The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-14
LIFE OF FRENCH GIRLS.
La Demoiselle at Her Home, Her
Brother, Her Fiance and
Her Dot.
Peculiar Gallo Ways, Some of
Which Are Worth Thought
and Adoption.
Methods of Making Matches in France
To be Married in June-B0lts
and Bars.

To be Married in June-B0lts
and Bars.
Especial Correspondence of The INDEPENDENT.
PARIS. Sept. 3.-The French girl is prod
uct SO totally different from that to which
Americans are accustomed that it is to be
wished large portion of those parents who
year after year are sending their daughters
to finish their studies in French convent OF
boarding schools could have more thor
ough acquaintance with the type of charac-
ter to which it seems to be the fashion ia
desire the young women of the United
States to become more or less assimilated.
Daisy Miller, indeed, could with profit
take lessons in manners from the jeune de-
moiselle. French children of both sexes are
trained to careful politeness which makes
many things second nature with them, at
the lack of which they often wonder in their
American visitors. This afternoon, for ex-
ample, boy of IL or IL bolted past me into
hotel elevator. AS we reached
the landing where both were to
alight he bounced out ahead of me,
nearly throwing down child, and
with a boisterous ''Hullo!'' to somebody of
his acquaintance in the hallway. In strong
contrast with young America French boy
of about the same age who was waiting to
descend stepped quickly to one side to give
madame passage, lifting his cap and
holding it in his hand until madame" had
quite disappeared.
1t gives one an uncomfortable sensation
to see French girl open her eyes in genu-
inc surprise at beholding an American
young lady retain her seat while an elderly
lady is standing, or precede an elderly lady
in passing from room. or refrain from
rising when addressed by a married w0T
man or intrude her opinions in the CONVEX
sation of others without being asked to
state them. After little of this one comes
to understand why the French assume the
tone they do in speaking of their trans-At-
lantic visitors who have never been taught
what is the very alphabet of living to the
Partisan, The standard exacted of French
young people in certain respects is SO high
as to lead sometimes to amusing misunder
standings. An American resident in
been asked to spend the day with a French
friend, apologies were offered for the prob
able misbehavior of the hostess little son
and daughter, who were described as deli
cate children who by long course of petting
and tending on account of lll.health had
words to mean what they would have meant
at home, the American guest paid her visit
most reluctantly, expecting to be tormented
by a couple of spoiled urchins and to spend
most disagreeable time, instead of which
la fillette and la garconnet conducted them
selves with the most scrupulous perfection
of good breeding, sitting by her side watch
ing her fingers fly over their woods, never
speaking unless first addressed, never
touching thing which did not belong to
them. When dinner was announced the
chief of the infants terrible arose, and
Offering his arm with the air of marquis,
conducted his mothers guest to the dining
room. The spoiled young people might tax
their mothers patience when alone with
her, but they had been taught too thor
oughly what was due visitor to fail to re-
spect the precincts of the drawing room.
The French maiden can show her Amer
lean cousin good many things worth
knowing; but when one advances beyond
the simple, natural politeness which ought
to be the result of early home training, and
to be much the same the world over, to the
esoteries of handkerchief or fan manipula-
ton, coffee pouring, rising from chair,
entering or leaving carriage, &C., to which
so much time is devoted in the French
boarding school regime, the advantages of
proficiency may be overbalanced easily by
the immense amount of brain energy taken
from other things to be lavished on artificial
politeness, which is often far more objec-
tionable than brusqueness, and which, it
may be added, sometimes fails French
beau or eleRante in an emergency, as when
a well-dressed man whose wife was acct
dentally jostled on crowded walk the
other afternoon deliberately turned, seized
the woman who had offended by the shout
ders and roughly shook her as a ter
rier shakes rag doll, greatly to
the editication of all passers, and
making an exhibition of childish spite
always outgrown by mature Americans
While when one comes to the ideals of life
indicateed,i it seems that the American girls
infatuation after loveless foreign marriages
must be in part, at least, the result O.
foreign education.
Intelligent readers usually take "travel
ers' tales"with the proper sprinkling of salt
knowing that it requires more than pass
ing visit or brief residence to gain tina
entrance into French family circles whicl
is necessary to any understanding of tn
position of men and women to each Other
but the little story which follows and illus
perhaps if Macaulay were living he woul
substitute every Observation-Disclosures was toll
me by young woman who, though she wa
born in the United States, has lived all he
life in Paris and has become, except he
wholesome, Star Spangled Banner soul
uuCu more TEeuCu tkldu Au0TlCdu.
Jeanne--I am going to be married il
April.
Louise (that is to say. my young Amer
lean, pricking up her ears)-Indeed!
Jeanne-And want you to dance at IN,
contract ball.
Louise-I will go at once and order NJ
gown. but who is the happy man2
Jeanne-Oh, I don't know.
Louise-You don't know?
Jeanne-There isn't any yet, but this i
only December.
Louise--Rut you said
Jeanne-Oh, yes. Papa is looking out 70
all that. He says that my two sisters ar
growing up SO fast that he can't possibl
have US all around at the same time SO b
has decided that l am to be married i
April, and now he is looking about for a
eligible parti.
In the sequel. Jeanne's dot being hand
some one, the parti was discovered, Intro
auctions were made on the last day {
February, and on the 9th and 10th day
April the civil and religious ceremonit
were performed. Louise danced as she ".
invited, and she says she had most exec
lent time.
These marriages, of course, often tut
out hadpily enough, but often also the il
M