The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-21
FRENCH HOME LyFE.
characteristics Of the Partisan iii City and
Country.

The Paris Constitution 4et gives the following
interesting details Of home life In France
1T ~ y characteristic sign Of the contem-
porary Partisan that he cannot stay at home
Of an evening. Great or small, rich or poor.
he must 20 out. aud that iii all Seasons. For
merly theatres, balls. Or evening walks we're
the exception for the Parlsans. After dinner
they stayed at home ha rule; they kissed
the children, who said, Good night, on leay-
Ing the dining room, and went to bed; the
mother sometimes did not think 1t beneath
her TO put them to bed herself. She would
then, till about TO, embrOider or work tapestry
by the light III the lamp that stood on the
round table Husband and wife would con-
the household o. the great events
Of the day, or the husband might, perchanca.
read the evening paper aloud. In that way
the evening passed, long Or short, according
Hpouses. Those were modest and quiet even
ings, which D friendly visit would interrupt
from time TO time. AT II. at the latest, the
friends separated, and the lamp was turned
out. III those days II was almost a treat, a
small extra. when the family went to listen to
the military bands In the public gardens, o.
to sit down on the chairs In the Champs Ely
sees At that period very few people, even
among the richest, could tell their Guaehinan to
put the horses to In order to 90 and bro the
the cool air 81 the summer evenings. Very few
people had eoaGhman. Nowadays, private
carriages are as com mon as boots OF llrnbrsllas.
"The quiet pleasures Of home continued
the Writer) havs disappeared from our man.
ners. People now 70 out every evening and
cannot content themselves with cigars Of d
moderate price. They 70 and see VII the new
pieces, never miss q Saturday night ut the
circus q Friday at the BrRselievre Concert,
Or . Thursday at the Hippodrome. From
time to time they 20 to the Cafes Ghantants-
the Ambassndeurs tho Horloge, the Alcazar,
et t1tti gta1,tt. They are everywhere. IN fact,
Of m evening, except at home, and that Ii
why public establishments swarm In Paris,
why the keepers Of cafes become millionaires,
and why the great city il the city Of night
par excellence the establishment and Joy Of
Foreigners, who cannot help asking, When do
the Parfsians sleap2
Life In thecountry this month ID generally
private. Visits arc made among neighbors,
riding parties are formed, and lawn tennis liz
played. In the villas Of the Paris fnancters
the luxury displayed ID unimaginahle. The
ladies' always dine In low dresses, and the
gentlemen IN evening dress. The customs Ut
the town have been imported into the country.
Visits are paid, and cards are exchanged.
Three toilets daily ID the rule, and what
toilettesl The other day ut Vile d'Avray the
charming wife Ut d banker wore d costume
composed OF forty-five silk pocket handker-
chiefs. The bonnet and parasol were also
formed Of silk handkerehiefs. The ensemble
Of that bold toilet was not wanting III pic
turesqueness. II Is but right. however. to
warn those Indies who might be tempted to
copy y that charming gait and some beauty
are essential to its success. In this society Of
millionaires the baby mania plays a great
role. There are aapair Of scales In each
nursery. The mothers spend their time in
weighing their offspring. Baby weighing Ia
all the rage, and fond parents lay heavy bets
on the chances Of their babies making other
peoples babies kick the beam. Nor arc the
horses forgotten The ladies have their
village cart, which they drive themselves
Others have two grooIns On horseback follow
ing their pony Chaise. These finHnciers dc
not know how to show sufficient honor to
their bank notes. Their Wallets bloom In
breeches they eat off silver plate. and the
dinner consists of several services, exactly as
In Paris. The rustcity Of the country, the
free and easy life it invites one to are severe
ly banished. There the tone Ut conversation
ID within reach OF the maanest capacity, and
the song OF these birds does not correspond to
their feathers. Their ladies' like to talk the
latest slang Of the Boulevard, and the roper
tory OF the cafes concerts Ii very much In
vogue among them. Spicy jests are banded
about, and bon-mOts are coDcocted which are
more worthy of the Folies Marigny than oi
these lordly marble halls 1t WIS under the
empire that this high life slang took it, use
and since then it has been growing and Hour.
ishing. The most instructed and most refined
do not hesitate, at present, to make q hash %
the national language. Foreigners are quite
bothered by the ssbiiIine phrases Invented by
the fancy OF the Boaternrdier, and imported
from the street into the salons. After all
doubt whether this society OF outrageous lux
ury amuses itself very much. But 1t spends
great deal OF money, and our milliOnaires
show what wit they can.