Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-01-06
CHlLDREN'S DAY IN PARIS,

The French Santa Claus Comes at New
Year'-Dancing the Farando1e.
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 a 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 its 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 guerdons.
And Mars shows US such 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 point on this day at render
ing the reveille of their little ones happy
one. I can remember how grand old Vic
tor Hugo, when Jeanne and George were
still mites was busy most of New Years
eve in laying out the surprises of the NOR
row. Tt was my good fortune to spend one
such eve with him, during which the bitter
satfrist showed me how it was that the
same pen that penned Les Chatiments"
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 pref
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 Belleville and Montrouge de-
scending like flock of tattered sparrows
on the unfamiliar boulevards on such a
day, just for the pleasure of seeing. And
doubtless toys thus exposed in the open
air-indeed the whole unconventionalityo of
it all-appeal to that instinct of bohemi-
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, surfeited with pres
ents from their parents, showing gratitude
and filial affection, besides other virtues
which they have been taught to admire, in
their turn affording their parents an
agreeable surprise. What a 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 ribbons!
Then, as handing over these letters patent
of affection, the little ones drawl forth with
blushing hesitations the lines of the verse
they have learned, the affected pleasure of
the parents must come 10 be really felt.
How well Jeanne speaks her lines; what
pretty gestures Jean has got! In the even
ing, in most Partisan houses, after the din
ner at which all members of the family
have been present, children's 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 it's little ones
makes no such bad beginning.-R. H.
Sherard in London Graphic.