davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02

put on a ruche effect had a real bona
flde New York low cut gown on me and
I felt something like a diner-out.
! was alone in my glory. but being an
American covers a multitude OF sins and
Madame my hostess beamed upon me.
Then up came Henri and Victor and
Charles to greet Mademoiselle. the guest
Of Mathilde and Jacques.
Good evening. Mademoiselle,'' said
Henri Aren't you afraid. OF catching
cold?'
Good evening. Mademoiselle," said Vic
tor. Aren't you afraid of catching cold?"
Good evening. Mademoiselle." said
Charles. Aren't you afraid OF catching
cold?"
I giggled an idiotic schoolgirl giggle'
and nobody looked astonished because
not being mariee can giggle all the rest
of my life. It's one of my prerogatives.
I've come to the conclusion that there
are two good. substantial reasons for the
Frenchwoman not caring 10 appear in
a low-necked gown. One is that she real
ly has not a pretty neck. Though she is
usually well-rounded. just between our
selves. my sisters. her neck is apt to be
thin.
The other is that sho is afraid of catch
ing cold
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
A SIGNAL FOR OSCILLATION.

No the clock just struck. and every one
wished every enc else bonne aimee and
then commenced a ceremonial kissing bee.
An old man. very fat and much bearded.
who was seated next to me. saluted me on
both cheeks warmly.
I've never seen him before and never
expect TO again; at least, hope I won't
1t is just the custom. and I was ths
nearest female to him That's all.
Streams of men and women came into
the cafe after l., and there was much
feasting and merrymalsing.
The walters wore paper caps on their
heads and served US thus decorated. and
all the men. including Jacques, nearly
twisted themselves inside out trying 10
touch a frisky rabbit that was set loose
and ran through the restaurant, for to
touch even a hair OF him means luck for
the year.
Well, after We had supped we walked
along the street. exchanging greetings
with all and sundry.
You could see with a corner Of your eye
that Jacques and Mathilde felt them
selves perfect devils because they were
doing" Montmartre. and I overheard
them agreeing that only favored few of
the Family were to learn OF this little
spree.
New Years Day finds Paris very grave
and official and burdened with Family
Dignity.
Le pauvre Jacques put on his dress
suit at 10 in the morning. for he had
ceremonious calls to make on Ministers
and Deputies. etc. and he kept it on all
day.
After luncheon he came for Mathilde,
and together they whisked off in q taxi
and left cards on all their relatives. then
they hurried home to receive their own
callers.
l couldn't take part in this. for, OF
course, I wasn't Family, and could only
listen to all that happened after It was
over.
My dears. imagine! All those calls get
no edible or drinkable reward. No one
serves anything. It's all just good wishes
and respectful salutationsi
Then. the day after New Years Day
ones friends begin to call. and during
the winter months there's an epidemic Of
visits. Everybody. goes to see everybody
else.
IT MUST BE OBSERVED.
.z-.. a.. .-,,o L.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02

Family She Brea the Atmosphere the
Domecated Panan-The Celebration Proves To Be Childish Playful
but Emneny Dcorors and the American Feels That She Has
Discovered the Real Paris QUAINT Little Village
Where Family Traditions Are Preserved

After some discussion both decided that
l must be taken some time. for, as Ma
| thilde said. I was Journalistic and a
"feminlste." and as such I was entitled
to see some slices of life. The awful
| shame of my single blessedness was ig-
| nored for the moment
Anyhow" Jacques assured me. you
will see very little there now which could
offend you. In the spring and summer
Mcntmartre is as naughty as possible. be-
cause you Americans expect 1t. but In the
winter it is very harmless. oh. by all
means will we go some night"'
And we then and there appointed New
Years Eve for Montmartre.
When Paris prepares for Christmas she
does it thoroughly.
She has her streets blocked up with
booths, she decOrates lavishIy and she
brings thousands of Christmas trees to
put out everywhere and sell to her chill
dren.
And you know how she behaves at the
Reveillon OF Noel Well. If you don't, you
have missed something.
II you have any good red blood in your
veins you sit up all night and you eat
all the things you shouldn't and drink all
tho things you shouldn't In fact. you
sacrifice yourself to the celebration.
Yes. of course. sat up all night. What
do you think?
But l guess my blood is more blue than
red. for ! got fearfully tired by daylight
and ! yawucd-
Not once and again.
But again and again
And again and again and again.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
TRAILED MEEKLY ALONG.

