The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1876-03-09
: e.. RURAL LIFE ii! f. N /: Fl FRANCE. J
Il =. -. :. -.
Tho Life. Habits and Customs Of the Peo-
pie.


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Tho Life, Habits and Customs Of the Peo-
pie.
Country-houses in France are not
often constructed with view to oc-
cupation all the year round, butrath-
er as place of resort for a; few
weeks in the warm season, where the
owner may throw off the restrictions
Of society, and lead a free, rough sort
Of life, wearing old clothes. sitting on
hard chairs, sleeping in cupboards. or
cells. or on the floor, and dispensing
with many of the comforts, together
with all Of the elegancies, Of life in
the town. The chateau, which is
quite distinct in character from the
country-house, is generally roomy
and hospitable at all times but
dwelling Of this quality is seldom to
I'let, and, if it were, is incumbered
with extensive grounds that max g, It
too troublesome and expensive resi-
dence for the majority of tenants.
When stranger settles in new
neighborhood in France, he is ex-
pected to make the first advances
towards acquaintanceship. Atwhat-
ever houses he desires friendly ad-
mittance, he is obliged to pay the
initial visit, and, with what delicacy
he can, make clear the claims be has,
in the way Of rank, wealth, or repu-
tation. to social consideration. A
good deal of embarrassment attepds
this latter part of the business. az all
claims, except that of appreciable
wealth and d fixed title, have mere
ly local value. A mans fame seldom
spreads far IN the country, and a re-
movat to the distance of 100 miles
costs him most Of that which he may
have acquired. But let him transfer
himself from a foreign country, as
| from England, into a rural neighbor-
hood in France, and the worth Of a
Baronet's title, or of a literary rcpu-
tation like that of the poet-laureate,
is wholly lost. Nobody knows what
a Baronet is; nobody has heard of
Tennyson. When the round of first
visits has been, paid by the stranger,
it is by no means certain that his
proffers of friendship will be kindly
received and rewarded. This morti-
flying possibility renders the custom
especially odious.
There is marked decline in the
easy hospitality of the rural French.
The cause of this was the introduce
tion of habits of luxury and cere-
mory by the rulers Of the Second
Empire. Whereas, in former times,
guests were entertained in the simple
! style customary in the family, with
out a troublesome arrangement Of
everyday: modes of living, it; has
now become the fashion to give state
dinners and costly banquets whenev-
er the house is opened for the recep-
ton of friends. This lamentable ex-
travagance makes the exercise of the
rites Of hospitality burden and an
expense that are to be avoided when
ever possible, and, as consequence,
chills and restricts social intercourse.
The ladies Of the middle classes
are generally skilled and devoted
housekeepers, and great part of
the domestic service is performed by
them. Wherever there is any special
refinement manifested in the manner
Of living, it is quite sure to be the re.
| suit Of the active supervision of the
house mother. The servants at
| tached to even the wealthiest estab.
lishments are exceedingly limited in
number and, as they are drawn from
the ignorant peasantry, they remain
to the end Of the chapter incapable
of acquiring the arts of delicate
cookery, or of fulfilling Offices that
require especial deftness or intelli.
gence. They are neat, willing, in.
dustrious, and well-mannered, but de-
mand constant direction and over
looking. This lack of abundant and
efficient servants imposes constant and
and taxing labor upon housekeepers,
which is, however, cheerfully sus-
tained. The mischievous circum-
stance resulting from the fact is the
narrowing Of the women,s minds by
total absorption in material and mon
otonous duties, and their consequent
alienation from the larger and broad
er interests that engage the men.
Provincial ladies, in both town and
country, are divided into two distinct
classes, designated as the home-women
and the visiting women. The former
class predominant, and, though more
homely and unpretending in their
characteristics, are really the more
estimable.
1t is out of the absence of mental
culture and activity on the part of
the women that the separation Of the
sexes, so notable in France, has arisen.
Wherever men and women meet in
society, they quickly fall into groups
composed exclusively of one sex or
the other, for the topics that interest
educated gentlemen are beyond the
understanding and the sympathy of
the ladies.
I Another potent cause Of the sep
aration of the sexes is the devotion
of women to the creed and the cere-
monials Of the Church. Much Of
their time is occupied in attendance