Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-06
they do wrong. especially gallantries'
ten times as much as they do.
Unusual Qualities.


1.-THE Frenchman has, something Of The
boy and of the feminine in his disposition
His emotions are lively and he takes no
pains to conceal them. through mistaken
notion that it is dignified to do So He is
generally cool, but capable of enthusiasm
and patriotic. with cynical moods. He is
not surly or vindictive or cruel, or fond of
fighting. He is capable of being easily
wrought up to warlike frenzy or TO
laughter When appreciatively dealt with
he is amiable. truthful. scrupulousiy honor-
able. When otherwise dealt with he can
be as obstinate and artful and wrong head
ed as the next man.
THE Catholic Church appeals to his love
of logic and definiteness and precision. He
wants a church which orders what he must
think and do. instead of leaving him to
vague speculations. Not that he is fond of
obeying his mother church's orders. His
religion is largely a matter of recollection
and expectation, and he politely leaves
abundant room in the pious edifices for the
women and children. The women spare no
pains to make their sons religious and keep
them long-too long-at their apron strings
in every way. He is not Latin altogether,
except in the south Of France, and paint
ing and music are not part of his life and
soul. as they are of the Italians He goes
at them methodically. as at literature and
business. He and the Englishman are like
oil and water. AS individuals they see
nothing but faults in each other Perhaps
the Englishman is the more to blame. as
he is usually quite sure that the English
way is the only right way for any time
place or person
Get Along Well Together.
with Americans it is different. They and
the French, when the language problem Is
settled. get along famously together Not
all Americans We have some with money
enough to visit Paris-that city to which
they say good Americans go when they die.
while the bad ones strive to get there in
their lifetime-we have some that, not ad-
mirable at home. bloom out over there into
perfect monstrosties. l remember well one
of these Queen Christina of Spain CHANGED
to put up at the old-faShioned hotel in
which was staying, and the French presi-
dent and people were assiduous in atten-
lions and respect. She went to church
nearby at St. Roch's. and l thought
would go around there. The services were
going on, and every one attending to Them
and everything little more serious than
usual, when I discovered an object moving
about at the side Of the church. 1t was tail
and straight and walked with an air OF
composure occasionally turning a pair OF
large field glasses toward picture. or the
roof. or the altar. or the queen. l knew 1t
was an American lady tourist engaged IN
touring, and endeavoring to get the worth
of her money while'the weather was good.
."The French are natural-spontaneous.
The bourgeois husband strolls through the
park with his arm about his wife and his
children deployed In front of him. The poor
Young man goes along the crowded street
with his arm about his sweetheart. Only
the outside barbarians notice either or
them Why shouldn't be sight for a man
to embrace his wifelor lover his beloved?
Home Nest Guarded.
..The home of the French is very Sc
cluded, but very pleasant From the
Greeks or Romans. perhaps, the French
have derived the habit of shutting up their
women and feeding their minds on dainties.
At all events, they shut the women up from
the men a good DEAL on the assumption
that their virtue is perfect If they are kept
free from temptation. and the assumption
that the men. because they are men. are
had which the men generally take pains
IN admit to be the case. In nearly all In
stances the women. brought up to this sys-
tern and carefully screened from the men,
yvho are represented as ogres, are content
with their lot and make sweet and some-
what childlike wives, afraid OF their hus-
hands and altogether obedient to them.
The husbands are generally quite as good
and fond of their homes and children.
Their talk of wickedness is partly a false
crv fo keen danger from their nests though
nartIy the result of an impulse to be frank
and natural, just as the English have an
imnuise or tendency to be reserved.
an narts of southern France a wife or
mother waits on the men at table and
would never think of sitting down with him
as with an equal. The fact that good young