Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-04-03

mas Deen 1egal1Zed under the republic
and by its provisions the wife retains
her independence, transacting bust
ness, managing her own property.
out never acquiring, even then,
right to the custody of her own chill
dren, which are still supposed to
belong to the father exclusively.
The women of France have no
political privileges of any sort. The
Salic law, which excluded women
from succeeding TO the throne. has
influenced all politics. and it is
| field in which the women of the
nation have not interested them
| selves, except as ii has afforded
| themes for discussion in the salon or
motifs of intrigue in the court
Those who. Ike Nine. De StaeI knew
enough of statecraft to merit Danish
ment, have been very few, and in this
respect they have been in marked
| contrast with the women of the
higher classes in Great Britain, who
are expected to be thoroughly con-
Versant with public affairs.
| In every French household the sup
l l
| day. even to the sugar and coffee.
! Nothing is wasted and nothing left
over: even pAe bones of joint ana
chop are brOnen up and placed to
simmer in the pot au feu-the stock
for innumeraU.e soups. The water in
which the caulifiower and other
strong favored vegetables are
stewed is saved in the same manner.
and such a menu may be prepared
in the closet-like kitchen. over a
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
natural cooks. and cookery is a part
lof every girls education-except
among the very highest classes.
Even these, reduced to poverty, have
exhibited surprising aptitude in what
might 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 in
the village, progressing from dish
washing and preparing vegetables,
to cooks assistant, and finally, be-
coming very proficient, able to under
take the most difficult and com
plicated dishes.
Aside from supervising their house
holds, French women of the middle
and upper lower class have a decided
talent for business. AS in England,
many of them managerial manage
admirably-hOtels and large pensions.
Others are competent bookkeepers in
such establishments, and they are
employed in the same capacity in
many of the large shops.
Stenography and typewriting have
rot been mastered by French girls
so generally as by American and
their services in this capacity is in
Creasing. Hundreds are employed as
saleswOmen in the shops and oc-
casionally as telegraphers.
Nursing, heretofore, has been al
most wholly monopolzied by the re-
religious sisterhoods, of whose work
it was considered a legitimate part.
But of late years the profession has
commended itself to intelligent young
women with me approval of the more
liberal of the French medical pro
fessiOn.
Strangely enough, for many years
women have enjoyed special OPP
portunities OF studying medicine. the
sciences and arts, in Paris, obtaining
degrees long before such recognition
was accorded them in London.
1ne legal profession was the last
to yield, and within the present year
Nine. Petil was admitted to the bar
and is now practicing in Paris. On
the occasion of her admission she
was highly cOmplimented for her at
tainments by the judge before whom
sh appeared.
Journalism has also proved a field
i'll which clever French women have
distinguished themselves. No editor
IL France yields a wider influence
than Nine. Adam of the Nouvelle
Revue.
The successful woman artist in
France, in Paris especially, enjoys
the most distinguished privileges and
honors. She is law unto herself
living like princess in sumptuous
apartments where she receives the
dignitarieS of the government like
sovereign holding levee.
1t is doubtful if any woman of the
stage-even the great Sarah Slodons
has ever proved such a distinctive
social and artistic force as in Sarah
Rernhardt today Paris. Past so,
she is the idol of the multitudes, still
young, still charming, and exercising
that wonderful magnetism which has
proved irresistible.
| To George Sand was accorded by
common consent the right to don
male attire-and eccentricity of
genius that no one presumed to ques-
tor
Honorif1c distinctions have also
been literally granted, the cross OF
the Legion of Honor having been
bestowed upon Nine. Dodu for mill
tary service, upon Rosa Bonheur for
artistic achievement, and upon Nine.
Bagelot for her great charitable
work