The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-04
HOME LIFE IN FRANCE.
Parents are Greatly Honored and Fami-
 ly Feeling is Deep.

Parents are Greatly Honored and Fami-
 ly Feeling is Deep.
 To understand the true nature ot
 French home life one must see it's place
 in the national life and its relations tc
 society. There is a fact of transcendent
 importance that must be always borne
 in mind in trying to grasp the char
 aceristics of the French people. It is
 that there Is a difference between the
 aims, aspirations and ideals that run
 through the activities and institutions
 of France and those of the United
 States
 American society and American insti-
 tutions are those of pushing, enter
 prising and conquering people; the
 French are those of a nation which has
 found It's place in the world. but kept
 within certain geographical limitations,
 has accumulated wealth-or what for
 it takes the place ofwealth-and bless
 lngs of civilization, in themselves sutfi-
 cient for happiness. The Americans are men who most value energy, power, en-
 durance and determination of purpose;
 the French, ease, determined duties, an
 ornamental culture, social order and a l cDDSluIEdlGu SUCldl dltly. | HG ldlld of Washington, develops the isolated man, France the social body. The form CT represents a nation of individuals i living in families, and the other a na
 tion of families with individuals in 1 them. The one is displaying unparalel- ed power in making for herself civi- 1 lization, and the other to increase and distribute to the whole the fruits of civilization that 1t has. The one is free from burdensome past, and the other has its roots in the depths of centuries. The one is thoroughly competitive in it's activities, the other accumulative and distributive.
 The Americans wish men who can fight their own individual battles; the French men linked by indissolube ties to those who preceded them and to those who follow, continuing family tra- ditions Hence, domestic life in France must of necessity be very different from that of the United States. In the narrow compass of this article I will bring out only the best and the most typical traits of normanl French life.
 This much may be fearlessly asserted that the position of the father in France is still paramount.
 Tes pere ct mere honoreras.
 Ain de vivre longuement.
 is still the best observed commandment of the decalog. I never said NO" to my father but once in my life, and that was upon matter of conscience The old French custom still survives of the head of family going on New-years morning with his children to the pater- nal grandfather and asking hsi bless ing. The old man, putting his hand up- on the head of his son, says, My son may God bless thee as bless thee" It was in accordance with this custom that Franklin took his son to Votaire, who blessed him in the name of "God and liberty" These customs, which are dis appearing, are indices of the Hebraic and Roman conceptions of the headship of the family w
 The authority of the father is recog- nized even after the marriage of the son or daughter, until very late in life, but with 1t go dowries and financial help which not infrequently entail great sacrifices on the part of the parents. French fathers as whole are diligent in looking after the education of their children. Few there are who will not visit the teachers of their loved ones and be careful as to the associates in schools. On birthdays, Easter, New years day, or when he travels, the French father is the perfection of thoughtfulness-no one is forgotten. When his children are baptized or take | their first communion, whatever his be- ! lief or unbeIief he is present. When { ho ,,,t11 ,,tt li fo,o at noon, and at night he reigns supreme at table around which everybody talks at once. Attentions to his family do not decrease much with time The ideal of a business man is to retire from active life at 30, and thenceforth much of his times Is devoted to his children, married or single.
 A certain part of the French fathers time is given to pleasure Even among the worlkingmen, whose life is so hard during the week, Sunday afternoon is 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 is of- ten taken at the restaurant
 The place of the mother is also one If great consideration, though one of Pauline subordination to her husband. If he is in business, she is thoroughly acquainted with his affairs, and in a arge number of cases she Is associated with him in the business management. This was especially true of the wife of he founder of that well-known com nercial institution of Paris, the Bon Marche. At the death of the huNband he enterprise is often carried on by the widow. The wife is thus associated, IS all the members of the family are, lot in the struggle for the acquisition # wealth, but for existence.
 All the children until their marriage ,ring all their earnings to the common ally purse, and if one member of the amily Is married a united effort will be made to provide the best possible dowry. Prof Jean c. Bracq, in the Congre- nationalist.