davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1916-03-12
FRENCH COURTsHlP CUSTOMS

no thought of coercing the young lady
into a match which would not be pleas
ing to her. The chances are that there
is the tenderest soiicitude for the
wishes and happiness of the girl
French parents love their daughters
just as parents of other nationalities
love theirs.
When some kind of tentative un-
derstanding has been reached by the
parents of the young lady and of the
young man. the young fellow gets his
parents advice TO regard mademoiselle
with a view to seeing whether he cam
not fall in love with her: while made
moiselle herself is advised to be kind
with regard to him. The young lady is
advised to give him patient hearing
and inspection and to consider his
claims and not to cast him aside un-
less she feels that there is no chance
for her to be happy as his wife. Ac-
cording TO observers and commentators
there is no compulsion to agree to the
parents wishes. though there may be
some disagreeableness if they are wan
tonly disregarded. ana II is said that
under this custom there are few un-
happy marriages in France. 1t has
been written that more than half the
marriages in France are the result OF
just such little parental arrangements.
1t should not be gathered from this
France. and Marie and Pierre love
there just as John and Mary do else
where and they nave tnelr way ABOUT
it unless there happen to he insurer
able family objections on the part OF
either of the houses. As a general
rule if there be such objections they
are based on sound reasons.
The celebrated Judge of A divorce
court once said: "Nine-tenths of the
unfortunate matrimonial differences
that come before me are the result of
thoughtless romantic unions entered
into by too youthful parties without
consultation with those older than
themselves to advise them. Marriage
seems the last thing that boys and
girls will take anybody's advice about"
In some countries children can take
it upon themelves to enter upon the
most important contract in life. Com
mon sense is often left out of the equs-
tion and emotionalisms of the moment II
given full rein, but in France IL is diff
ferent. In that country man under
twenty five and a girl under twenty
one cannot marry without the consent
of their parents if they are alive. or OF
the survivor if one is dead If both are
dead. the grandparents pust be con-
suited If living. Even the would-be
bridegroom over twenty-five ana the
bride over twenty-one must have
Over thirty ard twenty
five they must give their parents or
their representatives a months clear
notice of their intention to marry.
Evening star., 1916-03-12

mascot. but finally decided that she
was too bulky for pet. So she was
permitted to go on her way. She made
toward the front.line trenches at
Hooge and it is probable that she was
killed soon after.
Since the sad happening TO Major the
Welsh F'usiliers have acquired another
goat-the regiment would not be com
plete without one-but this mascot is
kept far in the background and out of
danger. 1t is told that up to now his
of the sixteen-inch German shells. Bits
of shrapnel, ordinary rifle bullets and
such small things are said to be quite
to his liking.
After the first bomba rdment of La
Couture last spring group of British
soldiers found a canary singing in its
cage in cottage that hadN been half
destroyed by shell fire. The bird was
not in the least disturbed or fright
ened and is now back of the lines in
a regimental headquarters. Another
pudent maepie. the property of an
Irish guardsman. The bird sits on the
big soldiers shoulder as he marches
about. and shrieks imprecations upon
the Germans.
A few months ago some of the British
engaged with the Germans at a certain
Belgian farm and finally cleared them
out. In one of the outhouses they
found a dog chained. He was emaciat-
ed and weak and had evidently been
tied there for days. probably forgotten
WhSu tflc OWHeTS Heu ne SUI
diers released the beast. and. although
very weak and scarcely able to walk.
he staggered to the churn which he
used to operate. crawled to the tread
mill and tried to resume his work. He
apparently thought that he had been
tied up all that time for some mis-
demeanor and his effort to do what he
thought was his duty was most
pathetic. Even with blood and death all
around them the soldiers were greatly
touched and the faithful Belgian dog
became a great pet.
There was one dog at the front who
was actually tried by court martial and
sentenced to be shot. 1t was at the
time when il was believed that dogs
were being used to carry messages
from the British trenches to the Ger
man. Spies We're believed to be be-
hind the allied lines. and it was thought
that these made use of dogs to trans
nit information. This particular dog
belonged to native of the place whose
character was none too good, although
there was no proof against him. Ger
tain of the commanding officers be-
lieved that the dog was being used.
Evening star., 1916-03-12

