The sun., 1912-07-07
FRUGAL AND THRIFTY
IS THE FRENCH WOMAN
The Wife Often the Real Man.
agcr in the Middle Class
Family.
PRESIDES IN PARIS SHOPS
The Sunday Outing tho Time
When the Husband Takes
the Lead.

French women have been described ~
the backbone Of the French nation, That.
however. is speaking not particularly of
the aristocracy but rather Of the great
middle class The French wife of this
stratum ~ society is truly a helpmeet.
In fact. she In more: she is often the man
ager. and il as rule good manager.
II il she who carries on the little shop,
while her husband. perhaps nominally
the head. runs errands AT her bidding.
Not that the Frenchman would admit that:
nevertheless il ia the truth Of the matter.
1t may he too that he has business inter-
csts elsewhere as well: thus he may work
for the railroad or for some other con-
Germ
In Paris one enters an attractive little
picture or jewelry shop on the Rue de
Rivoli. A smiling French woman comes
forward TO cajole the tourist into buying
all sorts of fascinating things he does not
really want II is the same at the shops
where you go to buy kodak supplies and
post cards not a man to be seen except a.
a purchaser.
IF one ferrets out a little hardware
store and goes in TO buy rope or nails or
anything Of that sort. there may he man.
the proprietor. probably. to hunt for just
what is desired, but even then his wife
sits at the desk. guarding the money
drawer and keeping close watch over
all that is happening.
Likewise at the butchers madame sits
in state AT the money drawer. The case
ia the same at the grocer's. where she gives
out change and keeps the accounts. No
mere hireling IL to he trusted with such
| weighty matters.
There is one thing that quick. business-
like Americans are apt to forget in that
hurryless Old World. and that is that all
customers should stop to greet the mis-
tress of the shop as they enter. and must
on no account forget their Bon jour.
madame" upon departing. These little
courtesias are among the absolute es-
sentials with the French. and if the for
eigner forgets or neglects them he fire.
quently fares badly.
In England. too. shopping is carried on
with vigorous interchange Of courtesie
Ry actual count it takes nine thank
yous" to buy spool of thread properly.
To go back to Paris. Suppose you enter
one of the countless little baker shops at
noontime. The family is probably at
|
dame looks out at you. and il she decides
that you do not appear likely to make
away with her tarts and cakes unrght-
eously she goes on with her meal and
sends her husband out. his huge servist.e
tied about his neck, To cut of your three
sous of bread or to supply you with what
ever else you want.
| But il you should happen 10 desire to
pay your weekly or monthly reckoning for
the long loaf which is daily left on your
door mat without sign Of wrapping except
a wisp of tissue paper twisted around the
middle in lieu of a handle, then she pushes
back her chair. wipes her hands on her
ample apron. comes out and haggles over
the SOUS you refuse to pay for the DAYS
when your bread was forgotten. Her
bon jour" may be tritie curt ner rabbit
stew is getting cold but no matter how
much you have tried her. she will not
forget her manners,
| Then. too. there are the markets. one
day here. another there, and every day
the busy peasant women preside over
stall and stand or even the baskets heapcd
high around them on the sidewalk all
| filled with fruit and vegetables. When
| business il not too rushing they sit and
knit just as they did in those long ago days
when the guillotine was busy and heads
dropped while stitches were counted.
| When trade slackens some of the more
energetic among them load up a little cart
with fruit and vegetables and push it
| through the streets shouting out at tn0
top of their voices the wares they have to
sell. When the noon sun gets too hot for
them they stop at some shady corner and
eat their simple luncheon Of bread and
cheese with hit of crisp lettuce; then in
the afternoon With empty cart tney van
ish until next market day.
Suppose YOU decide TO lunch in one OF
the tiny cr@nerie restaurants near the
Beaux Arts Madame herself. rosy OF
face and of gown. comes bIstlng forward
to welcome you smilinEly and to try to
tempt your appetite with whatever deli
cies she has at hand, You may be bit
difficult and in that case, AS good natured
as ever, she summons the carpet slippcrcd
monsieur. likewise smiling. and sends
him forth in quest Of the "bifstek" or
sescalope de veau" that you have been
inconsiderate enough to demand instead
Of contcnting yourself with "une omectte
aux fines herbes tres bonne, or some
"iambon aux CorniChons. or whatever
else she has provided
Sometime it may be that you are even
bold enough to demand -une salade das
tomates. which madame refuses because
the tomatoe arc too dear Monsier:.
seized with compassion, iNns out and
soon brings you back bovlful ripe, rod
and delicious, and you proceed to mix
your own salad, but he does not dare do
this often, he il too well trained. That
is but one instance of the way he SHOW y
his light heartedness and lack of respon7
sibility. His wife has plenty of the latter
quality: why should he trouble himsc =
The great mass of French women arg
thrifty and frugal. and manage thor
small affairs so we'll that they are steadily
comfortable and prosperous, while all the
time the bank account is growing They
rejoice in the assurance that they will
have money enough for the daughters
dowries and that that same bank account
will also provide competence for their
old age.