Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-11-24
STRANGE FACTS THAT
FEW PEOPLE KNOW

France no doubt has it's weak
nesses. The immortality of women,
however, in that great country has
been shamefully exaggerated"
Such is the preface to bulletin OF
the National Geographic society deal
ing with the home life of France,
subject of particular interest because
of the varying impressions of that land
brought back by returning soldiers.
1.-THE average French girl is as zeal
ously shielded from temptation as was
ever the daughter of the Pilgrim ia
Their. But to love intensely and pas
sionately is the French girls hope and
desire; and why should it not be-"
says the bulletin, which Is based on a
communication from Carl Holiday.
"The French have long been a
shrewd, calculating people who have
watched closely every sou. They may
seem romantic to foreigners; their
passionate protestations of love may
seem too frank to us of Puritan descent:
but not only in financial affairs. but
even in Their pleasures, they infinitely
calculate all items.
Probably there is not in the world
the equal of the French housewife in
economy and efficiency. Before the
war wages were astonishingly low in
France, and there must have been con-
tinual squeezing of each franc; but,
thanks to the ability of the French
wife, who could tell from outside evil
dence that there was unusual stinting
IN the average home?
''To see a French woman bargain at
the market Is to learn much ~ eco
nonics. mathematics--and oratory. She
simply refuses to pay the first price
quoted; her genius for getting what
you can Is admirable.
with such women, is it any marvel
that the French home is SO admirably
united? The family is the primal So
cial fact in France, and the parents
are the fundamental fact without
which the organism tthe family could
never have come into being Hence
there is a reverence for parents
oaualed probably only by the ances-
trail worship of China. Indeed, 1t is
very doubtful whether the love be-
tween husband and wife equals that
existing between parent and child.
There is constant consultation with
PARENTS and relatives by sons and
daughters of advanced years--a form
OF consultation scarcely ever heard OF
In an American family.
IF a Frenchman of 80 or So proposes
changing his profession, he may con.
suit not only his father and his moth
proposed marriage of a daughter or n
son is often an occasion fol. a council
CT the entire clan. including distant
relatives that in America would hardly
be included in our family tree.
"The world has been fond of point
ing out that the French language has
no word for home 1t has n word
possibly even more tender. What a
meaning is in the sound of foyer, II
includes the concept OF hearthstone
and much more. 1t brings to the French
mind and heart all the ideals, activ-
titles and dreams of close inner cir.
a willing observance and love an ever
present radiance.
The foyer Is not for the out.id.
world: only behind the locked door.
Goes II really live and flourish. Ths
father may deal with the outside world
of business. but here I'm the foyer the
mother generally rules supreme. and
Ter Influence is everywhere seen In n
rs 1t any wonder that when on
parent dies, the other is immsdi. ,a',,
taken into the home of the maria
son or daughter, there to rule as 4 sow
Of benevolent. enlightened desnote
Perhaps some youthful Americas
reader Of these pages has airead A.
asked, how can there be any conrtsh,ss
In so private a home. where evervhr.S,,
within the charmed circle IL consnit.s
ebout all the affairs connected witS
that circle?
"As preparatory step toward .,oh
a beautiful home life one would th;sn
that there should first be a most roA
mantle love affair, with moonlirS,
walks and whispered words Of 49,
ton and all the other pretty thss
found in the sentimental novel.
UNFORTUNATELY or forturst.,,,
you may view it--these acco,,,,,, 90
raents Of American match-maIsinsr q ~ ~