The New York herald., 1879-10-09
FRENCH SOCIETY AS 1T is.

CLEARING AWAY THE BARRIERS OF ARlsToc-
RACY-LAsT DAYS OF THE FAUBoUnG ST. GER
MAIN-GRowINa CONTEMPT FOR TITLES
In other days the Court Of France was the most
punctilious in Europe. and nowhere could tho minu-
ter differences of social rank be moro distinctly
marked. 1t was Louis Philippe and NJ. Theirs who
helped to give the death blow to this sort OF exclu
siveness. though they both ut heart great
sticklers for rank and etiquette. and the exPresi
dent to the very close of bis life kept demure sort
of kngy state at his palace in the Place St. Georges
But Louis Philippe could no more forgive the noble
fnubourg for persstently considering him usurper
says the author of "Round About France i'll the
DeiIy Nears than the noble faubourg could forgive
him for persisting in wearing which
did not by divine right belong to him. The
keen tongued dowagers of the Rue. de PUnver-
site and the Rue st. Dominique. tho proud
old ladies and gentlemen who dwelt amid the pleas
ant gardens of the Rue de varennes. looked down
upon the Tuileries from the opposite side of the
Seine. forever turning tho citizen king and his
surroundings into ridicuie. NJ. Thiers. however,
would avengo his royal master in manner more
witty and more dangerous tor 1t was said with
truth that he never forgave the "noblesse" for
having been born "roturier. Accordingly when
Marshal Soult who was himself Duke of Damata.
and devout worshipper of rank. condescendingly
addressed him as Monsieur 10 Baron" some pub
lie occasion. Thiors mockingy whispered "Ah. "a
Marechal, supposing l wanted title. don't you
think l should have given myself better one?
should have made myself at least duke"
Under these and other circumstances the frontiers
Of good society have been constantly extending
that its boundaries have now been lost sight OF alto
gether. The noble faubourg itself has been swept
away. with its picturesque hotels. tall trees and
trim old terraces The Boulevard de st. Ger
main seems to have absorbed all the traditions
which could be connected with bricks and mortar;
aud the contractors for the improvements Of Paris
have carted them away with the rest OF the
rubbish which has given place to hundreds
of brand new shops and counting houses.
ALI the world is now being invited to
grand entertainments. The chief of the State
and several Of his Ministers have ceased even to
issue special invitations. as An unnecessary for
mality and content themselves with announcing in
q newspaper that on such day their drawing rooms
open to all corners. Nobody seriously considers
that full purse has always sundry advantages
over an empty one, any sort OF personal arro-
people indeed still retain their titles. and are pre-
sumably proud of them; but quite as many who
have an undoubted rish to these distinctions take
Count. and his family have been noble since 1881,
nobility older than that Of the Earls of Devon.
Alexandra Dumas was, and his Is by the
ordinary French law OF succession. Marquis de Ia
Paieere, yet perhaps not one in ten even of their
educated countrylnen is aware Of the fact would
consider 1t OF the smallest consequence. It Is
possible that letter addressed to either OF them by
his title would be at least delayed at the Post Oce
and 1t may just be noted in passing that French
knighthood, unlike our own. confers no distinctive
appollation whatever IN ordinary Intercourse. This
levelling up OF social ranks III FRANCE, moreover,
is by mesns confined to nanos and shadows.
1t is a real thing. and every Frenchman Of
our generation is 80 completely impressed
with the notion of his individuality that he has
the incest of his personal dignity. be his
ploymcnt what it may. Thus the shopmen Of the
''Bon Marche" and some other ready made clothes
shops in Paris not only learn the art Of seldefence
by arms, but regularly instructed in fencing at
the of the establishment. which provides thcm
y sole farnes and foils, that they may be able
we'll ready to avenge an sffront French noble
man who scorned such an adversary Arouot
would not he able to show himself on the
boulovards till he had made amends; and indeed 1t
ancient lineage sned to kill simple journalist in
q duel.