m HERE are few bachelor maids In
France, and this is not because
the girls of that country are
fairer than the daughters of other
countries, or because the young men
of France are more determined lovers
than the young men of a number of
other countries, but because courtship
is better regulated and receives more
parental encouragement than in some
countries where such an important
thing as love is left to chance.
An English writer, comparing the
marriage chances of English and
French girls, concludes that such
things are better governed in France
than in Great Britain. He says: Very
many British girls complainant with
good reason-that they drift into spin
sterhood through their parents neg
lect to introduce them to young gem
tlemen who might be eligible hus-
bands. The ordinary British father, In
deed, concerns himself little about his
daughters matrimonial prospects. Any
trouble that may be taken in that mat
ter is usually left to the mother of the
young lady In France both father
and mother ally themselves in looking
after her."
girls being forced into marriage
against their will by unfeeling parents
who have picked out for their daughter
a man whom they consider eligible.
There has been eXggeration in this,
or at least some exaggerated concep-
tions have been formed by many read
ers of such writings. 1t is likely that
no more parental pressure is brought
upon the young ladies of France TO
Join hands with man of whom they
do not approve than is brought to
bear upon the marriageable girls of
other lands
1t is explained by a man who is rep
resented as familiar with courtship
customs in France that it is intended
that the daughters of the family shall
marry, and II no desirable suitor ap-
pears the older heads set their brains
to work to find him. The young lady
will have dot" very small one.
perhaps. but still something. She is
fair to look on. and possessed of quail
tiles to make her worthy of being any
young fellows wife. The father as
well as the mother takes a deep and ac-
tive interest in the case. The parents con-
fer and consult and go over the list of ell
igible men who might be agreeable to
their daughter and to whom their
daughter might be preasing. There is
Evening star., 1916-03-12

risked on the firing line But even
IN the first line trenches there are pets
eats and dogs found on the spot as
the army swept into position and dug
itself in months ago: cats and dogs
found in deserted farms which became
the center of this warfare-heusehold
pets which declined or did not know
enough to follow when the house
holders fled from the storm which sud-
denly burst over them. OF these, cats
number more than dogs. Soldiers re-
how the cats seem absolutely to have
refused to desert their homes. They
have been picked up starving and
emaciated. with the strength. perhaps.
but not the will or instinct. to run
away from the place where they were
born. The soldiers have taken to them
kindly. and more than one dugout is
made more cheerful by the presence of
cat. Latterly, when the trenches
have become infested with rats these
cats have more than earned their keep.
The most extraordinary animal ever
carried aboard a ship of the British
navy was doubtless an elephant which
was carried on the Renown. when pre-
sented by the Duke of Connaught to
one of the British zoos. That, however,
only a freighting proposition. In
the present great conflict it is rec
ord that one of the Canadian regiments
actually adopted as mascots three full
grown, milk giving cows. 1t was a
field artillery organization, and the
men found the ownerless bovines on
the countryside in France. The Cana
dians treasured these cows highly, but
there was some difficulty about adopt
ing them as mascots. The ''brasshats'
higher up thought they were too cum
berSome.
1t was then observed that cows We're
very useful things to have around bat
teries of artillery. They lent an air
of peace and tranquility to the country
side. for no matter what happened. no
matter how near the exploding guns
and shells they were, these cows never
even looked up, but went quietly on
with their grazing. The noise bothered
them not at all and their quiet mien
was calculated to deceive the enemy
as to gun positions. So the Canadians
were permitted to keep the cows.
But there came d time when the
particular battery to which they were
attached had to be hastily moved from
one point to another. The battery was
obliged to make quick work of it and
the cows along. When, later. another
shift of the guns was necessary the
same difficulties were encountered. the
cows again refusing to be hurried 1t
was then seen that the cows would
have to be given up. One of them was
traded for a case of Scotch whisky and
another for a quantity of fine French
wine. The third is still in the market,
awaiting a good bargain.
The mascot of the Royal Welsh
Fusiliers is a goat. The regiment has
Evening star., 1916-03-12

