The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-27

9gfet that Fronch habits ana rs,stcr.
snCuid Pc - different.
Inc regret, though, often applies to the
- iloIo Superficial social relations. for it NAV
:. -.s. ySs9oscd whether the same Frenchmen
ths 49,, - g marry compatriots Of even
shls matter, the influence and opinions of
49, S.lsu Ismilles must be reckoned with
- slsain ~ y that, at any rate in Paris. an
ansiasn eiri may go about as freely as she
80 - London, and as entirely I'M
sloies!ed, simply because her independ-
snGe g 2 recognized fact; but French
~. un0er the same circumstances, be she
h NE 60 earcumspect, would in all proba-
D,,ity md herself liable TO annoyance Of
g. klnds: Il being taken for granted that
:nE one dlsregarding the usual social rules
On the subject Of marriage the ideas Of
tne TWO nations are 50 fundamentally diff
;Ta Lent That Y - difficult to compare them.
Inc typical English girl grows up with an
underlined expectation Of meeting and mar ar
rylne the man TO whom she will give her
wn0le heart, but this is to be brought
auout ~ somo kind Providence or fate.
nes ~ any striving or efforts on The part
9! herself or her parents, the right of deci-
sion remaining in her own hands. OF
course It would be absurd to maintain that
tnis tneory 10 always put into practice, or
70 deny that matchmaking mothers. and
young women anxious and willing to
TURNER their own matrimonial projects,
oIten e. the expense of dignity and self
respect, abound; but even these show
some Difference to the prevailing idea by
giving their schemes as romantic q color
Ing e possible; A French girls mind
Win regard to this all-important question
must be curious medley of downright
matter Of fact" and the purest senti-
mentality.
On the one hand, she considers it the
absolute duty Of her parents to find her a
husband suitable in station, age and
means. while on the other. in spite of the
even of the slightest approach to true
friendship, she manages to look forward
20 marriage with some sort of joyful ex-
element and abstract romance-though
this Is possibly connected less With the
uture husband than with the fact of mar
rying. 1t is probably quite as rare
an occurrence in France as in England for
parents to exercise any excessive pressure.
English girls have decided ideas and wishes
Of their own, and French girls seldom
think Of refusing their parents choice.
That many of them reach their wedding
day without having ventured to address
their fiance by his Christian name or
spoken to him except in the presence of
others Is fact. while amusing cases might
be cited of brides who have refused to
leave Immediately for the accustomed
honeymoon, preferring to remain in their
own home until they become better ac-
quainted with their lords and masters.
The question which naturally arises
after this glance at the strongly contrasted
amount OF good to the social life wherein
they play. so large part? Impartiality
compels the looker-on to confess that the
sum total do not differ SO widely as might
be anticipated.
The bright, fearless English girl, who
dances and riirts, who rides across country
with her kinsfoik and acquaintances. or
pulls an oar with her brothers and their
chums, or wins prizes at tennis tourna-
ments as If no such thing as propriety
with big Up" or tomorrow" existed
marries the man she honestly likes, and
settles down into the steadiest, the most
faithful Of wives, the kindest Of mothers,
If somewhat firm and strict.
And how does the demure little French
pensionairc develop? In spite of the pain
ful pictures offered to the civilized world
by the brilliant writers of French fiction,
We believe she becomes her husbands best
friend, his true helpmate. while her chill
dren .'arise and call her blessed, )" for to
them her tenderness, her devotion are in
During that delightful period, however,
which intervenes between the school Of
education and the severer school of matri-
mony, the English girl has decidedly the
best oft, nor is she penny the worse.
Such being the case. we can only wish a
wider field and wider liberties to her
French sisters, who would. we doubt not,
make an excellent use Of them. Though
it must be remembered that other traces
develop other manners. Were all national
differences swept away and all customs re-
duced to the same dead level of similarity
the dulness Of social life would be more
than the profoundest philosophers could
endure, and even stoics might ask relief in
suicide. Mrs. ALEXANDER.