The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-09-19
GALLANT ILNNERS WIN

Nine. Anna Gould's views on inter-
national marriages are quoted as fol-
lows in an interview with her report.
ed by Jean Bonnefou, a French Jour.
nalist:
I'VE Americans love French socie-
ty because Of the shortcomings OF our
own. To me France is the incarna.
ton OF the highest possibilities OF
elegance. Aristocrats, titles. attract
American girls because We have not
got them at home. married French
aristocrat because ! thought him the
embodiment of finesse. of high life.
"Of course, was disappointed; but
! saw Paris and learned that it does
not do to differ from other people.
Paris never saw me as l am. l
was content to devote myself to my
children. I gave up my money roy.
ally, and. for the rest. sentenced my
self to silence.
Zone has to learn. l come from a
country whose high society differs in
every way from the French noblesse.
At home woman spends the money
that man earns.
If a French aristocrat marries
one OF our heiresses he expects her
to be his banker This wife-banker
must invest all her money in an en-
terprise over which she has no con-
troll and that often yields her but
scant percentage. American girls, as
a rule, do not see this side of the
medal, but when it is brought home
to them, in time-oh, how. it hurts!
Mainly because you want to ris.
above the American mode OF life. Am
erican girls seek European marriage
alliances-that is, marry titled for
eigners.
In the material things. in honesty
and solidity of purpose. the American
man has no equal. We know that. we
women do, but. nevertheless. turn to
Europe in quest OF the ideal man. On
the old coptinent. we persuade our
selves, dwells the hero of our girlish
dreams.
Il know now that this hero Of our
IS more often than not
but gilded and beribboned mani1in.
but women will never believe it un-
til they have found out for them
selves. The man who bestrides his
horse so elegantly, the cavalier of
most enchanting manners-how could
he be capable Of covetousness or in
trigue? Nothing surprises an Ameri-
can heiress whose marriage to a IT,
tied foreigner turns out badly more
than the fact that her exquisite con-
sort lacks heart, that muscle from
which all our happiness should flow
Curious, is 1t not? The French ar
1stocracy, conserved in its own ice.
plays upon the imaginations of Ameri. !
can heiresses by the very characters
tics 1t most conspicuously lacks. I |
knew quite well when a girl that not !
all French noblemen were jewels |
that the revolution forgot to destroy.
Yet the charm of the first real cava. ,
lier I met captivated me.
ITO ensnare American girls IT, |
tied foreigner must be postmaster
Of gallantry, the glass of fashion, an
exquisite in every polite pursuit. II .
he hasn't these qualities in the high
est essence. then we prefer a prac-
teal. diligent, solid American.
There are Americans with esprit,
but We prefer the easy conversations
al style of the French. It's the cham
payne bubbles we love in French life.
But some of these airy, fairy gentle.
men-ah, what brutal tricksters they
and frauds! It goes
very hard with a woman when she
learns that her husband is that. It
makes her suffer.
American life has. one great ad-
rantage over the Partisan. At home
We do not affect feelings we are in
capable OF entertaining. We do not
play with hearts,. neither with the
vife's nor the children's.
I'VE have religion. was the wife
II a Catholic, but in my heart of
hearts l always remained true to the
aith OF my childhood. am still
Il believe in religion as do in
owe. To my mind. neither permits
Il frivolities.
II am bringing up my children in
he love OF God and gocdness-as
hey are flesh OF my flesh, 50 pray
hat there always may be a communi-
y OF soul and heart Between US. ]
ove my family: ;0te my brother !
cve them with all my heart. But.
eally. are We Americans capable Of
nv>e AonV hn0v nj I A0 know