HI

in their own homes. in the bush of
Australia, in the jungle of India and
on the plains of Canada.
If there are more mascots of one kind
than another it is probable that dogs
predominant. The -of-war' man
has a prediction. proved by much OBJ
servation. for birds and monkeys, but
he cannot and will not be deprived of
his natal right iof possession aboard
ship of an English bulldog, and it is
probably safe to say that half the ships
of the navy possess dog. In the army
English bulldogs. typifying the spirit
of the soldier, are known to nearly
every big organization.
out there. which means over in the
trenches in Flanders and France, the
soldiers have their mascots by the
score. The ones they took with them
when they went out remain at the
bases, too valuable, too sacred to be
Evening star., 1916-03-12

and the day is coming. we hope. when
there will be a great Pan-American
Federation of Women's Clubs inviting
the cooperation of all the Americas.
That dream is before me all the time,
and is the reason that ! was willing to
forego the joys of home at Christmas
and come to Washington to do my part
in arranging for such cooperation.
Il have Travelled much in the interest
of the federation. have been in every
state of the Union, save one, and l
shall never forget an appeal which
was made to me in San Francisco last
summer on my return from a trip TO
Alaska. I was obsessed with the idea of
what pan-America really is. and had
the subject in mind when, one day l
was accosted by woman from Argen-
United States to get in touch with the
clubwomen of this country and to plead
with them for cooperation. How
long, she cried, will our sisters of the
northern world listen to the cries Of
other nations and close their ears to
our voices?
Yes. we have clubs in Alaska. and
my visit last summer was an inspira-
women. some of them college grad
yates. and all doing effective civic
work. There is also club at Nome,
1000 miles away from Valdez, and
many letters came to me from that
point. Both clubs belong to the gem
eral federation. and nowhere have I
seen greater spirit of determination
to do. nor finer spirit of cooperation,
than in Alaska The women of Alaska
are as true and brave as any in the
world. and their clubs have done splen-
did work. AS an illustration of what
the club is to the women in Alaska, l
will give you an incident of last win
ter. which was told to me.
After season of fine weather. club
day came with a blizzard: and those
snow charged billiards of Alaska, COM
ing over miles of glacier, are very Sc
r1ous affairs. The woman told me she
thought 1t might be somewhat unwise
10 venture out, but she thought of the
warm home at which the club was to
meet and she thought especially of the
delightful fellowship with the other
women. il any should be there.
so she ventured forth, falling time
and again in the snow through the
force of the storm. Finally reaching
her destination. she found not the one
or two she had expected gathered to-
gether. but the entire membership
present.
This club in Valdez illustrates al
Evening star., 1916-03-12

a LARGE audience filed one of
h\ Washington's spacious audi
9\ toriums to hear the speech of
q q woman who heads one of
the largest women's organizations in
the world today. The stage was flower
decked. and an imposing speakers
chair was fianked by seats for the aux
iliary women. One looked for "a cere-
monious entrance of the leader, fol-
lowed BIZ her satellites. from the stage
entrance.
But one was disappointed in the mat
ter of entry. for promptly at o'clock,
when the lecture was to begin. there
walked alone and unattended from the
public door a delicate looking little
woman, dainty and fresh as a bit of
dresden china With unaffected grace
she quietly ascended the platform.
standing with folded hands to receive
the cheers of the assembly.
She was Mrs. Percy V. nnybacker.
leader of the two million women who
comprise the General Federation of
Worlen's Clubs, and she very soon
demonstrated her ability to hold her
position by the speech which kept her
audience in rspt attention that January
afternoon. For not one moment in the
hours talk did interest flag. so COM
peiIing in interest, so attractive in de-
livery, so keen in humor was the talk
of this forceful Texas woman who
leads the thought of the club life of
forty-nine states and territories in the
Union. comprising 5000 clubs and
100000 women.
Mrs. Pennybacker was as prompt in
meeting her interviewer a few days
later as she had been in appearing
upon the scene OF her lecture. Set for
10 o'clock. she walked into the hotel
parlor on the stroke of the hour and
her caller set down "unfailing prompt
ness In appointments" one of the
virtues of this leader of women She
talked easily. readily and enthusiast
calIy of the subject nearest her heart,
the club for the woman.
"I have felt more than ever since
coming to Washington this time the
power of organization, she said. And
TO take part in the American Con-
gress as ] was invited to do. fully re-
paid me for leaving home during the
holiday season. 1t brought together so
many men and women of great mind
and high purpose that IL is more than
ever borne in upon one that the union
OF forces is not happening. not for a
few years, but is part of the plan of
the world. great helpful. uplifting in
huence for the making of the Kingdom,
the kingdom Of enlarged opportunities.
spirit which can have no better word
expression than the motto of the fed
eration-'Unity in Diversity
You ask. What is the club to the
woman 1t stands. in the ma jorfty OF
cases, for liberal education. The club
has discovered the American woman to
herself. and it has taught her to know
Evening star., 1916-03-12

