The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-20

parsonage of Importance; she has
crossed the boundary line between
childhood and girlhood, and the cere-
| mony is second in Importance only to
that great event which has been kept
steadily in view through infancy,
through childhood and during her
school days--her marriage.
This is the French woman's one ca
reer Like the civilization of China, the
social system of France does not take
into account the unmarried woman
There is no place and no provision for
such an anomoly. Failing to marry
through lack of attractiveness, or
what is much more disastrous, lack of
the all-important dot, the proper course
for her to pursue is to enter a religious
order, and If she refuse, she may be
regarded with suspicion-the lawful
prey of any roue who may be disposed
to pursue her. OF course, this happens
only to those who have no homes-no
parents, or brothers, or other protect
ors. But there is no such honorable
independence possible, except in very
rare instances, as is enjoyed by thous-
ands of unmarried women in England,
and above all other countries, in the
United States.
The French woman, unless she should
belong to a family holding very adj
vanced ideas-and these are steadily
multiplying, even in France-remains
minor all her life. If she teaches or
embroiders, or engages in any permiss-
lDle BUSINESS, Her eariilliSs coi ue
Chained by her ldtner' anu sIe ls ai
lowed just what ne sees II: 10 srahe
her. AFTER marriage sne Ssiii len 4t'lli
minor, unless TINS should De otner-
wise stipulated in the ante
nuptial contract The latter has
been legalized under the republic, and
by lts provisions the WiIe retains her
independence THANKSGIVING BUSINESS
managing her own property put heV-
er acquiring even then' rlghl 10 tne
CUSTODY Oh her cnlIdren' Whicn are sun
euppposeu 10 peloils 10 lhe idtner Ca
clusiVely.
me women sol france nave no pm.
,cdl piiVIeses OF any sort. Inc oailc
iaw wliiVil eAcluueu woilien I'm sue
ceeullS " the tnroae mas iIiliuei lp:e,I
az PoiiIiCo' anu II 70 "a iIiu ~ W'i ~,
Mo1iieil VI ne ~
$1,000 tho,.,os e., steo,,ss;o,, ~ 4he
| saIo,sl. ~ lie 20 ;atnie,,a - the
cor,.t ThoSe 80 iiisa Madame ne
Staai l,,,aue eno,,ah 81 statacraft 10
r1erit hanisbment have heen very few
and u, tbis rasnec+ tbev have heen in
marked contrast with the women of
The bieber classes in Great britain.
who are expected TO he thoroughly
| conversant with nublic affairs
There is a mistaken impression that
| the Frencb woman anticipates in mar
| riaee q latitude in certain directions.
of which she promptly avails herself.
She is indeed relieved from the tram
mels of leading strings, the
supervision of parents and teach
ers. but she does not. as a rule.
abuse her newly achieved liberty She
may come and go at will, read tabooed
books. hear stories, and gossip, from
which her ears have been carefully
guarded. but she occupies herself
mostly with her house and her toll
cites, and with her children. In due
course of time she becomes past grand
mistress in securing the maximum OF
expenditures refined economy OF
which she has too much good sense to
be ashamed, and which, on the con-
trary. are credit to her domestic
skill and her natural intelligence.
In every French household the sup
plies are regularly purchased each
| day, even to the sugar and coifee.
Nothing is wasted and nothing left
over; even the bones of joint and chop
are broken up and placed to simmer
| in the pot au feu-the stock for in
| Vulnerable soups. The water in which
the caulifloWer and other strong flaw
the same manner, and such menu
may be prepared in the closet-like
kitchen, over handful OF charcoal as
would hardly be undertaken IN a large
American Kitchen crowded with new
inventions of every description.
Almost all French women are nat
uraI cooks, and cookery is a part of
every girls education-except among
the very highest classes. Even these,
reduced to poverty, have exhibited sur
prising aptitude in what might almost
be called the national vocation. In
the country the peasant child, who
must work as soon as she can walk
begins by caring for the poultry, or
herding cattle in the fields then she
secures a place as AN underservant in
a good family In the village, progress
ing from dishwashing, and preparing
vegetables, to COOKS assistant, ana,
finally, becoming very prohclent, able
to undertake the most difficult and
complicated dishes. FINALLY she emil
| CRATES to Paris, where she earns good
| wages-a large part of which she saves
and invests, that she may return to
time, live out her last years in peace,
be buried amongst her kindred, and be
certain that the requisite masses have
been said for the repose of her soul,
| which has certainly earned repose.
| Aside from supervising their house
holds, French women of the middle and
| upper lower class have a decided tall
| ent for business. AS in England,