The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-09-02
) among the Blue Blood and Fine Flower of
French Society.
Whitehall Review, August IL

France is, par excellence, the country of
Atrasts, and, although the present Govern
pt is outwardly q Republican one, it may
doubted whether, since the days of the OLD
h held it's head 80 high as at present or as
ped 30 prominent and active position In
al and political sffairs. Not only the best
Ailiee were never more busy than at present,
Frying and giving in marriage, ana airing
% impunity, under the very nose OF the
nooracy which is supposed to govern them,
eplendor Of their hereditary privileges,
E the Faubourg st. Germain has been keep
&sable ourerfe ever since the fall OF the Com
ane, and been as gay as II the Grand Mon
rf,e were stili holding Court at Versailles.
explsnation of this seeming anomaly is,
sever, easy enough. Returning to active
itioal and social life, after an abstinence
seolusion which has lasted twenty years,
honde DIES anciens parfis-as it was called even
to the Sd of Septemb Der, 1S70-deems no
hmination too brilliant wherewith it may
Iebrate it's resurrection. One of the most
pliant queens of sthe Rue de Varenne de.
fbed the feeling Yerfe city when she said,
Dr years ago, I'VE are like people who have
5overed their health after having been given
by all the doctors, and we a.e naturally
fious to prove to ourselves by taking plenty
Eexercise the fact of our miraculous re-
feTy." Ever since 1871, then, the social life
fhe Faubourg st. Germain has become q
Pity, and occupies the attention of all the
FsPapers and reviews. Uoluckily, how
pr, the writers of social articles in French
Irnsls bnt too frequently are only acqaaint-
with the highest society of the metropolis
fhe same way as Dumanet knew the taste
kru uffles-because he had once brushed the
1t of q man who had eaten them-and their
kounts of the receptions held on the left bank
khe Seine are, as q rule, limited to merely
bng the address Of the host or hostess. 1t
hld appear, indeed, as if the majority of
inch authors had solemnly determ ined, as a
Eter of principle, to write about society
bout mixing in it, and thus it is we SO con-
billy find in tie most popular novels, in the
pt brilliant essays, the grossest folly talked
hut social matters The manners and Gus
As of society, being but guessed at, are in
fably falsely described and distorted. Peo-
sare made to dress in garments they mover
pld have put on, and say things which they
ser would have dreamed of-pnysically and
fally they are caricatuI ed. Ii such authors
knew the amused contempt with which
II productions are regarded by members of
society which they seek to describe they
bld hesitate before being guilty of the pre-
bptuons folly of writing about matters
hioh they are totally Ignorant 1t is in
q difficult to find merit in a book, ro mat
dramatically expressed, when it becomes
parent from the very first page that the
4hor knows as much abous the society he is
leavoriug to describe as he does OF Hebrew
Fhaldee. This ignorance, moreover, Is most
Fcusable, for the Faubourg st. Germain is
bo means forbidden district to men of let
lon the contrary, nowhere are they re-
fed more cordially or with kinder courtesy.