The age-herald., 1900-03-02
The Countess Castellans Talks
 Of Society in Paris and New York

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 Anna Gould, Countess castellane, com pairing society of France and the United States, says, according to an interview published in the Chicago Tribune:
 Away from America, during my five years in Paris. which did do-underesti- mate my native land or idealize 1t? Both.
 ''I find that it has good points which I did not realize. 1 find it has faults which did not know.
 q will begin with the faults, because enumerating its virtues will be pleasure, and, like child with its sweetmeats, would like to save the best for the last.
 ''To be frank. then, in matters of eti- quette the people of my adopted country seem to me far ahead of those in America
 "In little things, which, after all, as in the question of dress. are the big things, the Americans are neglectful or ignorant.
 "Five years abroad in the aristocratic faubourgs have made me congizant of de- tails which, when I was Anna Gould. l should probably never have noticed.
 with what do find fault? An, remem- Der, the praise will come later. First, then, to attach the blame.
 For instance let us imagine a scene in one of the most exclusive drawing rooms of this beautiful city. Follow me through the front door, where we have presented our cards to butler perfectly trained, ad- msrably uniformed. The house, so far as We are permitted a glimpse of it, is charm. ingly furnished. Everything is, if may so express it, as it should be. By the lights in the drawing room, which are told to perfection, with draperes at Jhe windows or shades on the lamps, one distinguishes a group of women, beautiful, well dressed. "Well, imagine have entered, announced by the butler. The hostess arises and greets me. By the custom which prevails in America she introduces me-
 .'What? I am astonished Not that she introduces me, remember have been born and brought up in America, but that no one rises. No, they sit perfectly still and bow.
 "In France would they do that? Never. When the hostess rises they all rise.
 .sNo one is ever introduced there until she requests it. Without being introduced everyone speaks, taking it for granted that to be guests at the same house is suf-
 icient guarantee of ones social standing.
 'iBut an introduction in France, no mat ter how informal may be the gathering is signal to rise. Of course, l am speaking now entirely of a gathering of women. l know none who would remain seated and bow to another.
 "Then let us pass on to the moment of departure. Imagine have said goodbye to the hostess. The others all remain seated while disappear. An, what bad taste. Pardon me, so it seems to me, who has be- come accustomed to seeing everyone rise as pass out of the room.
 Here 1t is no uncommon thing to see woman stretch out her hand to a friend and remain in her chair while she does so. She will greet her cordially and yet not take the trouble to rise.
 "I have seen here as gorgeous jewels, as magnificent costumes, as ever one could see in Paris. Of the former l must say have seen more. Here the women seem to wear their jewels as if to say: Can one have too much of good thing?' By all the Parisian laws of good taste-yet!
 ''There to have jewels is one thing and to know how and when to wear them is an- other. Too many is far, far worse crime than too few or even none. The temptation that safe full of gems would hold forth would not for a moment be regarded as an excuse. Discretion, there is a mark of breeding TO be ablaze with jewels-a phrase which is customary here, would | there be not a compliment, but detri- ment
 "A lady in Paris wears a single perfect ornament, tiara, a sunburSt or price, | less necklace. By her taste she proclaims | her pedigree.
 "The women in New York are charming, well dressed. But in Paris they study how | to walk, how to stand, how to sit even, l | may say, how to eat.
 | Are Frenchmen more attractive than