Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-04-03
FRENCH WOMEN AIM TO PLEASE
AND TO MARRY.
TALENT FOR BUSINESS
Successful Artist in Paris Receives
the Honors of Princess
George Sand Even Enjoyed
the Right to Don Male At
tire.

t rance more nearly resemble the
oriental type, writes Mary H. Krout
Reared in almost oriental seclusion,
under surveillance from birth to mar
riage, and marriage itself arranged"
III ninety-nine cases out Of a hundred.
with little regard for the prejudices
or convictions Of the woman in the
case, this conclusion is not so wide
OF the mark as might at first appear
The chief aim of French woman
OF the higher classes is to please, and
to accomplish this all that can en-
nance personal effectiveness and
grace Of manner is brought into
play; cOquetry is in the blood. and
even those who engage successfully
in serious intellectual work are ap-
parently as well versed in the ability
to charm as those who seem to think
Of and live for nothing else.
While French women understand
in all its perfection the art of dress,
few are really beautiful; although oc-
cassionally. even among the peasants
rare types of loneliness are to be
found. This is especially true of the
women OF Brittany.
Whatever may be her faults. in
difference to her children cannot be
charged to the French mother. She
goes to the other extreme and is in
oulgent and dOting to the last degree.
With the dOting love for children
characteristic of the French as a
nation, although there is always
more or less difficulty in making de-
sIrable matches for their daughters
they are rarely ever unwelcome.
From the hour of her birth-although
there are many instances where the
chlu is sent to the country with a
nurse-the daughter usually remains
under the mothers personal super
vision; she sleeps in the same or an
adjoining room, receiving her first
instructions at home, sitting at the
table with the family and appearing
in the drawing-room upon her
mothers reception days.
Unlike the English girl of the
same class who is relegated to the
nursery, who rarely ever appears al
dinner, or in the drawing-rOom with
her elders, the French girl has &C,
CURED her knowledge of society in
childhood, and with an ease and I'M
consciousness which her English
sister seldom possesses.
In many families, although her les
sons are given under her mothers
guidance, she is carefully instructed
by gOvernesSes and masters, music
end dancing being obligatory-as
necessary as a knowledge of reading
and writing, since they fit her es-
sentially for the place she is to oc:
cupy In society.
When girls are sent from home the
schools selected are those under the
control of the church, managed by
various religious orders Many con
vents pride themselves upon theil
exclusiveness, receiving only girls OF
the higher classes, carefully exclud
ing the daughters of the bourgeoise
the wealth trading and manufactur
ms classes-and their alumnae IN
clude nearly every name of the old
noblesse of France.
In these institutions, as in the home
training, while a thorough knowledge
OF the fundamental branches is re
Qulsite, yet here, too, the chief aim
is to make the pupil accomplished
rather than scholar.
There are excellent public schools
which have increased in number and
efficiency under the republic, and
which are attended by both sexes
there being some difference in the
but none in the higher.
Where discrimination occurs. it is
in the matter of manual training
p"incipally-girls in the industrial
schools being taught sewing, cookery
and other domestic arts, while boys
are instructed in the use of tools
France not having yet advanced to
the equality which prevails through
out the schools of Scandinavia.
The people of the wealthier class
es, as in England, do not patronize
the government schools in anything
approaching the patronage of the
public schools in the United States
II is a matter of pride with the we'll
TODD Frenchman to pay for the tut
ton of his children-of his daughter
Specially-and he is unwilling to
place her where he fears she may
come in contact with the children of
vulgar people. Furthermore. he still
lnnlc tor ing
81 ecies of charity-an estimate that
eventually will change.
AS in other European countries. a
yc ung girls confirmation is the most
important event in her life. 1t is
preceded by careful instruction by
the parish cure, and by special acts
Of penance; she must go to her first
with clear conscience.
When the day arrives she is dressed
n white, half hidden in a voiuminous
Ieil, and forms one of the long pro-
,ession that files toward the chancel
md kneels to receive the apostolic
This important event is followed
~ visits of congratulation, gifts and
etes, in which the young COM
nunicant is the parsonage Of import
nee: she has crossed the boundary
inc between childhood and girlhood, |
nd the ceremony is second in i'm |
ortance only to that great event |
7hich as been kept steadily in view |
Trough infancy, through childhood |
nd during her school days-her |
marriage.
The French woman, unless she |
hould belong to a family holding