The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-03-10
home LIFE IN FRANCE
Parents Are Greatly Honored By
Their Children and Family
Feeling Is Deep.


French home life one must see its place
in the national life and its relations to
society. There is q fact OF transcend
EFT Importance that must be always
borne 10 mind in trying to grasp the
characteristics OF the French people.
Il is that there is a difference between
the aims, aspirations and ideals that
run through the activities and institu-
tons Of France and those Of the United
States.
American society and American in
%stitutions are those Of a pushing, enter
prislng and %eonquering people; the
French ire those Of a nation which
cas- found its place in the world. but
kept within certain geographical umi-
tatious. has accumulated weather.
what for it takes the place Of wealth
and blessings Of civilization, in them
selves sufficient for happiness. The
Americans are men who most value en-
ergy, power. endurance and determine
ton Of purpose; the French. ease, de-
termined duties, an ornamental culture,
social order and a considerable social
hierarchy. The land Of Washington de-
7elops the lsloated man, France the so
cial body. The former represents q ma
ton Of individuals living IN families.
and the other a nation Of families with
individuals in them. The one is display
ing unparalleled power in making for
herself a civilization, and the other to
increase and distribute to the whole
the fruits Of civilization that it has.
The one is free from a burdenSome past,
and the other has its roots in the
depths Of centuries. The one is thor
oughly competitive in It's activities, the
other accumulative and diGtributiye.
The Americans wish men who can
fight their own individual b%atiles; the
French, men linked by indissoluble ties
TO those who preceded them and 10
those who follow, continuing family ira
ditious. Hence domestic life In France
musto Of necessity be very different from
that Of the United States. In the narrow
compass OF this article, | will bring out
only the best aud the most typical traits
OF normal French life.
This much may be fearlessly asserted
that the position OF the father in
France is still paramount.
The authority Of the father Is recog.
nized even after the marriage OF th,
son or daughter, until very late In life
but with it go dowries and fuancia.
help, which not intrsquently entail
great sacrifices on the part OF the pa.
rents. French fathers. as a whole. ar,
diligent in looking after the education
OF their children. Few there are wh,
will not visit the teachers Of their lovei
ones and be careful as to the a~ssociatei
in schools. On birthdays, Easter, New
Years day, or when he travels, tn
French father is the perfection o
thoughtfulness-no one is forgotten
When his children are baptized or tax
their first communion, whatever his be
lief, he is present. When possible b
will lunch with his family at o aut
at night be reigus supreme at a tabl
around which everybody talks at once
Attentions 10 his family do not decreasI
much with time. The ideal Of a bust
ness man is to retire from active life a
so, and thenceforth much OF his time il
devoted to his children, married OF
single.
A certain part Of the French fathers
time is given TO pleasure. Even among
the worhngmen, whose life is so hard
during the week, Sunday afternoon IL
the time when the whole family goes to
walk in the country, or in the woods,
and in order that the poor mother may
have a vacation the evening meal Il
often taken at a restaurant.
The place Of the mother Is also one
OF great consideration, though one Of
Pauline subordination 10 her husband
h is in business, she is thoroughly &C.
quainted with his affairs, and in a larR,
number Of cases she IL associated with
him in the business management. Thil
was especially true OF the wife Of the
founder Of that well-knowu Commercial.
institution Of Paris, the Bon Marche
At the death Of her husband the enter
prise is often carried on by the widow
The wife is thus associated, as all tn,
members Of the family are, not in tn,
struggle for the acquisition Of wealth
but for existence.
All the children until their marriag,
bring all their earnings 10 the common
family purse, and II one member Of tn,
, family is married a united effort viii
be made TO provide the best possibl,
dowry-Prof, Jean c. BRAGG. in tn,
Cougregationalist.