New-York tribune., 1909-01-17
NEW YEAR GREETINGS
Social Duties of the Small Partisan
Taken Quite Seriously.

Paris, January
Short as is the break In the ten months school
curriculum which is given 10 Partisan school chill
dren in honor of the New Year It provides the op-
portunty for their first initiation In the rules anu
regulations of polite society. The long TWO months
of the summer vacation are period OF dehsnti"A
and irresponsible liberty; the four days at the rev
Year given to rich and poor alike, bring the cniiu
forward into the ranks. first, Of the family as
who'll. and then of the family's circle OF frlenos'
The Christmas tree and the Christmas pahtonitie
are quite subordinate to the real business OF tle
season. which Is to let your family ana frienos
49, thot Won exyst and that you mbueo with
the friendliest feelings toward them, individually
and in the aggregate.
This is the handspring that drives every ratAo'
family out into the snow and rain on Nc" teaI
Dav Walking through the streets OF the resloenIA
ouerter. YOU might think that the whole popula-
ton was playing game Of general post I0h
family forms a group and proceeos-aftnou VIZ
offerings to lay upon the shrine OF clan loyaIty OF
family afrection-to pay its homage nTst' 10 tag
grandparents or head OF the family. To most OF
~. yrovrnups this call is a tiresorne enough PEN
ance but no dreams Of shirking 1t Ihe chill
drerrs faces wear look Of immense soiemnity ana
they carry with tho utmost reverence the snare
~ offerings that falls their lot the heaviest ana
buIest are held by the father OF the family very
often the principal present is fine bouquet or
flowers and on New Years Day roses and violets
leap up IN price to fabulous figures All the mower
markets are oper until late in the evening ana
business Is brisk, no matter what the telnpelAIA
or weather may be.
When the family call has beon paid there come
the oficial calls II a be employed In some
administration ministry he must leave caro-
on his chief chiefs and then comes the turn OF
all the hosts and hostesses at whose houses he and
his wife have unched or djned in the course Of the
year Each hostess must have souvenir. an ele-
giant bag or box OF chocolates or marrons glace
| or bouduet Of flowers. The salon OF a popular
hostess will at tho end OF New Years Day be
ID+o hoy , wonderful hOtnOuSe
flowers Violets from the south. mimosa from the
Riviera forced ies-of-the-valley at franc or
more bloom testify 60 the success of her enter
| tainments. Children are not taken 10 pay such
calls as these bit they present in their
| rothers' salons while she receives them. and IN
/ each their role is well defined. They must make
| their little compliment TO the persons they know
| wishing "bonne aimee 70 all and sundry Thls Is
Q simple matter The family call makes greater oe-
i mands the CT I'D.
IN every school in Paris. primary or secondary.
7 the last few days before the new year see new
| lesson added to the programme Of each class. from
tn. infants to the finishing classes at the lycees
This lesson is lie compliment" as It is called. and
II consists quaint little address to the parents
generally rhyme. which the children learn to de-
claim with great .earnestness. It is rather curious
that notwithstanding the entire exclusion from ooth
primary and secondary schools OF anything Ike re-
usious studies these compliments invariably call
! uuon the Deity TO pour down blessings Of which
IIa is IN these lines recognized TO be the fount
| Thus YOU will hear the tiny babes OF four, Ave or
| six years lspng a solemn speech running some
| thing like this. My dear parents
| 60 many davs rs thou fondy kissed me- papa
! So MANY Gays ns hou hast taken ot me. mama
! many happy days hove Heaven VIII grant soN u"
! And SO many delightful New Years days.
This in the French original makes a kind Of dog
oarel eosv for the infant brain TO recall. lad or
grI of fourteen will recite compliment in these
| terms:
love dearly my parents Ny pleasure Is 70 M Ie,
sI.rnitv itsclf could suffice So pray that 500
| my and my obeolence MAJ
may mag v Da rents happy will spare you to
| ne for yery many Years dSys
Can Won imagine the effect Of these little speeches
| on the chIldrens public? They Will be recl'eo IN