The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-27

toward the outside world. Ii has been
especially manifested with respect to
some OF the enterprises for the relief
of war sufferers which have been
undertaken by foreigners. This attI-
tude does not in the least imply lack
of gratitude OF appreciation, for both
have been shown in large measure
toward those who have offered their
aid.
The situation may be described thus:
In the furry of the first hurried weeks
Of the conflict every kind OF relief
work. engineered by every one OF
every nationality who happened to be
in sight. was rushed eagerly into by
an army of enthusiasts. II was like
%rescuing the belongings from a neigh
boris house that is burning. No one
stops to ask who is turning on the
hose and helping to move out the
furniture, nor is there time To make
comparisons as to who has saved the
nos
But as the war settled down TO n
humdrum pounding away at the foe
and the smoke of battle drifted sufii-
ciently to one side to permit observa-
tons to be taken the proprietors OF
the French house began to take note
OF who was helping to drag their prop
erty out OF the fire, more particularly
out of the firing line. n how they
were doing II. IL 1t is permissible to
help save a neighbours belongings in "A
crisis 1t becomes a much more delicate
matter when the excitement cools to
enter this neighbours house and under
take to set any part Of II to rights
without being asked. especially when
their ways of housekeeping are dia-
metrically opposed.
Here the extreme poli;eness OF the
French character and the amiability
Of the French temperament were ex-
hibited In n single word. "Merci."
When a French person refuses some
thing which is offered him he simply
says. "Merci." nothing else, and the
less he wants ii the oftener he repeats
'merci" and the more emphasis does
ne continue TO place on this shor
word. Some Of those to whom "merci''
was thus said got the idea that their
assistance was not desired. But his
was a mistake. 1t was simply a diff
ference of methods that was in aues-
ton. One has only to get behind that
"merci" and study ;he situation
through the observation trap. TO use
the language Of the trenches. TO under
stand the attitude OF the French.
It was not that the French were in
the least Jealous Of the relief work
done by foreigners. On the contrary
they showed their appreciation Of the
aid offered publicly and privately. But
n~,c,tnla mas inx.nlra1 ard 20 nv
plain this principle 1t Is necessary to
20 back to the fountain head OF French
life and illustrate 1t by the life OF the
French family. French family life is
the French nation in miniature. much
moro 30 than the family life Of any
other nation.
The text IL that the French family
IL not a nelghborly family. The aim Of
the French family for which the men,
bers work. live and die cheerfully is
to be self-contained and self-suficient
according to their own rules m TO
keep outsiders on the outside.
The representative French family
has a house large enough so that as
the son and daughters grow up and
marry they car bring their wives and
husbands into their family and set UP
life within the parent home. At most
will they be permitted to settle in a
house adjoining and have the two con.
nected. This is one of the reasons FOL
limiting the family; moreover it con-
serves finances by sharing expenses
in which case there Is but the one
family purse, whose strings are held
tightly, usually by the mother.
But all these benefits are secondary
to the consideration of the fact tina,
in this way the family is able to keel
Its pleasures. domestic happenings ant
especially Its businesses, troubles and
sorrows where they cannot filter out tC
the world as they might do ven IL any
part Of the family lived on the othel
side Of the village or across the Width
Of the street.
The windows and doors Of the typi
cal French house are always KEEP
closely shut and shattered and iroI
barred, and four layers OF heavy cur
tains hang at each window. This is I,
keep %neighborly glances from strayinl
in and family doings from leaking out
not altogether to preserve the carpet
and furniture. The servants quarter.
nv oo 'iab "NNh van "
kept by them on the entrance, so n,
unexpected visitor slips in unawares.
The garden is either an insid
courtyard. secluded as a cloister. o
the garden Is surrounded by a higl
wall. rarely under eight feet, crowne
with an additional battlement o
broken glass. There IL usually bu
one towering gateway Of iron grilles
invariably backed by inside solid door
of WOO or metal. so that not eve
the passerby car get a peep at tn
members OF the family at their oc
equations among their flowers an
aspaliers. In full view of the gate
Eay Is placed the watch dogs house
he principal m OF the par
terres, whose inmate is kept chained u
in captivity that he may be NOR
ferocious and less lenient in announC
ing intruders into the family circle
Behind these ramparts, defende
from surprises. French family lif
functions in its entirety, independer
Of all outside influences. There
no neighborly running in and out, n
gossipy intervals possible over a
eight foot glass trimmed wall. no chat
tering through n gateway with storr
doors, no stolen %firtations anon
the roses with the yelping
pack OF dogs in ones ears. \
dropping In for a socianle afternoo
80 OF tea: me function does NJ
exist in the representative F'renc
family. No neighborly porch life
there are rarely porches to Frenc
houses. and when they exist al