well as any the evolution of the wom-
ans club and it's value in the COM
munity. Beginning as a club for self
improvement, the women were finally
league. which now numbers fifty mem
bers and has been power for i'm
mense moral. mental and material
good in Valdez. We have clubs in Pan
anna, in Cuba: the Philippines and in
the Isle of Pines. which mean to the
women of those isles of the sea much
what they do to their northern sisters
in Alaska. ] am planning an immedi-
ate visit to those clubs in the southern
seas to carry my pastoral message to
thpse far-of members of our flock.
ITO show that this organization of
ours has as it's heart and core the child
in the home we inaugurated, in Coop
Grafton with the federal children's bu-
reau, the national baby week, asking
every club throughout the country to
celebrate the period. 1t has been our
aim to arouse every community to a
practical study of the best means of
preserving and developing child life 1t
is hardly credible. but it is an affirm
ed fact that the death rate in the cities
from ~ " -oU per InOuSanu
within the first year of life. and it has
been stated that in some parts of the
country the, infant death rate is as
high as A per cent.
"One of the visions 1 have for the
future of the federation is the vision
of youth. We do crave the associ-
alton of our daughters in our clubs.
There Is no danger so great in Amer
ica today as the lack of solidarity in
the home-between the daughter and
the mother, between the son and the
father, between children and parents
So / would urge the necessity of call
ing youth to service with us. Several
clubs have organized the young peo-
Pile as auxiliaries; the women fill va
cancies in their own ranks from this
training school, Let us not forget that
we need community of interest between
mothers and daughters. -s-- ..,-
1--WE are beginning to awaken more
and more to our duty to the stranger
within our borders. the immigrant, and
We are realizing that the deepest need
of the newcomer to our shores lis to
Evening star., 1916-03-12

There was council, and it was decided
that the dog should be shot, just as
precautio
The news came to the ear of of
ficer who knew this dog and lSked him,
and who also knew great deal about
dogs in general. He at once objected
and declared that he could prove the
dogs innocence. The others were
skeptical, but finally the dog was sent
for. He came into the room. The Of
Evening star., 1916-03-12
il0rs and Soldiers Must Have Their Masc0ts

IN Are Thousands oSnales
Was DesdenGoat
Belonging Fus1s Killed Battle
feld-Canadan Acquired Three
Evening star., 1916-03-12

and appreciate her neighbor woman as
never before. The club has taught Wom-
en- to bear differences of opinion very
amicably, to see the different sides of
question, as it has taught them the
joy of working together to admire
each other in working with each other.
One of the first lessons in the club life
is to abide loyalty by the voice of the
majority. This country loves a cheer
full loser.
Evening star., 1916-03-12


