Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-08
ANGLO FADS In PARIS
Some French Women Taking English
Women for Models.
ANGL0NANIA A MALADY.
Furnishing Styles Of Queen Anne Brought
Across tho Chanpef-Women Wish
to Become Active I'm sports.

N~Ssf'obOidtUtt Vi INC DiSPRs~S
PARIS. March q -Anglomania, accord
ing to society reports. is the great malady
OF the moment In France.
IL appears that In all social functions,
as far as possible. French women are
taking English women for their models.
They entertain rAnglaise. dress TO
certain extent rAnglalse, follow the
chase n rAnglaise, and interlard their
conversation with English.
They speak no more in Paris OF the
beau monde, but only Of high life" which
is pronounced, very likely. to rhyme with
fg-leaf
One does not receive chezelle. but is "at
home.' at 20 O'clock" when one wears
not a robe d'interieur, as formerly, but
"tea-gown"
The last new society play is filled with
English phrases. and the exquisites In II
talk of going to spend the season In Lon
don. This last expression, i believe. the
French in real life seldom make, though
they may talk about 1t.
In Dumas play. "Le Fills Naturei' that
ran most of the winter at the Odeon,
a character is made to say: Il am afraid.
my daughter, that you are reading some
thing forbidden show 1t to me- and the
young girl answers; 1T is an English
book, father; will you see it?" On this
the father in a relieved tone, says: "Oh,
no; If II is in English 1t is all right. You
may continue"
There is no need to construe this dia-
logue as yelled sarcasm meant to insinu-
ate what other thoughtless French say
openly, that English literature Is written
only for children" 1t is literally nat
tering appreciation OF the high-moral
character of our Anglo-Saxon literature,
a mania for which character 1t wouid
seem more profitable to cultivate than Inc
the fashion in English tea-gowns.
But the French. perhaps, DO not wen
understand our literary reserve any more
than they do our motives OF conduct. ana
Of these last, If we were 10 judge by the
play first mentioned, they have some
what curious idea; for the one young
woman in the piece that leads an irregu-
lar life explains her free conduct by say
ing that she is much Anglicised'; that
she was raised after the American man
ner."
THE FAD IN FURNITURE.
Fancy bringing the furnishing styles OF
Queen Anne across the Channel into inns
land of heavy draperies and sculptured
cornices; Of Louis curved table-legs ana
Boucher cherubs Unframed In gilt acan-
thus scrolls, 1t Is surely an importation
that will remain exotic. and should, Tor
that matter. not being in harmony with
the natural taste Of the people.
Yet 1t is said that among a few In
Paris Queen Anne furniture Is all the
rage; that in some elegant houses they
have removed the graceful bed hangings
that make the chief beauty Of the French
bedroom, suppressed lie window drape-
ries and the hangngs of silk ~ cretonne
that covered the walls. and in their place
have put prim. undraped brass or
lacquered wood bed. straight-legged
tables. thin muslin window screens and
| English paper, with heroglyphic flowers
| in regular repeats; and that they affect
| the mixed and debased tints we know alb
surdly under the designation OF "es-
| thetic."
We shades of Louis XIV. If we still
haunt France, what must be your cha
grim
THE CHASE AND THE WOMEN.
Partisan women OF fashion now stay,
ulltT lDt lsUSliSU ilidnii'I III lUt QUILL
the greater part Of the year, coming to
town only after Easter to make q short
season.
To while away these long months some
distractions are necessary, and for these
also their eyes have been cast across the
Channel. They have seen the English
women brilliant In active sports, and IL
has reused their emulation. They wish,
above all things, to ride across coun-
try with the men and TO follow the chase.
1t Is a tremendous innovation. and,
apropos Of it,a very pretty squabble OF
an amicable kind is going on, 1t is re-
ported, between the women and the men.
The men stand, IT is said, on the asser-
ton that a woman looks prettier with
a fan in her hand than with gun. and
as it is a wOman's chief function TO look
pretty. there is needed no discussion
Also that a short skirt and trousers is
not a ravashing costume for a woman.
Then they somewhat inconsistently add
that flirting is likely 10 distract the
chasers and spoil the legitimate fun.
The women, on their part, have replied
that they are quite as equal TO the sport
as the men. THE age is past of silly
women 0emmelettes) who faint at no.
thing and get up at noon. We are robust,
we are vigorous; we are valiant. We
can be on horseback with the aurora; We
are able to walk leagues at a stretch; we
| could at need even be excellent soldiers.
This Is what they are reported to have
said. ! am giving it all at second hand.
| and know nothing myself about the mat
| ter. But If il is true that French women
| are waking up to all this activity the
| fact is interesting.
For France is a land where the men
themselves have not the habit of athletic
sports. either in college days or after.
| French journals have little use for sport
| ing editors. The Figaro, careful TO report
| all society news. will run a whole sum-
| mer through and find no sport save horse
racing TO chronicle Baseball, football
sculling, tennis, when mentioned, as
they rarely are, are all known by their
English names. Ii is only the few men
of leisure and cosmopoltanized that give
any attention to- athletics.
French women continue to cultivate
| the penchant that they may become ath-
letes and warriors and overturn the So
cial conditions Of France. WIN they take
Diane chasseresse for their model and
stop at pleasure, or Joan Of Arc and
dedicate themselves to a cause?
As TO the Angomania, is II possible
that serious matter lies under this
froth?
France took up the scepter or ponte-
ness and art dropped by Italy, and has
held 1t for 300 years. May she in time
pass 1t on to England? Time was when
the Englishman OF fashion bought his
horse in Italy and his hat in France
but for some time now the Frenchman
has gone to London for his dress. Per-
haps the women will follow suit. and
possibly the initiative of taste in the
twentieth century will he to the Anglo
Saxon race. ADA BACKBONE.