Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-30

i
The Paris widow is surprise. can
not tell exactly what had expected, but
for some reason Or other the thought OF
French widows always called up vague
recoIlections Of the bereayed young person
in "a Trip to Chinatown" 1 bumbly
beg the pardon Of the real Paris widow.
She ia much more like the oriental wives
who die on the funeral pyres Of their hus.
bands, and she Is often almost as secluded
as II she were buried alive
Naturally this does not refer to ''the
people" as tho French call the working
classes. When the small grocery mar
dies, his widow, who has sat at the desk
and been cashier and bookkeeper during
his lifetime, sits there still, and every
thing goes on as before except that there
Is 1--WE" put before the name to show
that "Widow (Veuve) Maurice" or what
ever her name may be, is at the head OF
the business. There is no attempt made,
as there often Is In America, to give the
impression that affairs are In the hands OF
man. The women are too shrewd ana
experienced as shopkeepers to need any
such pretense.
With the women Of society it Is differ
ent 1t Is not easy for stranger 10 MAKE
observations In this field, and above all IN
the direction Of widows. The easiest way
To Qain information IL to cultivate some
widow who has seen better days ana get
her TO reveal tho secrets OF her sad estate.
This IA not difficult. Widows with money
arc the prey OF designing relatives ana
interruptions guardians. so that there are
always plenty Of them who have been re-
duced to keeping boarders, which, after
the pawnshop, is their sole resource.
"In France If husband dies without
a will, leaving widow, but no children,
nil his property, even though 1t may have
been held in common during his lifetime,
goes to his family. His widow has moth
ing. II he dies without WILL leaving a
widow and children, all the property goes
to tho children The widow may live on
the income with her children, provided
she can arrange 1t with their guardian,
but II he Is so inclined he can forbid her
receiving cent from her children and
compel her to earn her own living. 1t is
terrible, isn't it,"
1t was bright, attractive little French
woman OF 40 who told me this. She has
been widow ten years, and although
her husband left her fortune of $780,
600, and although she had her own dot OF
$12, 900, she Is now keeping boarders for
the princely sum of So week. Her broth
er-in- law, in whose bank her entire for
tune was placed, failed at n judcious in
serval after her husbands death, and
Nine II. found herself with young son
to educate without income and without
resources except small country house.
This she sold and put her 15-year-od boy
in college. BY the advice of prominent
lawyers she set about trying to recover
her dot, which is supposed to be the In
alienable property of a married woman.
She failed, and in tho meantime had sold
or pawned most of her jowelry and furni
ture.
"Do I ever wish I had daughter'-
said Nine r. when asked her tho ques'
ton. "Oh, no. / can never be too thank
full that have none. Without money she
could not hope to marry we'll, and her life
would be ruined With son 1t is differ
ent. His career is entirely changed, but
It does not make such hopeless thing Of
his life. If had money! Oh, yes. Then
! would wish for daughter, because that
would make 1t possible for me to go out
and mingle with tho world. "
But IL you had money, couldn't you
90 thatY'
And then Nine. IT. explained to me
state Of affairs which was appalling from
IN American point of view. A French
widow becomes lost to sight and quickly
forgotten by society. She cannot go to
receptions or balls or dinners or musicales
Or anything In which the heart of woman
delights. This law of the conventional
tiles does not apply TO the period of mourn
ing only. 1t is "A perpetual lock and key
on any spirit of efferyesoence or natural
desire to be something besides housekeep-
ing hermit, If, however, she has been
blessed with daughter and enough mon
ny to make a presentable appearance in
society, she can take her daughter out
when that young lady Is old enough. A
son is not a sufficient excuse for this en-
trance into society. Therefore blessed DO
the daughters of widows.
But under no circumstances can she go
into society before she takes her daughter
with her. II she has intimate friends, she
may dino with them, but 1t must be strict
y en- famille. II these friends are of a
turn of mind, they will oc
invite some man to dine at the
,amo time, and In this way the widow
mas an opportunity to speak to her fellow
non.
when these friends invited you to dine
with them and asked some man to meet
you, was 1t with the idea Of giving you
IN opportunity to find another husband?'
yes" admitted Nine. Il. "They knew
that my life was practically closed if did
not marry again, and they wanted to give
me the chance.
And If you found acquaintances you
liked, why could you not invite them to
dine with you, and let them bring their
friends, and so enlarge your circle, all in
\ very quiet wayf'
Because l couldn't. Because, again,
was a widow. If l had invited any gen
tlemen, or If they had come to see me, the
would have complained of me.
"There are two classes Of human beings
In France who have no liberty. They are
young girls and widows, and of the two
the former are much the happier because
their seclusion does come to an end, since
they are almost sure to marry. The wild
ow is liberated by the same method, but
the road is a more difficult one. Paris
Cor. New York Sun.
The Speed Of Bicycle.
Wheneyer the rider revolves his Medals