Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-12-29
CHlLDReN,S DAY IN PARIS.


lear's-Dancing the Farandole.
New Years day is in Paris what Christ
mas day is in England-the children's day
Paris is adorable to her children, but never
shows herself kindlier mother than then
Just as on waking on Christmas day
the English child wonders what the morn.
ing shall surely bring forth in acquired
possessions, so does the Partisan little one
on opening it's eyes look round for those
long hoped for etrennes that have formed
the subject of its dreams for days and
nights past. 1t is on the bed itself. or else
on the table of the nursery, that the
French Santa Claus displays his gIerdons.
And Mars shows us such IL scene, where
waking, little girl sees what a dear
visitor has come in the night
From the highest to the lowest the Pa
risians make a point on this day of render
ing the reveille of their little ones a happy
one. | can remember how grand old Vic
tor Hugo, when Jeanne and George were
still mites, was busy most of New Years
eve in laying ont the surprises of the NOR
row. 1t was my good fortune to spend one
such eve with him, during which the bitter
satirist showed me how it was that the
same pen that penned LES Chatiments'
could also have writted "L'Art d'Etre
Grandpere' But have seen the same en-
thusiasm everywhere, even in those on
whom the veneer of Partisan cynicism is
most thickly laid.
One might call New Years day in Paris
the children's day. for on this day it is
certainly the little ones who are most con
sidered. Mars gives us several scenes that
may be witnessed on such day, and in
each scene it will be noticed the little ones
play the foremost parts Here it is the
visit paid by the proud mother to her
friend, where little Rene or Paulot is taken
out in his best attire to wish with his pret
ty little lisp the good and happy year to
his mothers old schoolmate There it is
the visit to the boulevard fair which the
children would not miss, poor though the
show is Yet the long lines of booths, sur
rounded by animated crowds, are on fine
afternoon pretty sight enough-a sight
at any rate which delights children even
where their parents buy them nothing
have seen pilgrimages of little ragged
ones from Beleville and Montrouge de
scending like Il flock of tattered sparrows
on the unfamiliar bouevards on such a
day, just for the pleasure of seeing. And
doubtless toys thus exposed in the open
air-indeed the whole unconventionality OF
anism which is in the nature of all little
children till the schoolroom and long
years of discipline have destroyed it. Here
we have the children, surfeted with pres
ents from their parents, showing gratitude
and flial affection, besides other virtues
which they have been taught to admire, in
their turn affording their parents an
agreeable surprise. What pretty com
edy the parents will play when the little
ones come in, each with his compliment"
in his hand fairly copied out and bound
with gayest ribbonsl
Then, as handing over these letters patent
of affection, the little ones draw forth with
blushing hesitations the lines of the verse
they have learned, the affected pleasure of
the parents must come to he really felt
How well Jeanne speaks her lines; what
pretty gestures Jean has gotl In the even
ing, in most Partisan houses, after the din
ner at which all members of the family
have been present, childrens party is
held. In some houses, in the houses of the
rich and the fashionable, may be the faran
dole will be danced by the little ones, as
Mars shows us. But where even the name
of the farandole was never known there
will be gladness and childish happiness
And it cannot be denied that city which
begins new year of life amid the Joyous
laughter and merry games of its little ones
makes no such bad beginnng,-R. II
Sherard in London Graphic.