The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-27
GIRLS OF EUROPE
nparison Of Training in
rance and England.
.eNT MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
rScnch Young Woman Grows N
- Her Mothers Eye-Mere
I5bsrty In England.

-
- Her Mothers Eye-lEore
Isbsrty In EngIsnA.
pop, March Especial Correspond
lin drawing comparison between
Is and English girls, perhaps the
striking point Is the fact that con-
line the enormous difference in their
lmstancc and up-bringing. they should
hayo 70 much in common. In spite
1foly apparent want of independence
~ constant supervision to which they
6subjected, the majority Of French girls
Wy whit as wide-awake and able to
o cnee Of themselves a. their French
- Who are allowed 50 much more lib
"a a. because the former make up in
aaness and capability what they lack
orience and practice7 Or il It be-
uuch Of the French system Of guard.
y iii from all knowledge Of the real
6 life, is purely and completely :
- Il conventionality, and to some ex-
ff s make believing? Theoretically, .
6Sck eiyl grows up under her mothers
- = never out Of her care, rarely out of
e16ht, il kept from all knowledge Of
FL 8 even of everyday facts, yet practi-
- Il may be doubted whether she ID
imnocent in mind than the English
FL eho lives freer and less guarded ex-
1ScG Perhaps this excessive care de.
q own object by leading to the
] Sco that 50 much precaution must
The existence Of corresponding
Of wickedness. and by induc-
6istrust of the world in general.
n we not suppose that often this
child-like innocence Is less an
snorance Of life, than q fairly ac-
idea as to what it is considered right
pper that girl should or should not
md . careful avoidance of doubtful.
ohl
= Inference of training commences at
~ early stage. In England little girls
p soaght mp entirely with their BROTH
=, ut only allowed but encouraged to
~ their games, their occupations and
IIalts, and are reminded as rarely a.
1fbIe that what is all very well for boys
Dtot always becoming for young ladies'"
6 d 1het, there Is growing inclination to
NJ upon certain amount of tomboyism
~ rot altogether bad foundation for
~ more especially feminine education
which follows this first period. In
ytsnce, on the contrary, girls very soon
5 hogin to understand that they should be
1emnre and sedate; that they must be-
! toys differently to their brothers, though
poo1ibly these latter would be thought mo
1lter than girls" by their more rebellious,
i vigorous English contemporaries. To see
tAeir small daughters play cricket or
hockey or climb fences would horrify the
oseFage French mother, while for girl to
I Vi6h she was . boy is decidedly reprehen-
rlble. French women, who think that at
lhe age Of 8 or 9 boys and girls should
s1pase to be playmates, though perhaps too
Y14e to be taken as average specimens, do
ill exist and many of the more old FASH
3oned folk do not consider an elder brother
y Sufficient escort for q young sister, lest
busy bodies might be ignorant Of the rela-
tionship. These are extreme cases l
grant, nevertheless they are indications of
NE general manner of looking at these
matters.
While at school the differences are per.
haps less marked, the broad rules and re-
strictions being similar, only where obedi-
ence to the respect for these is more often
left to the honor Of the English girl,
the French girl is so closely watched that
there is little choice left to her, the result
being that when q chance does present
itself she probably thinks herself justified
in breaking these regulations. It is some
times said by English pupils IN French
schools that their companions are some
what lacking in the straight-forwardness
and nice sense of honor which is usual
among school girls in England. but this
may we'll be due to little natural prejudice
and an instructive antagonism. The
same school friendships-often lasting
through lifc-are formed in both
countries, only in France they can
never result in the pleasant interchange of
visits so common in England, for French
mother who knows her duty would not
dream of allowing her daughter to pass so
much as . single night from under her
own roof-unless. indeed, she went with
her
OF the actual instruction given in the
respective schools, it is little difficult to
give comparison. Fewer girls go in for
examinations in France, perhaps, but
when they do the test is possibly more
eearching than in the lesser examinations
here. Such advanced education as is to
b obtained at Girton or at Oxford is prac-
tically unknown. though female medical
Students occasionally come very much to
the front. But with all this the average
French girl has nothing to do. She fire.
quently studies music far more thoroughly
than do most English girls, but painting,
wood carving and kindred pursuits find
Nver devotees than with as. To the
French, as q nation. reading is not the
constant and universal recreation that it
p In England. In the case of girls this is
not altogether astonishing, for such books
= are considered fit for their perusal are
esually the reverse of exciting. there be-
mg no happy medium between those of the
hopelessly ''milk and water" order and the
more or less realistic productions enjoyed
~ their elders.
On leaving school girl-life shows a wide
e'nerence in the two countries. In Eng
mnd the majority of girls, once they have
made their entry into society, are free to
r. about unobstructed and live their own
nves in an independent fashion-two sis
EN going even to dances alone, their host
- being considered sufficient chaperone.
mus, to some extent. they gain their own
sAperlence, learn to form their own inn
Psessions OF the people with whom they
wme IN contact, and develop conscious
ass OF their own responsibility. In
france, though there are signs
W.! gradual relaxation in these
matters, no carefully brought up
nti Is allowed outside the doors without
- .east maid in attendance, emancipa-
aJ ~ nom this custom being tantamount to
ueeiaration of old maidhood-while to
Ae Journey alone would at any rate
& ~. LIVING provincials, be almost enough TO
raousiy damage the girls matrimonial