Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-24
AMERICANS In PARIS.
Frenchmcn Charmed by the An,eri.
can Girl-MerchantsD Delighted
With Her Extravngancc.


Paris has just lost one of its oldest and
most honored citizens in the death of NJ.
Ridgway. NJ. Ridgway was the pioneer
and founder OF what is known as the
american Colony" in Paris. In accent
and manner he would pass anywhere as
pure Partisan. His fifty years residence
in France has unconsciously transformed
him into typical Frenchman. His large
fortune and gracious manners gained him
access on his arrival in Paris to the high.
est and most exclusive grades of society,
and he soon opened the door for others OF
his countrymen to follow. 1t was during
the last years OF the July monarchy and
the early years Of the Second Empire that
the American colony assumed shape and
recognition. The colony to-day does not
number more than 5000 persons, but as
they are all wealthy, they make up in
prestige and influence for their lack Of
numbers. Indeed, it is common say
ing among the great merchants Of Paris
that the 5000 Americans are worth more
financially TO the French capital than are
its 10000 Germans and 10000 Italians
combined. The Americans reside mostly
in the vicinity of the Faubourg Saint
Honore and the Champs-Elysees. The
Partisan authorities have paid them a
delicate compliment by comforting on
two Of the streets of this quarter the
names OF Washington and Lincoln.
Nearly. all the Paris journals express
their high appreciation of The American
colony on the occasion OF the death OF its
founder. Figaro, discussing the success
of Americans in French society, says:
Let not our good brother Jonathan carry
his head too high. 1t is not through him,
but through his charming daughters that
American society has gained its present
proud position in Paris. How captivat-
ing is the American girl in society! From
the moment when she made her first APP
pearance in the salons of Paris she
created a perfect furore. Her engaging
manners, her freedom from restraint, her
familiar shake-hand at once conquered
that class of young men. more numerous
than most people imagine, who frequent
doubtful society on account OF their ex-
cessive timidity when in good society.
barrassed youth in company than to have
by pretty, chatty girl, totally devoid Of
having rarely, if ever, an arriere-pensee
of marriage? Nor can we conceive any
thing more pleasing for young man
than to be chaffed and frightened up, so
TO speak, by pretty girls-for such the
American girl always is-who have none
OF that stiffness and gaucherie, neither
the. hands, nor feet, nor love OF gaudy
colors so characteristic of their Anglo
Saxon preat-prantmotners
"But this is not all. Ii the American
girl has not invented filtration she has
certainly brought ii to the highest perfec-
ton. 1t must never be forgotten that II
was she who first introduced into the Par
isian salons that delightful and unrivaled
innovation known as the Boston dance.
The waltz is charming, captivating, if you
will, but lacks one source of enjoyment
You cannot chat with your partner.
In the Boston dance you may talk to your
hearts content. This dance, which is so
voluptuously slow, and which is besides
as applicable to the airs OF the polka, the
mazurka and the quadrille as to those OF
the waltz, is the sirest auxiliary of the
hirt. The dancer leads the danseuse
backward or forward, into this corner OF
that, and as they glide between the
couples, in their easy, undulating move
ments lie may pour into her ear the olden
tale. This is an undoubted triumph over
the waltz, which can only be enjoyed
with sealed lips"
A great many American girls have
married into families of the French nobil.
ity. This affords chance to the repub.
lican journals frequently to poke fun at
the aristocracy for their eagerness to Sc
cure these plebian queens. OF course, il
sometimes happens that the proud de.
scendant of the Crusaders is more in
search of wealth than wife, and that
the young lady is more in search of Q
title than husband. But this is not al
ways the case. Whether she possesses @
dot or not, the American girl in Paris has
no difficulty in stepping by marriage int
the highest circles OF the French nobility
Among the many women who have mar
ried members OF the French aristocrac!
the following names will be known t.
many Americans Princess Murat
mother OF the Duchesse de Mouchy, tn,
Marquise de Chasseloup-Laubat, Com
Jesse de Saint-Roman, Nine. Ia General
de Charette, Comtesse Olivier Chevign
and the daughter OF the late M. Ridgway
whose is now the Comtesse de Ganway
These and numberless others equal.
well known are among the leaders 9
wealth and fashion in the capital OF civil
ization.-NeW York World.