Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-17
How They Keep Cool in France

LONDON STANFORD, June 2S.l
The truth is that the best way of
fighting the heat is by avoiding it.
If we wish to escape sunstroke, even
in its mitigated form Of languor,
lassitude, and drowsiness, we must
keep ourselves cool; and to do this
as it ought to be done we must
take precautions against the heat
before it bursts upon us. Those
who wish to know how this can be
best effected have only to pay a
short visit to Paris during the sui.
triest weeks in August. AS soon
as the weather demands the
change, Frenchman apparels
himself in low shoes and trousers
of "duck," or nankeen; his shirt
collar expands; his necktie dwindles
to an apology; waistcoat he alto
gether discards; his coat is of thin
alpaca or the lightest Tussore silk;
his hat of white felt or of straw;
nor is he ashamed to boldly carry
an umbrella. His house, especially
if it be on the sunny side Of the
street, is regulated with equal care
and forethOught. The carpets are
taken up; the heavy jalousies are
shut before sunrise, and kept closed
throughout the day; the courtyard
is hourly watered; and in house
holds where small expenses arc
matters of little moment, a large
bowl of ice and water, or a pyra-
mid Of solid ice, surrounded by
flowers, forms the center ornament
Of the table. What the individual
citizen does for himself, that the
municipality of Paris does for the
entire city. Long before the Pa,
risians are astir the streets have
| been well watered with hose, and
the trottoir thorougly washed down
Along the bouleyards and in most
of the principal avenues large trees
| gratefully cool the atmosphere, and
suggest a pleasant sort of lotus-eat.
ling dream of wood and field. Each
thoroughfare has its shady side, and
instead of the repulsiye London
public" one comes at every few
hundred yards across some little
cafe, with its awning drawn over
\ the pavement, and with chairs and
marble tables, where the thirsty
soul who demands of the garoor
even cup of cold water and ten
ders for it his three half pence, viii
raceive d courteous welcome. Al
for the French IS drinks - cup
that, unlike the English "peg" o
"soda and brandy" " cool but no
inebriate their praises cannot b,
too loudly sang or too widel,
spread. in but few English house
! holds is the nature of "orgeat
known, or the true use of rasp
berry vinegar understoodi in bu
/ few English hotels is the caraie pm
: npon the table, its contents Gold
" frozen mass of crystal. Indeed
Of life in hot weather, rs Of life q
the seaside and of divers other mat
, ters in which personal comfort !
: the ehief consideration, we canno
but admit, however reluctantly
: that "they manage these thing
I. better in France" The reason
t perhaps, is not co much that W
f. sre less careful for comfort than ON
neigh6oFs, as that we are more gov
! erned by commercial INSTINCT. Sc
D gipus provision against summer in
wolves considerable outlay, and in
e climate where We knew NOT what
, day may bring forth, people do no
1 believe In Q summer till they see /
+ and by the time they haye take
e two OF three days to make sure {
|, II, il may very possibly have com
n to an pnd