St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-22
MAX O'RELIIs LECTURE.
Draws Comparison Between For.
eign and American Women.


American womanhood could we'll
adopt Frenchman its sponsor and ad
vocate, for he is certainly Its devotee.
Max O'Rell, met by greeting as hearty
as any accorded lscturer III this city
in many day, delivered his first ad-
dress in this city at the Park Congrega-
tional church last night. This happy.
witty and wlthal picturesque visitor is
truly interesting in his latest lecture,
Her Royal Highness, Woman" The
church was filled. The lecture was in
structive, and it was enthusiastically
received.
The lecture was colored with the Zest
and spirit of the French-a spirit that
seems inspired by American woman
hood. With all the grace and abandon
of his people the lecturer took his
theme and inspiration from that crea-
ture who tempted Adam in the garden
of Eden.
First of all. l am not here 10 extol
the new woman, so-called." he said.
''We Frenchmen believe our women are
the thrift of France. They are the
counselors of their husbands, their
confdants. their companions. When
Jacques has a franc to save he deposits
it after conference with his wife. The
French women are posted on the state
of the stock market; they snare some-
what i'll the commercial life of their
husbands; they develop in the joint
training and become true helpmateS of
influence. use and comfort. Our boys
are educated apart FROM our girls. The
co-educatiOn of the sexes does not eX-
list with us. and when a Frenchman
attaIns his majority he has not wearied
of the woman whom our system has
educated apart from him. He is inter-
ested in her in fresh spirit of romance
or friendship. In all my contact with
the men and women of the world L have
learned to know the distinguishing
characteristics of Johnny Bull and
Jonathan, and these again as diStin-
guished from my own native people.
Your system of education that of
mixed classes accounts for the feeling
that exists in the Anglo-SaXon social
life. Young men and women, being
early thrown together. leave the class
room with an adieu. A Frenchman
leaves college to greet and look more
ardently upon our women. They make
ideals of them instinctively. and the
color of this impression clings to the
conduct Of the French throughout life.
But. ah! this new high handshake in
vogue for nearly five years" The
speaker here referred, with laughable
pantomime, to the mode, use and abuse
of this caddiSh affectatiOn-a nuisance
so prevalent in certain artificial sets.
Continuing, he said:
But it is in the politics ard poetry of
matrimony | would rather disclose my
observations of your American women.
There is no distinct type of American
man-not a bit of him. America, when
asked TO display her type in the genus,
must put forth her women. They are.
in cOntradistincton to the women of all
other countries within my touch. the
most intellectual and the most unaf-
fected. They are the creatures of the
most devoted husbands. They are free,
untrammeled kind. with kindly manners,
eloquent eXpressiveneSS and gracious
intercourse. When a French girl mar
ries she gains her liberty; when an
English girl marries she loses hers, and
when an American girl marries she
simply retains hers. And oh, how you
American men do work and toll. The
sweat of your brow drops over your
wives in the diamonds they wear. You
work, work, work. 1t is not so with the
French. Our wives are witty, and they
have the keenest tact and sense of OBJ
ServatiOn. l dare say no young, enter
prising French wife wears her hair in
the same style more than a fortnight.
Why Z? Because she knows very well
t hat 10 please and attract her spouse is
to win and hold him her lOver-married
though they be. The same sauce for
ten years stales upon any palate. Amer
lean women. though receiving more
homage in their own land than any
9th er race of women, seems to oppreci-
ate it the least.
''To all young men contemplating
III arriage, [ would say: Ii you ever
have to choose between living with your
mother-in-law and shooting yourself,
don't hesitate a moment, but shoot
her. You American women are not all
beautiful, but you are intelllgent-look-
ing. We foreigners succeed admirably
with you in getting our coats of arms
out of pawn by marrying your girls,
whose ancestors probably had no arms
to their coats. Be assured, though, the !
most vulgar Americans can oftentimeS |
give Salutary lessons to some of the for |
eign society. The great majority of |
your women are unoStentatious. Gem !
orally you are women of physical |
beauty, though believe the English |
woman. when really beautiful, is the |
most superb creation OIL earth; but.ughi |
when she is ugly-she is horrible!
''In fact, the greatest criticism of the |
American woman | can honestly make |
is that of their ingratltude to all the
loyalty and surrender to them by their
hust]ing, life sacrificing Amer
lean men. But woman is very dear
and tender subject to handle. In ven
turing upon it l feel as il / we're the
iuggler of piece Of rare china. trem-
bling with fear lest drop and smash it.
Woman's influence is everywhere. and
is refining, ennobliDg effect has done
more TO ameliorate and beautify life
han all other forces combined. Make |
your home the first Institution under |
he sun. your wife its mistress anu its
cheer and sanetity your retreat, her
,hrone."