The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-27
Highly Apprccia.
tive ofRe Measures
but Or de Is
Expressed Briefly
by ''Merci''

business dealings eNcept with great
caution. Relatives meet together
only at stated intervals. BIRTHDAYS. hol-
idays and the like. As for "in-laws,
they appear on the domestic scene
only on rare and grand occasions
when their presence cannot be over
looked. Telephones are scarce and
social conversations over them
scarcer.
The exclusiveness of French life In
shown by the frequent absence or
the guest room. " course there is
soma entertaining done in a smart
way in the big c~hateaux. hut very
little outside Of them. There has re-
Gently been a popular movement in
France to introduce the guest room
and make 1t an institution in the
French house. but the idea IL re-
garded as a piece of "snobb!sm.' and
while the entente will undoubtedly
further the movement. It is not likely
To- make serious inroads upon French
home privacy. Even near relatives sell
dom put NJ at one another's houses,
friends only under exceptional cir
cumstances aud acSuaintances, one
might almost say. not at all.
When the French family permits
society and the world to sec II, 4,
is only when IL is on full dress parade.
Not only every hair must he in place,
every detail OF the toilette correct.
but also smile. manner, speech, atti-
tude must he in perfect order. The
French family never carries its tenn
pers, disappointments. troubles and
griefs Into social or even business
life to bore the public.
Rot only for the world but for the
n~eighbors as well the facade" must
he correct. This Is real French DO
likeness that is not always understood.
and has won the nation tho reputa-
ton Of being superficial when people
only meant 10 be complimentary.
The French nation in It's charac-
terlstics and peculiarities is but a
large edition of the French family. II
Is a nation which particularly prides
itself upon being self-contained as TO
all OF its needs and tenaCiously bent
on being self-sufficlent in all branches
Of national life. especially in the per-
Torrance OF It's duties and tho carry
Ing out OF It's obligations toward its
| own.
France throws out no tentacles 10
draw neighbor nations into closer re-
lations with itself. Not even can It's
critics abroad sneer or prod II into rem
ovating the somewhat old fashioned
furnishings. as they are considered, OF
its national household. nor can it's
friends at home turn II from It's in
herited conservatism of mlnding It's
own affairs.
Nor can an unusual war change the
nature OF the French nation. II u
struggle, economize, endure, mourn.
bear its own losses within its W
| depths. Not even TO have more. to
| suffer less. TO fare better will II seek
outside aid. It lives by the doctrine
hat salvation comes from within.
Look into It and one will see the
same parallel in the conduct of the
war. The French are fighting along
side their allies as the family lives be-
side its neighbors. with pleasant for
mality-at a distance. The British
army is still the "expeditionary force
visitors still. IL useful ones. in a for
eign land.
II functions self-sustaining and
apart from the French forces. 1t re-
Ceives nothing from France hut a Sec
ton Of the German army to fight. II
has its own Zon of action with houn-
daries strictly defined. II is under the
command Of the French Generalissimo
and defends that part of France which
happens at the same time to be its W
front door.
The two allies are extremely polite
with Zach Other and have an admira-
ton for each others fighting qualities.
hut there is no familiarity between
French and English. no Tommy and
Jean linking arms together, hurrahinG
down the middle Of the road. AND the
same may he said OF Frances attitude
toward her other allies. There are
tactical military reasons for all this, rs
those who are competent 70 explain
can tell, but it is symholical of the des-
tiny Of France, which is a nation
which walks by itself"