New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-09
THE AMERICAN WOMAN.
4 Clever Study of Her by a Partisan
Novelist.

Paris, June q.
Pierre de Coulevain-to use the masculine name
concealing the identity OF the keeniy obserVant
Parisienne who wrote "Noblesse Americana
and Eve Vctorieuse'-has written another
book, Sur la Branche," which has just been
published by Calmann Levy. 1t is not a novel
in the usual sense OF the term. but loosely
constructed story embodying incsive compare
tive studies of the best French society, the much
maligned American colony in Paris and the
cosmopolitan smart set that makes the Vile
de Lumiere its happy hunting ground. Paul
Heryieu. in Points par EuX-Meme." con-
structed novel from letters written IN chrono-
logical sequence by his characters. Pierre de
Coulevain recounts her romance in extracts
from her diary, dated at Paris. Cannes. Smiley
Hall. Staffordshire; Bagnoles-de-rOrne, Aix-les-
Bains, Vouvray in Tourane, and Porte-Jote.
near Vernon in Normandy. The romance is in
genious and daring.
Nine. de Myeres. upon the sudden death of
her husband. whom she devotedly loves. learns
that this husband has had q long lialson with
her cousin. Nine d Hauterive the fruit of which
is Guy d'Hauterive, the hero of the story. Nine.
oh" uterive's husband whose death also occurs
at an opportune moment, has no cause to sus-
pect that Guys birth is not legitimate. The Sc
cret of the true nature Of that birth is known
only 10 two living persons-his own mother,
Mime. dHauterive. and his real fathers wife.
Nine. de Myeres How these two women at
first hate each other how they meet and become
reconciled by their common maternal affection
for Guy, who bears striking resemblance to
NJ de Myeres. and how, after Nine. d'Hau-
terives death Hierre de Coulevain has most
convenient facility in killing off her supernuous
personages). Nine. de Myeres adopts Guy as
foster son, and arranges his marriage. which
turns out to be love match with charming
girl, Mile. Josee de Lusson. owner OF the superb
chateau in Touraine where the de AIyeres
passed their married life is all most ceverly set
forth. The author introduces into the novel
we'll known and highly cultivated maiden lady
from Chicago, who resides with her father in
Paris. 1t is in this American home. near the
Arc de Triomphe. that the reader is presented
with neatly cut silhouettes Of the American
woman and the American girl in their
various transatlantic moods and phases The
author analyses American women very much
as Sir John Lubbock studied ants. or as Maeter-
linck investigated bees.
She finds that there are two distinct species
of American women, those of Ia jeune
Amerique." and those of Ia vene Amerique"
The former belong to the newly enriched class of
Understandable society. They are described as
types of concentrated nervosity, with transient
moods Of extreme lassiJude and spasmodic re-
dictionary WEAKNESS of wealth. They come to
Paris for momentary rest one of them re-
marks. How refreshing it is TO meet persons
who we'll bred and poor They return 10
New-Ycrk Chicago and again Join in the
whirlpool of activity until they become victims
Of nervous prostration." It is in this class that
one finds frequency of divorce and social dis
location. The women of ia veille Amerique" on
the other hand. are the descendants OF old Puri-
tan and Colonial families and their Plymouth
Rock souls act as a diamond cement to the
whole structure Of American society. They be
long to what Americans call our best people"
They are sincere, truthful and hight cultured.
They lack charm and brillnacy. Their Pilgrim
ancestry is revealed by rigid straightlaced
morality and disdain Of dress and of coquettish-
ness. They are loath 10 leave home and visit
Europe not so much for pleasure as to have Il
good time" or to educate their children. and Ito
improve their minds" Pierre de Coulevain says
that the feminine portion of the American
colony IN Paris is treated in the United States
with undeseIved severity, partly due to jealousy
and envy. They are regarded by their stay-at-
home sisters rs 'deracinees' up-rooted plants.
as "nobodies' or as adventuresses who have
acquired a certain prestige by their contact with
the nobility and the highest society abroad
contact. however. strangely exaggerated by the
mundane echoes In Of the American and
French newspapers.
The author divides the American colony in
Paris into three distinct groups: the cosmopoli-
tan Americans. the genuine Americans and the
Americans who come to France in search of
higher intellectually culture The first cate
CORY. according 10 Pierre de Coulevain, is COM
posed of rich parvenues. among whom are de-
serters from marriage obligations grass widows
"veuves par grace" and divorces whose great
ambition Is to penetrate into the aristocratic
clan. less from snobbiAIn than to take revenge
for the ostracism to which they subjected
at nome" Have they succeeded In obtaining
foothod in the faubourg? NO, a thousand
times no." answers Pierre de Coulevain, mot
by MARRIAGE They have merely sue
ceeded in deluding themselves and some of their
compatriots into believing that they have at
tained their ends. They alone know what in
tense effort, intrigue and money this has cost
them. One Of these American ladies is cited as
an example. She fondly ina gines that she has
formed a royalist salon! She would close her
doors against the President Of the Republic for
fear Of compromising herself. Another Ameri-
can lady fancies she has established a salon of
neutrality salon de fusion, Neither of these
women realizes that the creation Of such mum
dane centres requires years. special aptitude and
qualities that cannot be purchased with money
They are perfectly unaware of the depths of the
waters IN when lhey navigate. 1hey are UNI
conscious of the frightful plumbers they com
NIT. and Of the secret ridcule they elicit from
those who crowd their salons and who partake
of their choice cuisine and their lavish hospi-
tally. They go TO the end trying open
the most jealousy guarded doors with their
golden keys.
The genuine American women residing in
Paris fairly represents the best people"
Their husbands feel the need OF retiring
from strenuous work. and they themselves pre-