tried TO behave my very best and bear
the ignominy of my single state in a
Chastened fashion. / always traiied in
behind Mathilde everywhere, though she
is a year younger than l am and half 4
head shorter. and never spoke with au-
thority.
What does sans ceremonie' mean?" I
asked when l saw my first dinner invita-
ton.
oh. that means you must not go In
full dress; your hostess particularly re-
quests that you shouldn't"
"Ah, just a small affair"
''Oh. no-about thirty
And no one in full dress-not even the
men?"
NO, of course not"
And. my dears. at long and formal din
ners we sat down in the clothes we had
worn all day.
This may not seem strange TO you, but
remember I've just come from England.
where people put on evening dress to
dine all alone for the mere pleasure of
changing.
Well, once 1 rebelled before one OF
these sans ceremonie" affairs. / said
firmly:
neck this evening. I'm bored with myself
in skirt and blouse, or house dress with
a choking collar"
Tres bien." replied Mathilde. BY all
means, IL you like"
'Alors." murmured Jacques and shrugged
his shoulders.
So ihto the salon I sailed that evening.
in the wake Of Mathilde. of course, and
didn't have any take Off your collar and
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02

compliments of the season TO Madame
they come and chat with the Bridgets-
You can't imagine what pandemonium
it is: but you must remember one S1lient
fact, which Is that every one talks at the
top of his lungs In France.
Two diamonds. No. l haven't seen
'L'habit Vert Yes. every one says 1t is
charming. How do you do. Mademoiselle
Beautiful weather! Quite like spring. Me.
TO call? Well. three diamonds. Double.
did you say? Eli. alors. I redouble. TWO
diamonds. redoubled. Oh. no. l never
said three Two only. Oh. did /? Three?
Really! But We can never do It. Sorry.
partner
And the partner merely bows his head.
1t wouldn't be good taste for him to sug-
gest that Madame has don anything in
the least reprehensible: besides. any mo-
ment he may do the same thing himself.
In England. of course. a burst of rage
on such an occasion would be expected of
a partner. 1t would simply be supposed
he knew nothing of the game II he kept
quiet.
Well. imagine n bridge table. with all
four players babbling on like this. Or.
rather only three. while / was there be-
cause l just couldn't. To attend to my
cards and to utter airy nothings to the
people about me at the same time is
out of my range OF accomplishments.
SHE WAS "ALL IN"
l held my head in my hands after the
first rubber. and after the second l mur-
INJURED that l was very Ill and couldn't
play any more
Immediately the room hummed with eX-
element Mademoiselle was I'll. Would
she have some water. some tea. a little
brandy? Oh. but how distressing and how
unfortunate. and the table broken up. too!
But mademoiselle didn't recover enough
TO play again. She just skunk into n cor
ner and listened to the clatter and clang
of ''lc bridge" as he is played in Paris.
Il do really think. II you must play the
game as If 1t Were "A shouting match. you
needn't have changed the counting, any
how" protested TO Mathilde as We made
our way home after that nerve racking
afternoon.
Change the counting? Why, whatever
do you mean. cherie? We haven't"
Yes" l insisted. You call a grand
slam hundred and little slam fifty. With
us one is forty. the other twenty"
oh. well. but ours Is the right count
Ing" said MathIlde. complacently.
And there it is. That is the delightful
attitude of the true Parisian toward
everything. Whatever is done in Paris is
right. Whatever is said in Paris is so.
DO you ever so to Montmartre?' !
asked my host and hostess one day.
OF course, they did not Mathilde had
never been But Jacques. while he ap-
peared startled at the idea. didn't say he
hadn't. and little twinkle in his eye be-
Iayed him. anyhow.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
THAT DEADLY FRESH AIR.

