Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-17
Student Life at Paris.

| Correspondence of the Christian Union.l
 It would be hard for those who have never 1 visited the Old World to realize fully the na- ture of this free, unrestrained life of the
 Parisian student; and, if they could, I fear not few anxious American parents would 1 sigh for their sons living among such sur
 roundings, both moral and physical. It may
 just as well have done with the least pleas
 ant part of my subject by saying that Puri- 1 tan morality q use the adjective in it's best sense) is unknown here; that the morals are | just what might be expected of 8 vast crowd 1 Of 1nfdeL young men unrestrained by home or religious influences, and thrown together I in great and gay capital It will not do for us to judge France too severely for this; for l sad to say, many young Americans follow the current without resistance. Every adult French student who can afford it. with few exceptions, keeps mistress; often the rela- tlon Is long-lasting and affectionate and l sometimes ends in marriages society and pa- rents wink at it, and school authorities ip- nore it. Scenes like those in the early chap ters of 'tFantlne" are common in Paris and any bright, warm day the Robinson Crusoe cafe at Fontenoy rings with the laugh ter and merriment of students and prisettes who come there together to forget for few hours their lectures and their sewing-rooms and amuse themselves in the fresh, pure air of the country
 Perhaps can better picture this student
 
 American college life. And, first of all one must remember that the functions of the va rious faculties in Paris end with the class room, and they have neither responsibility nor authority beyond its walls. Hence none of that personal interest and acquaintance between teacher and pupil so common in our colleges, nor any restraint on the students actions or conduct. In the Lycees, however. boarder is under almost military discipline: he wears uniform, and has his time cut out for him with great exactness. But in the university the student attends or sscuts' lectures when he pleases, and only cares for examinations and honors, for which he works tremendously. There being no col lege organization nor class divisions the at tendant rivalries, contests and emulations we are accustomed to are unknown here. There are no Greek-letter societies, no college plee clubs, no debating societies. The French student cares little for athletic sports hence there no baseball clubs, football matchs, boat-races, or athletic associations In fact the whole round of amusements practiced in our colleges is unknown and un- dreamed of here The Frenchman looks on in open-mouthed wonder to see American boys s4pass ball" in the Luxembourg gardens, aud after wondering while wants to know Eff the ball is hard' Even glee-singing, in which one would expect great proficiency, with the fine voices of these young French men, has no attractions for them. What 1 does the Frenchman do? He amuses himself l mostly in the evening; and the cafe, the stu | dents ball-rooms-most disreputable but l characteristic resorts-the billiard-table, cards and students clubs, where eating | drinking, singing and rd-playing are car 1 r1ed on-these are his chief recreations 1 The boulevard is his play ground and there, | on the night of my writing, he is seen in his giory' It's MaEdieras, and now they swarm