Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-03

,ipation TO support American students in
Paris or to provide school for them Con
gress has nothing to do with SUCH Things,
and the most that the leaders OF the house
were willing to offer was a charter similar
to that granted to the American Academy
at Rome an institution for the same pur.
pose which has an endowment OF $oOO'ooV
from private sources.
Congress having definitely neglected the
offer after six years of delay President
Roosevelt instructed Ambassador hAcCor-
mick to make the proper explanations to
the municipal officials and decline their gift
with thanks.
There are at least 2O00 American stu
dents in Paris studying music. art. arcni-
lecture. medicine and the sciences> chiefly;
Most OF them are young people OF small
means. They live in the Latin quarter. IN
the neighborhood of the university. in the
older part of Paris, initiating the tradi-
tional customs Of the French students and
their bohemian ways. Student life In Paris
Is unique and unlike that Of any other
country. You can get good idea OF 1t by
reading '"Trilby." 1t has its pleasures as
well as its privations; its compensations as
well as its deprivations: and while there is
a great deal in the habits and customs of
the Latin quarter that cannot be approved
by sensible fathers and mothers at home.
and should not be encouraged. student
who refuses neglects to adapt himself
or herself to them might as we'll stay at
home And it would be great deal better
for girls to do so.
Perilous for Girls.
There is nothing in university life in
Paris that cannot be found in the educa-
tional institutions of the United States, ex-
cept the bohemian way Of living, and to a
young person OF weak character and anita
BILE views about morals it is dangerous
experiment
Student life here is especially perilous to
girls. Most of those who come here are
entirely green, with little or no knowledg
of the world. with little or no knowledge
of the French language and small
amount Of money II ever girls need
friends it Is during the first six months of
their student life in Paris. They should
not be allowed to come here at all. at least
| unless they have plenty of means and some
one to look after them; but. as a rule, girls
of that description find their ambitions
elsewhere. But as long as they will come.
| they ought to be looked after. and there
ought to be place. safe anchorage. a
snug harbor. where they can find refuge In
| time of trouble. It Is customary for girl
students to live alone or in pairs in the gar
rets of apartment houses and studio build
| ings. Boarding houses and chaperons are
repugnant to the spirit of the Latin
quarter.
The girls who live alone In buildings
| chiefly occupied by men complain that
| friends who object and criticise them are
narrow minded. They resent any sugges-
| lions that it is not safe womanly. It is
| a time-honored custom. and therefore 1t Is
right Every girl does it, and therefore 1t
| Is the proper thing to do. Those who re-
| fuse to adopt this unconventional mode OF
| life are boycotted. or at least have no part
/ or lot with their feliow-students. The girls
| cook their own breakfasts over spirit
| lamp. take their. lunches and dinners at
cafes and, restaurants frequented almost
| exclusively by students. These places are OF
| different grades, according to the means
| of their patrons, but most of them are very
| economical. They serve a luncheon for Il
or 20 cents and dinner for % or 80 cents
| and even less. The girls promenade the
boulevards at night just like the men. Sex
] is not recognized In student life. They ''go