She who breads a current d'air.
which means a little fresh air. as we
dread rattlesnakes, and keeps her win
dows hermetically sealed most OF the
time could not possibly risk exposing her
neck without even a bit of gauze between
1t and a cold world.
In the winter Paris Of the Parisians
'Ie bridge is played at high pressure
When / went ito make a bridge" for
the first time I'd thought I'd made a
mistake and dropped in at n conversa-
zIone. Talk about "giggle. Gabble. Eobble
and git" Well. that practically describes
the French idea OF bridge party.
Imagine little Katie. fresh from Eng
lish bridge. that serious game played
almost like a religious rite: played in n
room where silence" faces you sternly
from the wall: or where one just docsn' I
talk whether forewarned or not!
English bridge. where every card is
considered. every play thought over and
studied. and where everybody accuses
every one else for careless playing. and
where courtesy vanishes in the expedi-
ency of the game!
Then French bridge TO dancing meas
ure, amid a swishinG OF silks. rattIins of
teacups, a clamor OF tongues and con-
tinued coming and going!
Madame is at home" on a certain day
and she sets out some tables for ''le
bridge" As her guests enter they chat
with her for a few moments. then take
their places at the tables.
That is. If they play the game II they
don't why. after they have paid the
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02

md square dances. all very dignified and
decorous. No turkey trots or bunny hugs.
Bourgeoise Paris would be ashamed TO
take part in such performances.
II en- when We wearied OF the may
dance We played games.
Oh. mes enfants. those games! 1
thought I had finished with them when
let my skirts down. But not at all.
Here was 1 playing ring around a rosy
about the Christmas tree. and puss in
the corner. and blindman's bun and going
to Jerusalem.
And how We enjoyed ourselves! How
We roared with laughter. Yes, verify. the
older We were the younger we seemed,
and the youngest among US fairly radi-
ated youth.
Childish. playful Paris!
thought you had grown old, but. be-
hold. you assume and cast of the trap
pings of age as a garment! How do you
do it?
As 1 say. was quite the oldest person
at tho gathering, anyhow. and by the
time jacques and Mathilde felt they
could tear themselves away the feeble
winter sun was peeping in at the windows
and I had aged about one century.
"Oh. la, laT' chirped Jacques as We
drove up the Boulevard. It's a fine day
Let's so out for a drive in the Bois!''
"Oh. Ia, la twittered Mathilde- "A
brave idea! BY all means"
''Idiotic young things" I said, hold
your peace. We are all going home to
bed. We've reveiIloned all night; for
goodness sake let's sleep all day"
Well. We didn't go 10 the Bots, but We
didn't rest all day.
We snatched a few brief hours OF repose:
then We were up and doing and seeing
what others were doing.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
A QUESTION OF TONGUES.

debated a while. because-welI, I don't
mind confessing 1t to you-speakinc
French all by itself for several days on
end has the same effect on me that nearby
workmen hammerinG on metal have. 1t
gives me dull, dreary headache.
But n the END accepted.
l arranged that I would spend week
or so in the bosom of the French family,
then I would HE me TO a little hotel,
where 1 could talk in my own tongue and
behave in my own way.
Mathilde and her spruce Young husband
met me at the Care du Nord. and 1 got
into the French atmosphere at once, for
Mathilde kissed me on both cheeks and
Jacques kissed me on both checks, and 1
saluted each of them in. similar fashion,
because I believe that when you're in
France you must do as the French do.
The dear young things had arranged a
perfect round OF Eayeties for me, In
vain did / assure them that 1 couIdn,,
frivol all the time, that 1 simply had to
keep the wolf from the door.
"NonsenseT' exclaimed Mathilde. nfrou-
citing in front of the mirror. '.Nobodv
works in Paris now. This is the season
of ReveiIlons, of Noel, of St Sylvestre of
la danse and lie bridge. And, anyhow. Won
know perfectly well. mignonne, that all
you Americans are enormously reech. oh
buf shamelessly reechi'
"Alors," said jacques.
And 1 want to tell you here and now that
poor little ''alors" is the most overworked
word in any language. If you agree with
any one you say ''alors." II you can't
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
THE COLD, CURIOUS EYE.

II any one tells you that isn't so any
more, ana the feminist movement has
given women a different position, etc,
you just throw contemptuous "alors' at
them. for your auntie assures you that
she has had the cold. curious eye of the
French married woman upon her, and she
knows whereof she speaks.
No. mademosclle doesn't have a very
good time in Paris. ard that is all there
is to 1t.
In the first place. she has TO live up TO
a stiltcd and awful innocence. She must
hear nothing, see nothing and know moth
ing of the a, b. c of life.
She must never talk TO the man beside
her at dinner except at the top of her
lungs, so all the married ones can hear
what she SAYS. Should he or she murmur
some senseless nothing about the weather
or anything else at anything lower than
concert pitch. the entire dinner table is
apt 10 stop talking and listen, lest made
moiselle should be hearing something she
should not, or the bold. bad man beside
her be trying to essay lie fiirt" with her
My own state was parlous enough while
in that family, but my warm heart used
TO ache for the really jeunes files in the
group. All l can hope is that they sneak
off and have a cOnversa ton of their own
sometimes
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
CHRISTMAS AN ANTI-cIIMAx.

