Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-12-10
JACQUES BONHOMNE
By MAX 0RELI, Author Of Jonathan
and His Continent "JOhn Bull
and His Island "John Balls
Daughisrs,' Etc


All s'."ss~ss i.s.. 1~s-a.- rssy C.at
Help % - E.-irisiiss. ss ua@suisd
",o.as rsll."-Fr..ss m.ui.s. Cs.-
ts.s..
Therc is probably no b-'ing Ia whom
the bump of anstiv-ncs. !. more devel.
oped than It i Ia the frcnchmAn. The
poor fellow must love; be cannot help II.
Al ~ year. of age be- l. deeply in love
with little girl he has met with her
mamma la one of the publ.c gardens ~
the town. and o. whom he prrtt,ly lifts
hi- hat bsforc beginning game of hall
or hide AMI seck. lis does not declare
his love Ia tho distance be throws
rapiurous kissss at her" when near he
casts down hi. eyes and lOoks ally. lie
dreams that his little lady love j. being
carried Oh by sOsne uIiscrsanl. that he
comes to her rescue. saves hrr. throws
himself at her feet. and declare, himself
her slave forever.
Ai fifiecn be- loves . Iortly matron %
some forty summers, To whom he sends
anony nous Ser-es. lilo loves In silence
once mOre
From eighteen 10 twenty he loves pub
tic character Actresses have drawers
fall Of poctical illusions addressed 10
them by the upper forms OF our public
schools
At twcniy-wel. at twenty-five less
We speak of what he loves the better.
Tie bc-t excuse that can be advanced In
his favor i. that his education. as have
attempted 20 explain In another chap
ter. dos not prepare him for manhood.
Indeed. the French boys change from
youth 20 manhood 10 like shooting Of
rapids. Ilo has never known what !, 10
10 h. FREE. how can hs bs expected. a.
rule. to mako gooi use Of liberty the
fr.t time be l. thrown into tho worldl
The break l. sudden, plunge that often
threatens a oapsiEe.
From twenty to twenty-five he seldom
mArriss. When he dos be often makes
q bad match. lls has noticed pretty
little millincr passing every day at the
same place lle hAs admired her; by
and by he follows her. proposes mairi
mony and nlarric- her. The parents at
tint grumblc. will have nothing to do
with the young couple Tor some time.
and generally relent on the arrival of
the flrst baby.
~ a rule. the Frrnchman dos na
marry bcfore he has reached the age
of thirty. From thirty 10 thirty-hve is
the ags AZ which he takes the great step.
old bachelors are not imp.rvious 10
Cupid. darts You often so frcnchmen
entering the holy estate for the frat time
at fifty 90 sixty. Their decided love for
COOL cookery and white linen frequently
bcguiles them into marrying their cook
OF launircss. These are the brides often
led To the altar by retired officers, and
insiallci In apartments In some suburb
of Paris
The Frcnchman has his Characteristic
feature In common with men Of all coun-
ties. each time that be loves, 10 Is for
ever. When crossed In love. he seldom
go-. the length of committing suicide
lie dos not 40 In for such extreme meas
urcs. he generally prefers resorting 10
homeopathy. he loves another" Like
cure like: similla -imilibus curantur.
Filtration Is not French pastime. A
few married women may indulge In IL.
but girls. whatever may be aid 10 the
contrary. very seldom do. A woman
who airted would pas In France for
giddy. not 10 say fast; she knows her
countrymen too well for that She IL
aware. when she coquettes With them.
what she l. exposing herself 10.
II French girls felt inclined for q little
niuation. how could they indulge In IL
Good heavensl What would her mother
and father say II they saw her taking a
walk by herself during the day-if II
came to their knowleige that n young
man had actually dared 10 whisper words
Of love into her ear before he had laid
bare his heart and made a clear state
ment Of hi. finances 10 them In the first
placel Even when he has obtained con.
sent of the parent. and his visits 20 the
house where his tiancee resides are per
miited. the young couple are not allowed
to 80 each other even for q moment
without the presence N q third party
The pleasant operation familiar 10 Eng
lish lovers by the term of "spooning" l.
absolutely unknown 20 courtship A.
practicei In France.
A soon as two young French people
are In love they want 10 die. unless their
parents Immediately consent 10 their
marriage. which IL very seldom the
case. Well. TO wish 10 die under these
circumstances L. a tribe irrational. but
love and reason seldom 20 together. OF
course they never do die. They live all
the while, and are almost inclined to
think that In love matters plain sailing
Il not ~ sweet or - romantic ~ obsta
cles % overcome. What lovely letter.
crossed love suggests 10 them' letter.
invariably written at midnight--french
lovers never write by day-midnight.
"when all is In rcpose around them.
Letters full ~ "All l. known; we are
lost, What will become of usi All for
gst me as soon as you can. We shall
never he each others As Tor me, ]
shall die OF IL: ! know | shall. Then
you will marry another woman. viii
pray In heaven for your happiness Per
haps now and then you will come 10 the
cemetery and lay bunch of violets on
INV tomb You know. beloved one. that
yiolets are my favoriie fowers You
wont forget that. will your weep.
weep and weep farewelll- And thi,
shiver giving letter. how TO post IL the
following dayi The poor child cannot
90 out alone The housemaid IL coaxed
and bribed She becomes the conf
dante. She posts the letter. receives the
answer. and plays the part OF loves
messenger.
Cupid NAV delight In mystery. but
this IL not business. However. thing,
come right Ia time. as we shall see pre-
emily.
When the Frenchman In love has ar
opportunity Of making viva voce dec
laration TO the mistress OF his heart. he
generally sets about Il In theatrica
fashion. lie goes down on his knee
Now. a man. except he he very young
with irreproachabis features, can scarce
ly afford TO do this: he runs a thousand
risks Of appearing ridiculous and show
ing his little defective pointa While h'
l. on his feet. that small bald spot on Oh,
top Of his head Il not noticeable, and th'
unpicturesque male attire OF the Nine
teenth century looks well enough. Bu,