The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-11-04
OUR FRENCH LETTER.
Special correspondence of the HEkALD.)
PAhIs, October 10. 1888

| P0n0lng t0at france ISRuIa1es NC
diplomatic apology, with Spain, TO
the manner in which King Alfonso
was rece we'd. the question, is Francs
deeenerating in good breeding? merit
an examination. Let it not be TOR
gotten that the king arrived at ar
unfortunate moment, when the min
issry being at sixes and seveps, re-
semblel one CT these families where
disputes reign from mcrn till even
ing, and on the arriving, he receives
d plate on the head. as proof OF the
exciting domestic harmony. Farther,
10 crowd either in Paris. or any
other capital, has ever hesitated to
express lis Rhims or lie judgments
L is sovereign; it governs directly; ite
Will is lay, and lis caprice Legality.
The French are what they have
eyer been since tle day5 of Louie XIII
in character, qla!i.iea and shor'clm-
jCgs. The race Las sae same pCllsh
Cd the surface. the came contra
dicti0ns underneath. And it IS not
in thirteen gears, or within genera
ton, that y0u can change habits and
preferences. Tame described the
first revolution as return to the
State of nature. l. demonstrated
what humanity is capable of when
driven 70 despair and when want sees
no prospect OF relief. Are We to e1-
pee. from the French thu politanes5
of ToDtenoy-Ftrez Iss pTemiers,
mesSieurs les AngLais; --or. of that
noblemsu. to whom Louis XIV sent
a letter by his valet, and who caused
the latter to sit at the most honoreG
part of the table while the answer
was being written, a1a then person-
ally conducted tbs valet to the vesti-
bule, accepting bin as the represen
tstive OF the monarch; or If the Duo
de Coislin, who being iii. was visited
by the Spanish ambassador: the latter
Oh leaving the duo insisted on con
Quoting him to his carriage, which
the ambassador under the circum~
stances point blank refused, and to
make sure locked tie vestibule door
from the outside But the due had
mounted to the fret story, Jumped
into the c0ur! yard, and saw the am
basssdor into his carriage. The due
might have broken his neck, but
then be saved his reputation for POI
likeness.
1t was to tbeir language, science
and arts, that the Greeks owed their
reputation for elegance, kindliness.
and good manners. and which in due
i1'ercourse softened the rustic tenn
p-rament OF the Romans. Now
Y vid traces of these ancient people
i've In the French to-day. The
practices OF raising the hat WREN
meeting friends or entering q place
where people are assembled, was the
Roman custom of salution by remov-
ing q part of the skirt of the toga.
which did duty for hats; the familiar
bonjOur, was are, the salce. I have
the honor to salute you, aud rdle,
sdieu! In al the events Of your life,
whether of joy or sorrow, you re
ceived visits OF congrstnlation or
coincidence, presents. or sympathy.
Events since 1870 have Oh ~ more
prominently exposed the emotional
and demonstrstive traits of the
French character. Politics seem to
have turned the heads of the people
by making them intolersnt. They
cannot conceive q Prussisn loving
his country, generating bis Kaiber
and sdoring Bismarck as Richelieu.
The same spirit is displayed in their
newspapers, whose language would
make Eatsnsvill editors hide their
diminished heads. An article By
Rocheport or squib by Firago, Sc
cures more attention than the blun-
ders OF colonial extension and the
decadence of foreign trade. In this
sense the French have fallen away.
But in that politeness which ia the
sun Of social life, the French are
what they were, save a little dash of
sourness caused by wounded pride
and disregsrded vanity. CiviIity in
the practice of all regards. either in
actions or speech, has not changed
Poiteness is not put on as mask or
disguise. nor is it viewed al COM
edy. Il is an keir loom mechanic
ally exercised, but not the less soften
ing the natural rudeness of man. In
mixing in French circles. there is
still the desire TO make you at ease
and feel contented. There is benev-
olence in ell things as Macaulsy says;
a desire to please. attention to smAll
courtesies, m'xed with this discretion,
and circumspection.
The French are born With brilliant
powers to please and which cover
much incapacity. They are net a
harsh nor hard people; they have
varnish, veneer, and shsms like
other nations. But they have one
feat re, and which like charity COW
ers a multitude OF sins, they have no
snobism. They have much respect
for parents, muc1 expansion towards
old friends, much ss mpa.hy With Joy
and SORROW. They are expert and
dexterous in compliments and Ian
guage and though these may, as Lady
Morgan observed, be only air cash
ons, they save us from many iolts.
Both monarchists and radicals are
allied to upset the cabinet and force
At H.orv % ~ot;ro His ron.in Law