1 must say Christmas Day in Paris has
a very morning after" appearance.
Every one has sat up all night. and vital
ity is rather low.
There's no particular celebration. for
presents are given only to children, and
the older children are gathering them
selves together to do themselves credit in
the evening. when there are dinners and
dances
From Christmas Eve to- New Years
Day every one plays. There's no serious
business at all. The shops are all open.
but then that means nothing. for the
Paris shopkeeper never closes If he can
help it. He doesn't expect to, do any
thing. He just stands behind the counter
to greet his friends
Even the Postoffice is quite disorganized.
You're in great luck il you get letters
from friends a mile or so away three
days after they are mailed. and every one
accepts this as part of the holiday con-
tingencies and no one grumbles
The second ReveiIlon takes place on
New Years Eve, and that We had decided
to see in Montmartre.
was quite willing TO abandon the ex-
pedition because 1 knew that Jacques
and Mathilde. as the youngest members
Of a very old and numerous family. had
dozens of ceremonial calls to make on
New Years Day and needed all their
energies, but they wouldn't hear OF II.
So again We prepared for an all night
sitting. and We climbed up to the heights
of Montmartre and began by exploring
Hell" Heaven" and 'Annihilation.'
Heretofore. when I've been to these
places the only audiences have been Eng
lish and American tourists. who were
mildly thrilled by the red lights and
flames and snakes Of Hell and the skulls
and coffins and all the other merry little
adjuncts of Annihilation
This time. though. every one was French.
the real Montmartre element-apaches
and their best girls. honest laborers and
their sweethearts, and every one giggled
and squealed and revelled in the futile
sensations provided.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
ING COLD?"

think what you want 10 say next. you
merely pause for an "alors." When you
wish TO he most impressive. you begin
with an 'alors." and when you are In a
rage you shout thunderous 'alOrs." In
fact, a good rule is:
When in doubt say ''alors"
So, OF course, l had TO frolic a bit in
the true Paris Of the Parisians.
1t is the season of Family Functions,
of duty dinners given to all relatives, even
second cousins twice removed. and you
can see how great a favor It was for an
outsider TO be admitted into these sacred.
much related precincts
1 do appreciate the privilege, and 1 do
wish 1 might have enjoyed those dinners
more, but. alas! l couldn't really have a
gay time in bourgeois France because you
see I'm not married. Therefore as 1 am
ahem-rather past the jeune lille period.
I am regarded with some measure OF dis
favor, mingled with pity and curiosity.
Oh. girls, how I longed to be a widow.
rather than an old maid auntie in Paris!
To have been legally tied to something OF
my own and to have buried him dacent
What a prestige it would have given mel
As it was, l can never feel that I cut
much ice in Partisan family circles, be-
cause l couldn't go round to all and sun
dry and tell them that 1 might have mar
ried if I'd chOsen to do so. though l don't
mind admitting TO you that I had kind of
a yearning 10. just to justify myself for
being alive and single.
1t wouldn't really have done any good
though, because no one would have be-
lieved me. In France there's only one
reason for not having been married. and
that is because you couldn't
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
CHILDISH TRICKS AT SHOWS.

OF course we went in TO view the enter
tainments in the tiny theatres attached to
these cabarets, and 1t was there I drew
my first deduction, for assure you
the little tricks played on the audience,
the mirror devices, etc. were all as SIM
pie, even prudish, as possible; yet I've
been there and you've been there when
you've blushed a bit at the vulgarity Of
what happened.
or course we shouted with laughter
when victim from the audience offered
his services and stood on the platform re-
vealed to US as a skeleton. and We shud-
dered and squeaked when the Mephis-
tophelean attendants warned US our hour
had come, and there was thunder and
lightning. the snakes waggled to and fro
and the flames spurted out.
At last 1t was all over and We went to
a-picture-theatre. the larxestrin Paris
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
BY KATE CAREW.

