The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-06-08
As Others See Us.

/
There is a charming passage in M.
d Haussonville' latest article upon
American people and habits. passage
suggested by his trip to Richmond, Va.
| A bali was given at Richmond in honor
| OF himself and his associates during the
| days Of the Yorktown celebration. and
| he relates that ;he ball was arranged in
q hired building by the ladies'. and
| chiefly BIZ the young girls, of the best
Virginia society. There were not twen-
| Is .llo,iiers or chaperons in the ballroom,
| he declares; but there were at least
thirty unmarried girls. Among these
there were perhaps three or four who
spoke French; and among the French
visitors there was an equally scant
knowledge of English. Undersuc con-
ditions NJ. d Huussonville is amiable
enough to remind his compatriots, con-
| versItion would be rather cold in
France. but at Richmond. among the
joyously and in the most spirited way,
and the evening was prolonged deep in
to the night. The Frenchmen left the
ballroom with the conviction that they
had learned something distinct and fresh
about our society. They were, in fact,
unanimously enthusiastic in favor of
the american girl. The young girl"
writes NJ. d Haussonviiie, sis an insti-
tuition in America-like the FIRE engine;
even more interesting, and upon this
subject / should ike to say few
Words Whereupon he goes on to
state that in France there is legend
about the young American girl, just as
there is q legend about the French girl
in America. The former girl, he says,
is supposed TO be hardy. coquettish,
with a mind always pre-occupied with
getting q husband, and ready to risk
everyihing to gain one. Here, by way
of contrast. the French girl is thought
to be silent, prudish, inert and ready to
receive from her father and mother Il
husband whom she does not know. nj.
d 'Haussonyiile believes that neither le-
gend is founded on fact; and our Amer
lean women should be grateful that so
delicate. chivalrous and discriminating
an observer has sought 10 set them and
their customs right in the eyes OF his
prejuaiced countrynlen. He acknowl-
edges that the difference between the
girls of the two countries is striking
almost Inconsistent ct first sight. But
the difference, he sees clearly enough, is
due entirely to opposite conceptions of
the social situation. He writes, for in
stance: In America, when YOU start off
for any city, YOU are invariably told,
You viii find some very pretty girls
there In France one would say very
pretty women. All the difference which
| speak OF is made c., 81 in the use of
the two terms. liz America the social
movement ID organized for the young
girls = balls, germans, kottle-drumS,
country parties-egefytli:ss turns upon
then; And young married women,
without being excluded from them, take
but small part in them. most often un-
der lretext to matroniZe one or more
sisters, cousins or friends. Young girls
60 frequently also to the ;ieatef, dine
alone in town, alt s-..---r1t e woru. air-
s,7 IT, - rs.;s..l t.!,s which separate their
entrance into society from marriage
that is to say, from IS to 20 Or 23-they
lead th,.t life OF pleasure which is, on
the contrary, the privilege OF young
wives IN France. They know that this
is the good time OF their life, through
out whicn they may carnlessiy amuse
themselves; and some of them, iii ortier
to prolong this time, force the men of
their heart to wait for them year Or
two. After maiAiage among our own
girls, as NJ. d HausSonviile observes,
come The seriols duties of life