Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-13
FROM PARIS, MAINE, TO PARIS,
FRANCE.
No. a..
THE BRIGHT SIDE OF STUDENT LIFE IN
PARIS.
No. Il.

No. Il.
THE BRIGHT SIDE OF STUDENT LIFE IN
| PARIS.
(From our Special Foreign Correspondent)
PARIS, FRANCE, March -, 1897.
We promised to tell you something
about student life In Paris, but we really
see very little of It here, ~ this house 10
more like fashionable boarding house,
for most Of the girls come from wealthy
city homes. IL seems strange that they
should wish to stay In place 50 devoid
OF comforts, but IL is easily explained
1t Is not considered respectable for Il
girl Who Is not chdperoned to 60 10 Il
hotel, and there are few pensions where
they care TO 60, SO this Is the only
sv ,tlable place.
When new girl first makes her ap-
pearxuce In the diuing-room, knives,
forks, and spoons are dropped, or left
suspended in mid-air halfway TO the
mouth, and all eyes are riveted on the
newcomer. Don't understand by this
that We wish to infer that any great sem
sation was Occasioned by the advent OF
your correspondent. On the contrary,
the sensation was on the other side. II
any Of YOU have ever been target for
the gaze OF an army Of strange girls,
YOU will understand the sen alton OF
wishing the floor might open and let
you down into the cellar, or anywhere,
anywhere, out OF the world"
Most Of the students here are studying
voice culture, and very soon We had oc-
casion to congratulate ourself that we
did not have voice, for the presence OF
the green-eyed monster was soon dis
covered. It's well-known fact that he
Is sure to be found stalking about, whert-
ever there are any number OF "vocal
singers" associated together. So we
felt very well content TO be dubbed "the
fiddler" and the newspaper girl"
When the latter fact became noised
about the house, we were besieged with
questions, asking II we were "going to
| write up this houser' When the answer
was that 1t might be prolific subject,
then they all clsmorously exclaimed,
"Oh, what are you going 10 say about
me:" We assured them that OF course
we could only say the most charming
rhings about them all. Thereupon one
OF their number took the newspaper cor
respondent aside, and offered TO give
some important facts and points regard
ing the interesting characteristics OF
some OF the members OF this charmed
circle. Here are the facts:
Firstly, There Is the elderly blonde
who poses as literary, and who, when
conversing, will frequently strike an at
titude and her forehead at the same time,
and dramatically exclaim, I've got q
thought, Let me digest IL. Ii APP
parently Is soon digested, for her au-
dieuce fails TO receive the benefit OF her
meditation on thought. She says that
sometimes, In the darkness OF the mid
night, some great thought will come to
her, and she rises up to strike match,
and II Is gone! and so, the world has
lost something great because she struck
that match"
Nevertheless, We found her q most
kind and thoughtful acquaintance, and
were heartily sorry
When she ncw
To pastures new,
and left us with one less pair Of sleeves
TO tuck In. This is not fiing at the big
sleeves, or the big girls who always
sought our room when jackets had to be
put on to 20 out, for, bless their dear
hearts. they knew who was always at
home, aud, whose pleasure 1t was TO
drop writing materials or fiddle-bow,
and be rewarded for the trouble by q
sweet smile and "Merci, Mademoiselle. :"
Then, there's "rhe woman who has so
many friends. You cant talk with her
fifteen seconds without her telling you
what n friend Of hers did, or said, or
didn't do or say" We were very glad
TO be numbered among the friends
of this dear, kind soul.
Also, There Is the girl who think
she has q call TO be an artist, but who
really Is highly accomplished as II i
guist, being able TO speak huently q 60
percentage OF the $50 different la,
guages." We find her TO be large
hearted, kind and generous friend, al
though she says she does not believe In
doing more unto others than you would
have them do unto you.
Another Is "Tall stately girl who
said on hrst coming here that she was
not goiug TO have anything 10 do with
single girl in the house. She was going
to study, study, study, all the time, and
not let anybody In. Before the week
was out she was kissing dozens OF girls,
and they were trooping In and out OF
her room at all times Of the day and
night"
We thought this bit exaggerated per-
hsps-anywsy, We have the most pleas
ant remembrances Of this girl, for she
was one of the first TO offer kindness and
help and encouragement; and every
night after 10 o'clock, when her lessons
were over, would come In and bring a
drsught from "the cup that cheers but
not inebriates," and sit on the edge Of
the bed and tell jolly stories, to comfort
and cheer, as We sat up In bed with pen
and writing tablet, "writing these lines
70 you"
And 'sThe girl who goes into every
girls room and asks more questions than
an Oxford County lawyer about every
thing she sees there" Bless her! We
are willing to tell her all we know and
good deal We don't know, II she will
only come, and let US feast our eyes on
her beauty. Great dark eyes, and shin
ing black hair, and beautiful complexion
that might make one who loves the beau
tiful want to gaze forever on such a
vision Of loveliness. And best OF all she
Is perfectly unconscious Of It.
And stately Miss, shaped like q
lily, Is "The one who says that every