HUSBANDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 990, 3 December 1910, Page 10

HUSBANDS.

THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH VARIETY COMPARED. IN PRAISE OF THE FRENCHMAN. Arc Frenchmen more attentive to their- wives; than ► Englishmen.'' The question' (says tho "Globe" Paris correspondent) may seem a strange one to those who picture tho Galiic husband •"as-an -incdnstanty-frivplous gallant, always on tile look-out for a nfew conquest, and never happier than when iiiiiing with another man's wife. The interrogation arose, in my rnuid^ after an moment of wliich 1 ' was a wimess 'tfio otlier evening, while sitting outside a restaurant, 1 on the exterior boulevards. It was. after dinner, and a young couple camo out of 'the estabi lisnment. Ide was a handsome iellow, wearing tho uniform of a naval olncer. She was comely, "and dressed with the faultless taste of the truo farisienne.' As they walked, across to the opposite pavement tho oiheer put but his hand and-gently encircled his ,companion's arm. He did' hot thrust his arm through hers in tile bluff, British fashion which inspires confidence arid implies possession. There was none of the "what-we-have-we-hold" manner in, the gesture ; it was-simply a remindor' to the lady that her escort was there to protect her from harm, and that "if she slipped on tho sticky, treacherous wooden paving, ho would-save her from falling. 1 noticed the thoughttul attention. When the couple reached tho tho officer found that his "sword dangled against tho lady's skirl. 80. he immediately stepped behind her, and crossed to the other side, so that she might, ba spared any inconvenience. 1' wis with, an English woman who knows the peopjo of both countries intimately. J . "Did you notice how nicely that officer behaved to his companion?" she asked; V"i'es, I did," I said. ""He is: "very gallant and courteous'. But an .'English officer , would do the same." . , . "Perhaps he would. But from whijt I have seeii of them' 1 believe Frenchmen are more attentive to .their''wives than Englishmen." "What makes you think so?.". : ' , "I,have watched them.; The average English husband seems to' imagino that if ho attends strictly to business during the greater part of th'o year, goes homo fairly - regularly, 1 and gives his wife enough money to run. the house on, lie 'has done all that she has a right to expect. But when he ,does., go home it is,for and ..when that is. :over ho takes' uf his faper,- and reads it to'himself iuntil'he falls asleep. Then 'he goes; to-Wd. ;If lie, goes , out of an. evening it is to his club, and then he gets homo very late. When he takes his wife (for a run down to Brighton, .'ho smokes in silenco all the waj, and looks out of tho. window;. Do you call that being attentive to a woman?". ' "Of' course not. But how .does the French husband behave?" seems to mo that, to begin with, ho does not assume that air of domination and possession whichono' notices so often among.English husbands. Perhaps tho -French wives Won't allow themselves to'be-treated iir, that way. But I really don't think their husbands'attempt ,to lord .it over them. ' The husband is, in the,eyes of-the law, tho 'chef do menage,' but very ofton.it is the Wife who runs, tho home, sho and hf:r daughters. And papa ,is only too glad to. let them do . it, for he knows .thoy do it, w.ell. ,The average Frenchwoman liust sp.erid more on dress than -women'of tho samo . class in England. But the husband does not , grumble unless, the wife is unreasonable and extravagant. :Ho would soon grumblo if sho looked avdovdj as many English-' .women aro obliged to be owing to their husband's stinginess. -.V-- ~ And I am convinced- that tho husband!) on this, side'".of--the-,Channel pay ; more homage to thoir'- wives;l do. not say that they aro fonder,'of'.them; for. I do not bclievo thcy and if the ■number of children; in;;;a •family- counts -for anything, then thV-proofs of tho affection of ■ EnglishmeiiffoK their wives are not wanting.,. But/the 1 Frenchman -has nice ways .with ■ women;'.; He. isj in-vai-iably courteous, to : thijm, and. I cannot'help feciing'.'thaf .the. French busband'shows his .wife moro consideration and more of those "little attentions .which mean' -so much /' to. women than they meet with-, in England." Next day-,I met.a,middle-aged English . lady, who has spent most of her life in Franco. .... . I . , v"Do yon think: French husbands aro more attentive to their wives than English husbands?". I asked. .. Sh6..looked..at. me .in. surprise. "Why^bless, youj, 110," §ho exclaimed. "Whatever' put ; that notion in your head." ' V I.' t-old . her. ■ , , • "Yes,"' sho /remarked,,. "'.'the. Frenchman's a very fine flatterer, but he's not'sincere. , I wouldn't lot any of my girls marry, a ,Frenchman." ,