted with several Partisan families,
but, not speaking French f1uently, he had
little domestic intercourse with them.
The two Misses D., on their arrival,
expected that their brothers acquaint-
ances would call on them, as they had
been made aware of theirarrival but not
a soul came near them. They did not
know that in France the etiquette is for
the stranger to call tirst-precisely the re-
verse of what is the practice in England;
besides which, they were ignorant of the
fact that the French do not cultivate the
acquaintance of foreigners, rarely giving
them invitations to their houses.
"Receiving no attentions, the ladies
found Paris to be rather duh, their only
amusement being sight seeing One day,
walking with their brother in the Champs
Elysees, he introduced them to lady
whom they CHANGED to meet. Taking
pity on their isolation, she invited them
to dine with her on the following day.
Here was something good at last. The
invitation was accepted. Next day they
took care to be in good time, equipped
in their best, in low, pink silk dresses,
short sleeves, and white satin shoes, to the
great establishment of their hostess, who
took it for granted that they were going
to ball afterward. They were equally
surprised to find her in the same high
dark silk which she had worn when out
walking. Dinner was served, and COM
menced with the national pot au teu (soup)
and bouiHi (the beef from which the soup
is made), and which the lady carved in
shapeless Jumps, not in thin slices, as in
England; stewed beef with macaroni, col
au cent, fricandeau, and roast turkey fol-
lowed in quick succession. The lady
carved small pieces of each dish, and put
them on a plate, which was handed round
to each guest to help themselves. The
Scotch ladies, accustomed to eat potatoes
with every DISH were puzzled to find none
forthcoming. After the meat came dish
of green peas and the salad. The French
use the same knife and fork for every
dish and keep them when the plates are
changed; and the Misses D. were hor-
rified to see that the servants who took
their plates coolly put their knife and fork
on the cloth beside them, and did not give
them a clean one until the desert was
served. They were greatly perplexed by
the variety of dishes served, the absence
of potatoes and the arrival of green peas
after the meat had been taken away! The
dinner was good, but the oddity of the
arrangement was incomprehensible. 1t
was violation of all ordinary concep-
tons. After dinner the gentlemen led the
ladies back to the drawing-room, and
cafe soir was served. Strong black cof-
fee, without milk or cream, was not very
palatable to the Scotch ladies, though
they found the liqueurs which succeeded
it-crene do moka and creme de camille
excellent.
"After sitting chatting for about half an
hour. the hostess astonished the his.s.
D by announcing her intention OF
going for a walk, IL being summer, and
the days long; and, said she, looking hes
| itatingly at the evening costumes of hcI
visitors: .As presume you are gong to
| a soirse, I am sorry l cannot have the
pleasure of your company The Scotch
ladies were too shy, and too little &C
quainted to converse in French to ask for
explanations, but they thought the lady
very rude to turn them out of her house in
this cool way; they had not ordered their
carriage until half past ten, 80 they begged
her to allow her servant to fetch one for
them, and returned to their hotel, mar
Yelling at the unmannerly impudence OF
French ladies. They did not know that q
casual invitation to dinner does not neces-
sarily imply spending the evening; and
no French lady would wear low dress
for even very ceremonious dinner party.
Full-dress is only do rigueur for a ball or
very largo soiree, and then only for
young girls. Ladies dress more accord
ing to their age in France than in Eng