Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-11-30


The whole character Of the French SOL
dier is there.
nl-THE WOMEN OF FRANCE.
A Comprehensive. Diverting and INSTRUCT
i've Description Of Her who Holds
Jacques Bonhomine In Leading Strings.
The national character of the French
has greatly altered since the disasters
of 1870. and no one need wonder at it.
They have become more susceptible;
they are now the most sensitive people
on earth.
The rage for equality is often mani
tested by ferocious jealousy of those
who rise, either in literature, the fine
arts or politics. All these are failings
that we possessed before the Franco
German war, but in a much less de-
gree.
What has not changed, fortunately, is
the character of the French women-I
pean especially tho women of the peo-
pie.
Good society is much alike every
where--like hotels; it is question Of
more or less manners in the former, of
more or less ticas in the latter. Good So
ciety in France is no exception to the
rule. No moro are the hotels-far tho
contrary. But what is there to be learn
ed in what is termed "high society" ex-
cept gossip from club smoking rooms
and from boudoirs, which might, per-
haps, furnish a few pages of Scandalous
Chronicle? 1t is the people who preserve
the traditions of n country; therefore it
lei ha rfn ha ola
in town and country, that the observer
must turn to.
That the French women of the upper
classes are the leaders of fashion all over
the world, everybody knows; but I can
not pass them over without dwelling
upon the reason why our best men are
still at the feet of our women.
IF j were queen" said Nine. Recamier
one day, 81 would command Nine. do
Stael to talk to me all day long," and
contemporary of this celebrated author
ess relates how he and some friends of
his were driving with her one day, and
were suddenly surprised by violent
storm bursting over their heads without
their having noticed a sign of its gather
ing. SO absorbing were the charm and
vivacity Of her conversation. There are
plenty of French women of whom SINH
lar things might be said. From the
Seventeenth century they have continued
to hand down this charming sovereignty
of converse. Mother bequeathes it to
daughter, or it is transmitted in the
blood; and, to my mind, this is what
chiefly distinguishes them from tho wo-
men of other countries. In spite of tele-
graph and railways, in spite of politics,
which in these days absorb all ranks of
French society, people still causent in
France; and this, thanks to French wo-
men. Excuse me for using the word
causer, but you have no equivalent for
it in English. Chat is perhaps the near
est approach to it, but even that fails TO
render its meaning. A causerie is mark
ed not only by interest of subject, but
also by a lightness of touch which the
French language eminently lends it.
self to.
Can you imagine drawing room
attractive without the presence of Ia
dies? Have you never noticed that,
left to themselves, the most clever
men fall into augmentation, that their
oratory fails to interest or convince
you, ana that tueTe Is u general Ieel-
ing OF GOODNESS and restraint? But
let woman come in, woman of taste,
and gayety comes with her; conversa-
ton becomes animated and attractive.
1t runs gracefully from one subject into
another, like butterfly from spray to
spray. 1t touches each lightly, rises to
high thoughts, comes to earth again,
passing from lofty to lowly subject,
from grave TO gay, with infinite mean
ders. Every one is moved to show him
self at his best, and draws from his vo-
cabulary his choicest expressions, his
happiest reflections, surpasses himself,
and is surprised to find himself inspired
as by muse. just now they were kill
ing time; now every one is enjoying
himself. All constraint is gone; each
one gives free expression to his thoughts.
In word, just now they were talking;
now they causent. And in taking leave
of their hostess they might repeat the
expression that certain calrtly able of
the Eighteenth century used in speak
ing to grand dame who had communi-
Gated to him something of her irresist-
ible spirit; Madame, / am but an in
strument, on which you have played
with skill"
So much for tho French women of the
unper classes.