The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-05-21
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE.
Student Life at Paris.
[Corr. Christian Union !

lOorr. Cnristlan Union
1t would be hard for those who have never
| visited the Old World to realize fully the ma
ture Of this Free unrestrained life of the Paris
| ian student; and If they could, 1 fear not few
| anxious American parents would sigh for their
sons, living among such surroundings both
moral and physical may just as well have
done with the least pleasant part of my sub
| iect by saying that Puritan morality Il use the
adjective in its best sense) is unknown here;
that the morals are just what might be ex-
pected of vast crowd of infidel young men
unrestrained by home or religious influences
and thrown together in great and gay capi-
tai. 1t will not do for us to judge France too
severely for this; for, sad to say, many young
Americans follow the current without ress-
tance. Every adult French student who can
afford it, with few exceptions, keeps mis-
tress; often the relation is long-lasting and af-
fectionate and sometimes ends in marriage;
society and parents wink at it and school au-
thorities ignore it. Scenes like those in the
early chapters of Fantine are common in Paris
and any bright, warm day the Robinson Cru
soc cafe at Fontenoy rings with the laughter
and merriment of students and grisettes who
come together to forget for few hours their
lectures and their sewing-rooms, and amuse
themselves in the fresh, pure air of the eoun-
try.
Perhaps can better picture this student life
by detailing its points of difference from Amer
lean college life. And, first Of all, one must
remember that the functions of the various
faculties in Paris end with the classroom, and
they have neither responsibility nor authority
ito xvaIl oft hot al
interest and acquaintance between teacher and
pupil so common in our colleges, nor any re-
straint on the students actions or conduct. In
the Lycees, however, boarder is under almost
military discipline; he wears uniform, and
has his time all cut out for him with great ex-
actness. But in the university the student at
tends or "cuts' lectures when he pleases, and
only cares for examinations and honors, for
which he works tremendously. There being
no college organization nor class divisions, the
attendant rivalries, contests and emulations
we are accustomed to are unknown here. There
are no Greek-letter societies, no college glee
clubs no debating societies. The French stu
dent cares little for athletic sports hence there
are no baseball clubs, football matches, boat
races or athletic associations. In fact, the
colleges is unknown and undreamed Of here.
The Frenchman looks ON in open-mouthed
wonder to see American boys "pass ball" in
the Luxembourg gardens, and after wondering
while wants to know "if the ball is hard"
Even glee-singing, in which one would expect
great proficiency, with the fine voices of these
young Frenchmen, hasno attractions for them.
What does the Frenchmen do? He amuses
himself mostly in the evening; and the cafe,
the students ball-roomS-moSt disreputable
but characteristic resorts-the billard-table,
cards, and students clubs, where eating, drink
ing, singing and card-playing are carried on
these are his chief recreations. The boulevard
is his playground; and there, on the night of
my writing, he is seen in his glory. 1t is Mar
digras, and now they swan the boulevard st.
Michel, regardless of the rain, masked and dis
guised in every possible form of absurdity.
They shout, laugh, sing, dance on the broad
sidewalks, poke fun at paSsers-by, and at every
other block enrich some wine merchant with
their cash and leave part of their wits and
decorum behind. Tomorrow evenings lee
lures will be slimly attended.
There is little chance for hazing except in
| the Ecole des Beaux Arts, in whose ateliers
| the nouveau the new man" is generally "put
| through" a series of practical jokes, generally
| more ridiculous than dangerous, to which the
| peculiar nature of young Frenchman's green
| ness renders him particularly liable. An Amer
| ican of the same age could rarely be fooled as
| they fool the nouveaux in the ateliers. Occa-
| sionally the hazing becomes brutal; it is often
| cowardly, generally silly; but have seen cases
| of obtuseness and freshness that were so
utterly ridiculous, that 1 have laughed till 1
cried, and really think the performance, in
| most respects harmless and innocent, did its
| victim much good. Americans are seldom
molested; they have, by the way, dangerous
| reputation as boxers, and are generally let off
with song or speech, or are not even called
| upon to that extent.
| The Partisan student is a good-natured, easy
| living fellow, hard student when examina-
| tions are near and little concerned about things
beyond his daily tasks and daily bread. He is
| not proud, never dandyish, often shabby and
| sometimes picturesque in dress. He seems to
| me to develop his moral manhood. or manli-
ness latter in life than his American brother; is
| narrower in his jealousies and manner of view
| ing things, but he is frank, courteous when
not angry. and generous by nature. He cares
| little about his room and his food, and little
| for many of the comforts of life we insist upon
| He is apt to talk more strongly than he acts
and is easily excited, but subsidies as rapidly
into a calm frame of mind. And in spite Of
his youthful wild oats he is very likely to be-
| come in maturer years an earnest, hard-work-
| ing and useful member of society.
In this picture have not included the Amer
| ican-Parisian students, who must number 800
| or more. They form a class quite by them
| selves, and are for the most part doing very
| creditable and faithful work in the schools of
art and medicine or under private professors.