Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-12-03

clever brain and fingers help her Ca cover
L. deficiencies by constant little changes
With two or thrce drcsscs In her posses
sion. the dear little humbug will make
you lelieye that she has well filed
wanlrule.
have often In England heard French
women called frivolous hut this Il the
height - nl-urdity. and. In my quality
~ Frcnchmin. surely ought 10 be ~
gosl juigc - the Point n the English
tourist How can French women. who
are perhaps. ~ all women In the world
tie most iliiiaie,l into tie affair. ~ their
husband. is fn,clout n frvulity con.
sists IN trying a. remain Young aud nj
Inactive NJ long NJ prsihle without he
coming ridiculous. then the French hour
gcuise J. frivolous
n. again. frivolty consists In making
a home cheerful and gay. and prevent
inc n husband from being absorbed 10y
the cares ~ business. then she u frivol
Gus Bui tl.is IL nonsense l. she friv
olous. this woman who u tl'e friend and
conhdanic ~ her husband-who. IN im.
portant matters as well az In the small
rst. has 10Th a consultative and dcliber
aiive vulc' in the householn II u she
Who knows. with her economy and good
management how 90 face the danger
when. fr,m one cause or another. the
family revenue diminishe,. u l. she Who
knows. with her cncagy. how to ward
on ruin frum her threshold II this
woman we're frivolous. how could you
explain the alteration for the mother
which. oven o. the lowest ~ the low
you lind IN Frrnch children How
could this IT,. unlcss she were the exam
ple ~ all domestic virtucsl n n French
man ~ 90 would hesitate 90 take an I'm
r.ortan, step In lie without hrst consult,
Ing his mother. surely u must h. that be-
recognizes In her a wisc guide liwould
- mere uaiy,te on my part o. dwell
'ongcr on this absurd charge % frivulity
Take now the shop keeping classc,
There you will -cc the wife the active
partner ~ her husband Behold them
both AZ the commercial travclrr displays
his roods On the counter. Tie wife J.
supreme Her objcciions AIe without
appeal. her opinion final Il j. .he whu
generally has charge ~ the bcoks and
the cash buK. and neither toOks nor Casl
wcrc ever intnstrd o. bciier guardian
ship Shc l. not mere hou-ckcepsr
with or without wages. she l. the part
ner. not merely sleeping partner Tit
not cnly enables her o. h. % grrat hell
o. her husband. bat Il also enables her
n shc haprens g. l-come a widow. q
carry on the business without her hus
hand. to h. independent and to bring uI
her chillrCn. She has not. "a obtain hei
liying on her husbands death. tolccous
a working housckecpsr or n nurse: sh'
l. the mistress - her own house 49, -
fore. and nov the head ~ the drm. H.
hcr shop she u most polite. but never
s,ryllc. aud N YOU wish her to take you
Or a gentleman. don't keep your hat on
While YOU arv engaged with her in a
commercial transaction.
have s,ill present In nay msmory the
following little nnccd0iei
\ well dressed man once entered a pcr
turner's shop where | was purchasing .
pair 10 gloves Keeping his hat ON all
the time. BE- Addrrss.d the pcrfumers
Vifc In a most oGhand manner. Bui
~hat cxaspcraicd the dear woman Was
that. after inquifing abou, the price Of
s0me score % articles. he prepared 10
rrtirc. saying
"lle didn't think he wanted any
thing"
Il think you do replied the woman.
Who was not io bo wholly without rr
vcngc. ''you want a few lessons In -
litcnes.. At al events
IL Il aid that Louis XIV. the most
naughty aud magnificent monarch Of
modern times. uscl to lift his hat even
io the female servants 20 hls court II
a.. no man need think that be- derpgaies
frOm his dignity by keeping his hat on
IA a rvsp-ctablc shop when be IL served
by a woman.
1 might sly Word or two on the
drawbacks ~ the influence of women
ON Frrnchmcn. but there !. no doubt
that this influence has polished Our man
ncrs
You cannot obtain perfect notion Of
Frrnch industry unless you pay visit
to our poa,antry. must say that nov
the woman ccass.s 90 d. attractive. She
do, not even attempt "a look 40 sun
burnt. hale aud hearty. behold her. dear
English tourist. that IL the fortune Of
France. She has a coarse serge gown on
and simple snowy cap She l. clean and
tidy ami tie Tersoniiicaii1n % industry
do not dolbi. however. that, thanks 10
the blessings - graiuitOus and compul'
sorry education. the time will soon come
when she will want to Initiate the ladies
II the town In her habits and dress, aud
that her sons will despise the dear land
where they were born. and will all want
Ia be clerks. aud swagger In town with
high stand up collars. tight trousers and
sticks Thank goodness, this sickening
spectacle Is not yet to b. seen In France'
This gool. lard working. thrifty We.
man il the backbone ~ the country.
The amount of work she can get through
l. simply prodigious You will always
.ee her busy. either working In her field,
selling the produce Of her little farm In
the market place OF the nearest town. or
engaged about her little household.
Whether she takes her COW TO the field
OF Is on her way to town. whether she Is
sitting behind her wares waiting for Gus
toners. or In railway station waiting
Tor her train. look at her fingers busy on
a pair of stockings She does not know
what II Is TO h. idle for a single moment
She has never left her dear village. and
for her the world IL made up Of her
three acres and cow Bs she has
got them. and. thanks To her frugal
habits and splendid management. her
family can live and thrive on them. She
l. not attractive. bat she l. a picture OF
health and contentment
Shares and bonds may 30 up or down
without disturbing her peace. she holds
none She trusts her savings TO nobody
BANKERS. she thinks. company directors
and stock brokers. may IL very respecta
ble persons: bat when the old stocking
h. swollen with i've franc pieces. she
rounds OIL her little family domain and
buys new field-sonetbing she Is quite
sure To lind In it, place when she wakes
up In the morning Her daughter goes
into service. and makes a capital ser
want Like her mother. she thinks but
Of one thing-saying her wages She does