The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-21

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country life In France is as much dis
tinguished for dullness as city life Is Tor
gaiety. II is. said, too, that In the
former OF these ~categories Frenchmen
arc accustomed in the general average
OF their good aized towns.
WOMAN THEIR IDOL,
Returning again to o subject OF COM
mapding attractiveness, it is the boast
OF Frenchmen that they are devoted adj
mirers Of the fair sex, Woman is their
idol, they tell US, We quote only that
which ia common in both their CONVEX
sation and their literature when We say
that as regards the generality OF
Prenchmen, sit Is a case OF woman wor-
ship" If, however, we admit this, and
then look around for the evidences OF
such worship, how many things we see
which stagger usl 1t the French are
truo worshippers OF woman, how
strange it seems that everywhere in the
lower classes she Is an equal participant
with the male species in the drpdgery
OF daily toll. Why is 1t, too. that
French law makes the wife a sharer
with the husband in the expenses OF
family life, and that French custom
drags her so often into an active part
nership with him in store and. market
One would think, too, that a nation OF
woman worshippers would make laws
for the protection OF women against the
treachery and baseness Of men, ln-
stead OF this, however, we find that o
betrayed girl in France is not allowed
even the poor solace oil an action in
court against her seducer, and has no
claim upon him for the support OF her
dishonored offspring, What this means
in a country reporting 1885 cases OF
illegitimacy for 1901, the reader may
imagine for himself. We only note
these facts as Rffording another instance
OF the wide discrepancy n so often
finds between French sentiment and
French practice.
Extending our observations to the de-
partment OF politics, We still find ok
trenes meeting and contrasts OF various
kinds obtruding upon notice. But
within this realm, greater charity Is
called for France Is trying an expert
ment in her political life, She is on a
comparatively new tack; whereas so
cially and religiously she is the finished
product OF q thousand years Of steady
evolution. In the latter aspect she
challenges criticism; inathe former de-
partment she appeals for sympathy. II
Ia not at all strange that we should find
in France, side by eide with the trlum.
plant champions of democracy, O set Of
people animated by pride OF birth ana
warmly attached to monarchical insti-
buttons. Perhaps, moreover, n OF
these classes is as reasonably excusoble
for its love Of the old forms al the other
is presumptively right in its malnIe-
nance OF the new. In any case, class
%antagonism Of this sort Is only what we
might expect, considering thati Ia yet
but twenty years since the republic ex-
perienced its third resurrection, Pity
it is, though, that the real aristocracy
should have so many shoddy imitators
that 80 many Frenchmena as they got
rich, finding no king to ennoble them,
should, as Mr.. Hamerton says, feel
justified in ennobling themselves" aud
should be SO silly as to think that by
putting the de before their names they
blossom at once into n set OF beings for
whom q republican government Is not
good enough. We could also find that
the French, having committed them.
selves to republicanism, were less fond
Of decorations than they are, The red
ribbon oil the Legion OF Honor is ms
common on Partisan thoroughfares as
gashed cheeks are in Berlin, and is
given away, ono would think, with al
most as free a handias degrees arc law
ished on American clergymen.
AN ILLUSTRATION.
As a practical illustration of what
France can afford in the way of politi-
cal contrasts, We note two recent occur
rencea in the French capital. One was
the degree Of the municipal council of
Paris, condemning to destruction the
unique looking "Chapelle Expiatoire."
on Boulevard uausmann, erected by
Louis xviii. to the memory Of Louis
xvi. aud Marie Antoinette, and the
other was when, q few weeks later,
upon the Centennial Anniversary OF
Louis xvi. most Of the churches OF
Paris held services, and were draped in
mourning in his honor, the service at
the fashionable Church OF st Francois
Xavier being attended, as the papers
told us, by "the entire aristocracy OF
Faubourg Saint German and by many
representatives Of French royalty.
Here was a contrast indeed, and per-
haps there is food for reflection in II,
Among all the nations where shall we
find one more welded than tho French
to the love 81 glory, than q people more
given than these formerly were TO the
worship OF great names. 1t would
seem, though, as II all the heroes Of
France we're now dead. Certainly there
is no living greatness which commands
worship or even permanent respect.
Popularity in these days ia the sure
precursor Of destruction, Hero again
do we see tho Variance which exists be-
tween French continent and French
practice. Tho national heart pants for
great leaders, but French jealousy, like
the unkindly frosts OF spring, scems de-
termined to blight the budding sprouts
OF g%enious before they have hmo to
ripen. This tendency ID as distinctly
w EVnvLllhVh ~
by students fromsthe outside, and We do
not wonder that theylsee awful posi-
bilities Of mischief IN II.
Spite Of the publicity which they give
on church aud school, aud town hall,
and everywhere alse. to their national
motto, the French are far from enjoy
ing to the full either liberty, equality or
fraternity, Thate IL less liberty for tho
individual in France than in England.
As to equality, thore Is a better chance
in France than in England TO acquire
property, and particularly land. Per.
haps, too, the Fropchmen are more