Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-09-21
THOSE LADIES OF PARIS.

skirt, has reached America. TheJ
are mistaken. No real French hob
BILE skirt could go down the street
of an American city without starting
riot. When one does get to the
territory Of the Stars and Stripes
the railroads will run excursion
trains. The first day or two In Paris
/ was nervous about this style OF
gown. When l saw saucy French
lady In a dress which looked like
1t was put on by glove filter l felt
that l ought to blush and look at
the statuary. l was told by the best
feminine authority with me that In
order to wear one of those skirts 1t
was necessary to discard any wear
ing apparel which Is usually beneath
the female skirt. The poor, pretty
things would go along the street
like boy In q sack race trying to
walk, except that by slit up one
side which was not buttoned for sew
eral feet from the bottom, little
motion Is secured. But when the
lady crossed the street or when she
climbed to the top of bus or even
stepped into cab, 1t was necessary
In order that she maintain appear
ances that there be not even hole
in her stocking above the knee. or
course l do not speak from personal
observation. Far be 1t from me to
watch a lady cross the street or climb
into a vehicle. But l knew how 1t
must be from careless study Of
the environment, and my theory was
confirmed by the evidence of all
those who did not hide their eyes
or observe the scenery. And l will
add that 1t is extremely difficult to
keep the binders on while seeing
the sights.
only speak of these matters be-
cause they are much more In EVIL
dence in Paris than are the Status
of Liberty, or the Column of Ven
dome, or any of the great places that
the guide books tell about.
The French are delightfully."- nat
ural" about many things. 1t is quite
the proper thing for a man and
woman to hug and kiss each other
In public. At first this started me
and felt that perhaps they were
excited. But no, IT is Just the proper
way to manifest their feelings at the
time. Just imagine how 1t would
be If the Frenchmen across the ia
BILE from you puts his arm around
the lady next to him and she snug
giles up to him and pats his cheek
with her unengaged hand. | felt like
getting right up and saying excuse
me, am intruding?" But soon
learned that they didn't mind us at
all. Their idea of love is to let go
all holds and lowe. Their theory of
matrimony is that 1t is an arrange
ment based on family position, busi-
ness and prospects. No young woman |
can get a husband unless she has a |
dot, SO much capital. The parents
arrange the matches and usually do
30 carefully and thoughtfullya The
girl, who has not even been allowed
to go to school with the boys, has
% idea of any other arrangement,
and the man who has never thought
Of matrimony in another way, con-
siders 1t a part of his career"
A man in France cannot marry
without the consent OF his parents
until he is rs and a woman not tiiI
the is 81. This law is strictly
,beyed and there is no running Off to
Iome other state where the rule is
different suppose French marri-
.gss arranged in this apparently
manner by the parents
urn out on the average as well as
hey would If they let the young peo-
lie rush in and marry for love"
iut it doesn't seem right to us, any
iore than our ways seem good 90
hem. OF course . Frenchman does
ot insist ttat his sweetheart shall ,
ave a "dot, so that arrangement is
lsde by the parties themselves. All
! which seems very wrong to Eng
al and Americans, and yet the
'reneh prove X is the best way BY
sing the divorce figures. for divorce
practically unknown In Frsaee.
he French women Is the business
artner Of her husband and necessity
axes them pun together Just AZ