The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-01

country. We must either admit more per-
lection on the one side or rather less OF II
on the other. The convent system Of edn-
cation still prevails in France for all young
women belonging to the superior classes.
The convent Of the Sacred Heart, the
of that name, was near US when We lived
in Paris. 1t occupies whole long block
Of ground on the boulevard des Invalides,
opposite the famous gilded dome. Very
high walls shut in = large garden with
clipped alleys, and tho school building is
an old chateau, corresponding to that OF
the Prince de Leon. the Marquis
main in the ncighborhood. I re.
collect looking down the clipped
alleys to where some of the children were
playing, at the further end, in pretty
uniform with ribands for good conduct
across their breasts, while white-capped
sister, confident in their complete sec!u-
sion there in the heart of Paris. ran about
with them as gaily as one Of themselves,
and thought it a very pleasant sight 1t
is very smooth, calm and pretty TO look at.
the convent education, and, except that it
exalts les arts d 'agrcment-the arts of max
ing life agreeable-so much. at the thor
oughness of mental Trainings if clear
head and large store of intelligence had
not the capacity of making life more
agreeable than anything else--I should
still think it preferable to any other.
Hence issue those types Of gentle sweet
ness and distinction, formed, for the time
being at least, to sort of angelic media
val type, hence come forth those great
names that set the standard and fashion
for female conduct below.
Add to this semi-cloistered education
that many French women are married
after a regime that leaves them little
oh hyf$ ~ mi ha Lot hnf hot Ia
them, and furthermore. that women, being
considered the illogical sex, may more
comfortably occupy an illogical position
than men. But ali this is not enough to
establish the estimate given. There seems
to be q certain amount of cynicism in their
accepting in the main with passable grace
disorders of conduct, a condition of things
so repugnant to them. There is no evil
dence of any generally disturbed condition
of mind, any violent expression of protest
on the part Of French women. On
the contrary, they go on mar
rying alleged Objectionable men
and raising up some who are in their turn
OF much the same sort. Like women else
measure of sympathy to the leading ideas
and practices of their men. think it will
be found that in the main French women,
like French men, shrewdiv estimate that
whatever is, in France, is right
We should have to apply the same rea-
soning at home, should we not? Take. for
instance. so many of the women in our own
Southern states, who love their sons, no
doubt, yet, under an absurd public
sentiment, have never been ayerse to
bringing them up touchy, quarrelsome;
ready to sacrifice their lives in the first dis
pute with q ncighbor. Now that we touch
upon sons and sacrifices, there is one re-
spect in which the French woman fully
shares the interests of the Frenchman, his
to military strength and the defense of his
frontier. No murmur is heard from her
on this subject either, and yet every young
Frenchman-by the newest law there is no
escape-must pass three years of his life
in the army. Three years are contributed
from his profession, his useful labor, his
prospects, for the mere purpose of guard
onerous to vote, and can by no means
spare the few days in year that might
suffice to rescue our communities from
corrupt politicians and give them good
government. Truly the patrie means
something definite abroad, and the woman
must have her full share of this definite
meaning.
sensations of the fanciful French novelists,
one does not easily see where the liberal
opportunities for misbehavior come in.
Nine. Adam has lately written something
about the American girls abroad, in which
she finds them much freer before marriage
and tanner afterwards than French women
would like to be. Certainly the young
French woman is apt to be rather con-
strained before marriage, but l fancy
many American women would be very
disconnected indeed if they were allowed
no greater measure of freedom than she
has after marriage An American girl
who has been q student in music explains
10 me how puzzled she was at first at the
obstinate insistance of one of her French
young nor beautiful, on not going home
after any of the classes unless accom-
panied by her maid.
Il honestly thought" said my inform
ant-but fear she was something of a
laughing exaggerator and mocker-''that
she had some habit of falling in the street
and dreaded to be carried into drug store
or run over by a cab"
At a French social entertainment, the
women constantly tend to gather in
groups, or, more accurately still, CEN
trail bevy OF beauty, by themselves, while
the masculine part of the company. unable
to do more. cluster thickly about the door
ways or stroll in the corridors without.
There are not chairs enough for all; nor do
4
is grand crush, and it is expected that
the women will usually he seated. A man
will occasionally go over and stand
for few minutes before a
feminine acquaintance who gazes up at
him fixedly from her divan; but every
body knows that no rational conversation
is possible in this constrained position.
He will occasionally also drop down into
an empty chair, but not for long. have
also seen the chair reclaimed under these
circumstances, by a lady who has left it
some time before, and at once gallantlv
surrendered, as if she were in her full right.
I speak with due diffidence on this most
delicate subject, but it often seemed as if
there was almost as great drawing apart
of the sexes as in those religious bodies
where the separation is a prescribed form.
thorough fusion of groups, that
easy mingling together for rational
discourse or mild Irritation, if you will.
which at any rate results in the softening
of manners, allows the man to know the
woman better, and is one of the greatest
charms of American social gatherings.
One evening watched involuntarily the
conspicuous interest excited by an incau-
tious couple who had remained somewhat
too long seated in animated talk. A knot
of men, in the most correct evening cos
tune, gathered near them and gave them
selves 70 much more than furtive enjoy
ment of the spectacle.
Look at them" they seemed to say;
"Oh, that is an affair. indeed"
As sort of new Cnlebs, in Paris. in
search, not of wife, but what might
properly be known of the novel manners
of an amusing people, | mentioned this
point to friend whom met at jolly din
ner of men, chez Notta, Boulevard Pois-
soniere.