The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-10-27
SIMMER LIFE IN FRANCE.
LOUISIANA

SUMMER LIFE in
p,.., v.,,ures of the Homes OF the
Common People.
The people in France make inuoA
SIMMER affair of everyday LIE IMAM we,
and thus find more time for recreatioh,
,.,h;cb indeed is so much a matter Oh
course with them that there Is no trace
- effwt about their little diversions.
where a garden is possible 1T becomes
furnished with table and chairs,
much used outdoor room, roofea WIN
ssthat dome some three miles high VI
soft dappled gray and yellow clouu;
through the vast lattice work whereoi
the blue sky peeps" There, in pleasant
weather. the children play among the
lilac bushes and the mignonette; there
+be;r elders resort with needlework and
ne,vspapers, and there simple meal Is
oftan served How well appreciated are
the public gardens of Paris any fne
day will show. Groups OF happy peo-
nile along the main walks, or in some
out-of-the-way nook of the lovely gar
dens. seem entirely at home as they
on;et,v make the most of their oppor-
tunities for pleasure.
A pleasant feature OF some french
houses is porch before the entrance
door partly enclosed with glass one
such yine-clad summer parlor, opening
into its tiny Paris garden, was most
refreshing contrast to the glarlng,
.dustv street. from which it was all MD
den by a high wall. With its cool sum
mer furnishings, and large ornamental
plants in green tubs, 1T made deiign'-
ful reception room for visitors; while
little round table, with its LOAD Oh
yyorl-baskets and books, bore evidence
of the family liking for this summer
rendezvous. In pretty country house
the snace between two projecting wings
was rooted and fronted with glass
The room thus gained was one OF Inc
most interesting of its kind oeins
graced with an extensive collection o
the ferns of the locality, and guarded
nv pair of curious Chinese idols hold
ing back the opened door on eithe
y. side. .e,rss .-y-'
To the American in France it neve
ceases to be wonder where SO niue
leisure for out-of-door life is found
particularly as it does not follow tina
home duties are shirked to obtain 1
Indeed the proverbial French thrift
in no way better shown than In u
readiness with which French wome
take share in the work OF the nous
hold. even in well-to-do families, an
this without loss of dignity, since Gu
tom sanctions the keeping OF few ser
ants in France. And but few servan
are needed, as no baking or launderir
Is done at home, and polished floors
AWAY at once with dust, and that tea
ing-up and setting-to-rights proce
which we call house cleaning. 1t wou
seem that they arrange their days,
well as their household affairs, wise
in France. and are skilled in the hap
art of making the most of each one
II passes. For however busy the nor
ing hours may be, in most French hon
the long afternoon finds househe
cares laid aside for time, while r.
and quiet enjoyment take their pla
Perhaps one secret of this wonder'
leisure may lie in the fact that fren
mothers, strange as it may seem,
not consider it one of the cardinal '
tues always to have cake in the hou
and it really was not evident that
children suffered az all in consequen
- II is, therefore, quite possible that
pleasant sight of mothers spends
whole happy afternoons with their cl
dren out in the open air, may be par
owing to this great lack OF ambition
cake making.
The little baskets which French G
dren carry with them to their mn
loved parks and gardens are usua
supplied with a generous piece OF
of the long French loaves OF bread
bar or two of sweetened chocolate
few sous procures this quite sufficl
lunch, as well as time for those pl
ant little expeditions--it may be
to the nearest public garden-wl
they like and SO well know how to
rarge in sunny France.-Alice X