Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-09-08
Heal Life In France,

Real Life In France.
The genuine bourgeoise, uncontaminat-
ed by arstocratic and artistic ideas, invarl-
ably saves money, however poor he may
be. If rich, be saveh more money; If poor,
he saves less; but every year will show a
balance in his favor, unless there has been
some great misfortune. His coolness in
| prosperity is equaled by another kind OF
coolness in adversely. He does not lose
his wits and do foolish things, either from
the folly of despair or the intoxication of
success. The genuine bourgeoise in adver-
sity is difficult 10 find; for, if any creature
naturally avoids adversely, il is he; but,
now and then, in the course OF many years,
you may find one so situated, as you may
see cat drop from tree into pond.
The secret of French economy, of the
cheapness of living, which English people
have always associated with continental
existence, lies in the liberty to do as you
like, in the first place next, in the indus
try and activity of the people themselves,
in the middle class and, lastly, in the Pc
culiar character of servants in the rural
districts. The value OF liberty in the mat
ter Of expense is obvious. 1t permits you
to begin by renouncing all expenditure for
what is indifferent TO you, which at once
sets free all the money that would have
| gone in obedience TO other peoples ideas,
and leaves It at your own disposal. 1t also
allows you TO postpone many expenses
from one year 10 another, until 1t is quite
convenient TO meet them.
The English break fast is entirely un-
known in France; and, at the risk of Of
tending every English reader, will ven-
ture upon the observation, that The institu-
tion may very well bo dispensed with.
Happily for the Frenchman, he is not un-
der the slightest moral or social obligation
TO eat anything until he has earned an ap-
petite. The English break fast, in the mid
die classes, is, in fact, kept up as a means
of persecution. You are made TO sit at ta-
BILE, TO eat eaGs, or tongue, or a slice of
| cold meat, and 10 drink either tea or what
is, by courtesy, said TO be cpffee; aud If
you rebel and refuse TO submit, you are
treated as one worse thsn an intdel. 1t is
at once inferred that you are dissipated
man, who has destroyed the coats of his
stomach, or else feeble creature only iii
for the life OF an invalid. Nobody will be-
lieve that you are simply a rational being
that does not like to he compelled to eat
until it is hungry. One of the delights of
living in France is, that you may do as
you like about breakfast.
In all matters of custom, we must ever
remember that the idea of proprety is as
soclated with existing customs, however
absurd they may seem 10 foreigners; and
the idea of impropriety is associated with
| the breach of them. In matters connected
with marriage, these notions are always
tremendously strong. To French parents,
in decent rank of life, the English GUS
| toms about marriage do not merely seem
foreign, they seem indecorous and improp-
er in very bad sense. On the other hand,
the French custom seems 10 them exactly
what all respectable and right-thinking
persons will observe, as matter of COM
mon decency and of right manner and be-
| havior.
The difficulty is for young men 10 be-
come acquainted with young ladies in their
own class. This difficulty varies in degree
according to places and TO rank in society.
In Paris, in the upper classes, II is not in
surmountable; in the country, amongst
| the peasantry, 1t cannot be said 10 exist.
1t Is strongest in what may be called the
respectable" classes in country towns and
their vicinities. In Partisan society young
ladies go out into le monde and may be
seen and even spoken 10 at evening par
| ties. The French ideal of a well brought
up young lady is that she should not know
| anything whatever about love and mar
riage; that she should be both innocent
and ignorant, and both in the supreme de-
| gree,-both TO degree which no English
person can imagine. If, indeed, we've TO
say here quite plainly to what a degree
this Ignorance and Innocence arc carried in
the most thoroughly respectable French
families, the English reader would laugh
at me and say that il was neither true nor
possible, aud that was very innocent my
self for believing it to be possible.
The respectable view of matters is that
when a young lady has been kept in quite
| perfect innocence and ignorance, and has
never had an attachment Of any kind, if an
arrangement can be made which will Sc
ranged for her by her parents, she will in
all probability attach herself to her hus-
band and neN er know any disturbing atfec-
tlon; whereas, if she were to form an at
tachment before marriage, it would prob
ably be unsuitable, and lead not only to
her loss ofreputation, but also to the wreck
Of her happiness.
The general goodness and devotedness
Of womankind come TO support this view.
/ 1t is the plain, undeniable fact that most
young women, brought up aud married on
respectable principles, make very good
wives. Iu one part OF France the respect
able principle is pushed to its utmost con-
ceivable extreme; and the young ladies
become excellent wiyes-faiIhful, orderly,
dutiful, contented and economical. The
practical success of the system gives its ad-
vocates the upper hand in argument against
romantic opponents who venture to ergue
in favor OF the affections. "a WON An al