Paris. January ..
1--WE made a great discovery, dear ones.
and quite by myself 1 tracked 1t
Il down. Others may have been on the
road TO it. but l do hope they haven't
quite got there. I ycarn TO be a pioneer
in something
Well. anyway, here's the discovery.
ldrig. GGy, naughty, elusive. mysterious
Paris. is a lady with two faces. For eight
months of the year she assumes a mask
for the benefit Of her visitors and during
the other four months she reveals her
true features to those who are in her CON-
nIcncc.
From April 10 December she is Paris
specially constructed for English and
Americans. a market for them 10 enter
and spend much mon~y, a playground
where they can linEcr and get amusement
which they little know has been designed
for them and which hasn't the slightest
suspicion of anything French about 1t.
WHEN CITY REAPS ITS CROP.
This is her harvest tine of course. and
she is thrifty and puts by gold and silver
coins in their numbers. so when her very
own day dawns she cen enjoy it.
And her day dawns in December. Then
she unmasks and disCards AnGlO-SaNon
touches and frOlcs in her own really
French fashion with a smile over her art
ful shoulder for those deluded ones who
have sailed across the ocean or the chan
mel after several months in the gay city,
feeling they know her intimately, have
solved all her mysteries and lived Ter
innermost life.
December and January are her gala
months. Her Christmas holiday spirit be-
gins early and lasts very late. and how
she does rcvel in being childishly simple,
having thrown off the burden OF the for
eign element and the Pretence of being
a city Of gilded vice, a haunt of wicked
ness and ali those other things that pay
her so well.
I've discovered the Paris of the family.
l never knew it really existed before.
thought everybody lived in studios or on
the boulevards or in the cafes. Didn't
you?
Just figure your auntie a guest in a
French family, 4 real. old-fashioncd bour-
geois family with no English in its vo-
cabulary and prehistoric ideas as to con-
ventions and customs.
Well, that's just what has happened,
my dears, and a most Illuminating expe-
rienCe it has been. I'm not sure I'd care
to try it again. but know I wouldn't have
missed il for worlds.
Come and see la belle Paris when she
is really ours" wrote Mathilde. You
don't know anything about her; you only
know her theatres and cafes her shops
and boulevards. Come and let us show
you her social life Do come. l beg of
YOU. cherie 4"
OF course, you understand, she wrote all
that in French. and when written that
way assure you it becomes much more
graceful and pressing.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02

It was packed from top 10 bottom with
palpitating. eager. childish humanity wait
ing to be thrilled.
And they were.
And what do you think thrilled them!
Not scenes of crime or adventure or
risky. vulgar scenes.
There weren't any OF these.
Just sentiment
Mothers united to their little children.
brothers and sisters sacrifices. erring
ones restored TO favor, etc.
The more absurdly sentimental a scene
was the more 1t was appreciated.
Things which would have made the same
class OF people in London smile coldly and
murmur ''Slush!' and cynical Americans
mutter NONSENSE" delighted simple
Paris to her very soul
There we're constant ahsI and ohsi of
appreciation and even surreptitious tears.
We'll. l declare you are the most amaz-
ing lotI' l announced when We emerged.
"AIors,' murmured Jacques. and did
not tell you that Paris is the femme with
two faces? You have seen her assumed
one. Now you view her real features"
Then came the midnight supper in the
cafe.
The new year was ushered IN not by
horns and bells and shouting.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
IT MUST BE OBSERVED.

1t sens the true ParIsian is stickler
for form and ceremony, and these can't
be neglected with impunity.
II was immensely edifying. all this.
especially the feudal family effect
Ma tante," a bearded old lady, was
the Head of the Family. and she came
into her own in January. all right
Even 1 had to be taken to call on her,
and an ordeal II was. for she told me
what she thought OF Americans. and Ma.
thilde congratulated me on only under
standing part of II.
My dear. you are prehistoric in your
family" / said. kindly. but firmly.
"oh. la. Iar' laughed Mathilde. What
will you? We are quite up to the date
We have two divorces in our cercle. and
We play the bridget!
I'm so glad I've discovered the Paris
of the Parisians.
It's quaint little village. where family
traditions are preserved It's the play
ground of charming. simple folk, and
IL is a place apart from the commercial,
gay, bohemian. artistic Paris of the STU
dent the tourist and the casual vieltog<
lcopyr1xht. 1o1ss Nsv-yaflsTsinaaA u