New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13
CHIC.
WHAT TIE WORD MEANS.

Z
use is by no means confined to the French, for it
is current at Berlin and Vienna. find it in your
Webstcr's dictionary and it has even been adopted
by our initiative and frivolous japanese friends.
Nowhere abroad, however does it's true meaning
appear TO be understood Webster tells us that
it stands for good form and style which with
all due reverence to so eminent an authority Is
altogether wrong At Vienna and Berlin it serves
TO describe articles of mment that SAVIOR rather
of the grand couturicrs at Paris than oil the
native modistes, while in London II Is not only
used in the same sense but also az synonyme
for the terms smart" and "swagger'
The japanese have still more erronesous ideas OF
the meaning Of the word, as have every occasion
to remember On one occasion when travelling
in the interior of the Afikado's Empire l almost
died from the effects OF drinking bottle OF
some kind of fiery liquid which the local
inkeeper assured me was real chic French cham
payne The bottle, the label and the seal were
all apparently authentic. But when after my
recovery was about to proceed on my Journey.
and asked for my bill, / understood the danger
to which had been exposed. For the real chic
French champagne, with its Roederer carte blanche
label figured on the account for the sum OF JUST
thirty cents, On another occasion colleague
Of mine, o secretary OF the French Legation at
Toxic. had been requested by very charming
and dainty little japanese lady, the wife OF
native dgnitary to procure for her from farS
q complete outfit. dress, hat parasol, underwear
shoes, hosiery and everything complete one
likewise requested that in view Of her ignorance
in matters pertaining 20 European attire the
things should be carefully packed in the order
in which they were to be put On-that L. In such
n manner that the underwear and the other eie-
mentarv garments 70 be donned iBt shonid lie
on the top of the box. and that the dress thc
cane and the fanfreluches which constitute ohe
finishing touches Of an elegant woman 'oiie'e
should lie at the bottom OF the case. MY irieno
de NJ lost no time in complying with the Wishes
~ the little Japanese lady and sent all the neces-
sary instructions to P&rs concerning the pack
ing of the garments in the order Requested
Those recommendations were carried out with
areat care by the Partisan couturier entrusted
with the commission But unfortunately
bv some mistake the address was put
ON the bottom instead of on the III
Of the box. and when it reached its destination !.
was opened with the wrong side up We u
not however, become aware OF this uh'ii u's
ar two later when our little Japanese friend drove
into the courtyard Of the Legation ana s'ePp.o
ont of her jinr1sha to call upon the VIE oi '''e
French Minister The extraordinary appearance
which she presented caused us TO collapse Gu
tirely. She had put on the clothes III 'he oruer
that she found them when she opened the ooAs
and the latter had been sent wrong side up ius
result was that she had donned everything IN -
verse order. the cape and the dress being worn
under instead OF over the underwear lI"s Guy
r,,dlv and proudly imagined TO constitute the true
Partisan chic. ,
What chic really means il neither STYLE
a FORM nor fashion, sOcalled, but orlginahy
combined with correct taste and compete a"-
sence of afectation. The use OF the word is W
no means confined TO dress or appearance linus
uben the French became aware Of the clrcum-
.s,anccs in connection with Marshal MacMahons
RESIGNATION OF the Presidency in 1879. both iriehu
and foe were unanimous in declaring that the
Gallant old soldier had acted with an immense
amount of chic" 1t was very chic, III uier
opiuion. for him to have preferred to rzsgn inc
chief macistracy of the Republic with all Its
advantages rather than to affix his signature 70
a measure passed by the Legislature which IN
,uriousv affected the welfare and the status oil
his old comrades on the list Of generals II was
very chic too for him TO have spent 80 much OF MS
private fortune in maintaining the dignity oi MS
office as President Of the French Repubhc thaC
after his resignation he was forced 70 sell hali
of his handsome town house and colslderaoie
norton of his property in the provinces In order
to restore the equilibrium OF his hnances' DUN
things were done without word, without NUT
muir, modestly, naturally and without any trace
of affectation. And if the gallant and honest oia
soldier now over eighty years of age, is to-day
in somewhat Strengthened circumstances, he ~
least has the satisfaction of knowing that ne
hos furnished his countrymen with a very true
and attractive illustration of the real meaning
OF the word chic.
Rare and exceptional gallantry in war may
also be described as chic. When, for instance,
during the civil war of 1871 in France General
the MARQUIS de Gallifet, accompanied ohiy pS oil
aide-de-camp, rode alone into the MIDST ol
brigade Of Communist infantry. and cooIly asked
them 10 surrender the object of his thus parey-
ing with them being to divert their ATTENTION anu
to allow time for his own two suadrons OF
cavalry TO effect their escape from critical posi-
ton. he acted with great deal of chic
Eanally chic however, was the conduct OF
the Communist commanders when, after ms r"'e
had been discovered, their men were about to BIND
and maltreat the Marquis, who was renowned
for the severity and the relentessness with which
he carried on the work OF suppressing the Com
runist rebellion Stay, my friends" shouted
the lender of the nsurrctionary brigade. we
,re all Of us Frenchmen. and no one entitled to
that designation can forget the glorious cavalry
,hargc at Reichshoien. Present arms, my friends
present arms to the general who led that heroic
,hargc."
In a minute the entire scene had changed. aud
he insurgents who. but minute before had
zen ready to subject Gafet to every species
IF ndignity and even TO rcnd him To pieces, now
opened their ranks to allow him to ride forth,
presenting arms to him and cheering him to the
'cho with patriotic enthusiasm.
one of the best living illustrations OF the
word chic is Princess Metternich. She is chic 10
he tips Of her fingers. both in thought. speech,
lress manner. conduct and appearance. She v
hio because she is original. unaffected and
ct tasteful in everything she does. Those who
ndeavor with varying success TO initiate her are
ot chic Indeed no persons who follow u