1T has taught women not only how to
work for a cause, but also how to get
other women to work for it: and it has
taught them to take an a1l-round view
of public affairs. The club teaches a
woman efficiency, for in club life she
learns that it is a mistake to rush into
speech, into print or into work with
out study and preparation.
The club stands for men and women
working together. l have no patience
with people who try to array the sexes
against one another Men and women
We're put into this world to work to-
gether and to play together. Much
more can be accomplished in our homes
and in our communities when we have
the sympathy and cooperation of our
husbands. brothers and sons. The club,
being a civic educator. teaches wom-
an that her own children are not safe
until all children are safe; and she sets
about, in conjunction with her club, to
effect the remedy
Her view is broadened and her SYM
pathy is stirred and she seeks to right
the wrongs of her community as well
as those in her home. The club is
prime remedy for snobbishness. 1t is
one place where the rich woman never
refers to her wealth. and where the
poor woman does not apologize for her
lack of it. so that il teaches women to
be unSelhSh.
You ask what the federation is to
the club. and my answer is, what the
club is to the woman the federation Is
to the whole great army of womens
clubs in the United States. 1t guides,
directs, advises. and. i'll broad sense.
educates. The General Federation Of
Women's Clubs has had tremendous in
fuence in helping to unity our coun-
try from sectional standpoint. When
women from the north and south and
east and west all come together to
work for common good. all get to
understand each other, and with a
knowledge of and sympathy with one
another. then perish sectionalism and
enmity.
The general federation has been a
clearing house to the clubs OF the
country at large, and many OF their
unsolved problems have been solved by
IL. 1t brings that great strength of
unity TO bear upon questions. and it is
readily seen that the strength Of for
ty-nine states can accomplish far more
than one. The General Federation of
women's Clubs stands for what might
be called the higher internationalism,
Evening star., 1916-03-12

A great many stories of the doings of
these animal pets at the front have come
across the channel. Most of them are
true, but some are not. In the latter
class is the story that is solemnly told OF
the doinGs Of some trained cobras which
had been brought to France by Indian
troops 1t is well known that the In
dians cart these deadly beasts about
with them and able TO handle them
with impunity. The story goes that the
Indians trained the cobras to cross over
in the German trenches. sting German
soldiers as long as their supply of fatal
poison lasted and then return to their
masters.
There is a true story, however. Of a
goat belonging to Sikh regiment. This
regiment. like all the Indian organiza-
tions. carries with it large number of
goats for milking purposes One Of these,
like jOr Of the Welsh Fusiliers wan
dered across the firing line and was i'm
Evening star., 1916-03-12

have the sympathetic touch, and we
are urging clubs to turn kindly con-
sideration to the stranger from across
the deep, We clubwomen should not
forget in our homes, in our own towns
Evening star., 1916-03-12

and in our states that the stranger
who has come over the sea has come
to place himself and his children in
the great melting pot that is to bring
into being the future American citizen.
Evening star., 1916-03-12

medately fired Oh by the Germans. -
high Sikh leaped over the parapet. rushe
into the open. gathered the goat in his
arms and started back to the trench.
Both he and the goat were killed.
The Sth Leicesters have for mascot
a magnificent Great Dane. 1t pre-
sented to the regiment by Charles NJ.
Schwab. the American steelmaker.
through American who is officer in
the regiment. The 18th Lancers possess
two magnificent black bears. while the
Sd Coldstream Battalion has pelican
brought from Egypt. These. however,
have not been taken to the front.
One of the most famous dogs of the
British army was Bobbie of the Berk-
shire regiment. He was wounded in
the Afghan war. and upon his return
to England. with his regiment. was
decorated by Queen Victoria with the
ribbon for that campaign. The queen
knew well that in no other way could
she better prove to the regiment her
appreciation of its services.
One of the quaintest mascots actual
ly at the front is little pig that has
made his home in a Canadian officers
mess. He follows the mess orderlies
all over the place. moves from the vi
cjnity of the kitchen only when the
food is carted into the dining rooms
and squeals fearfully whenever there
is anything to eat within sight
smell. He is an intelligent animal and
has come to know personally the vari-
officers of the mess. running to-
ward them and recognizing them when
they return to their quarters.
The now deserted town of Ypres
yielded several pets. The civilian popu-
Iation left the oft -shelled village a year
ago and they went in such II hurry
that they had to desert many animals.
One of the British infantry battaIions
found two puppies in ruined house.
These now have the distinction of APP
pearinG in the official war films that
lonely COW was seen to walk into the
Grande place of Tpres. coming from
no one knew where and not havina a
very clear idea of her destination. A
group of soldiers debated long and ear
nestly about adopting this COW for a
Evening star., 1916-03-12

PERCYV
IVA and Trtoieser Gna Federation
Clearing House for Clubs of the Country a