HOME LIFE IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3072, 7 May 1917, Page 2

HOME LIFE IN FRANCE

Speaking recently at. .the Austral Salon (states the' Melbourne "Age") M. Rouel gave an interesting account of the French conception of family life. He told his audionco it was sometimes stated that the French had no word to correspond to the English "home," but thoy had' a word that was even more tender still, it was the word "foyer"— -the hearth, which represented the imperishable unity of the family. It was the unbroken chain that was linked together about the fireplaces; .the circle where old associations were preserved, where the past history of the family was cherished, and whore the future concerns of its members were discussed and decided. For a stranger to be admitted to the foyer meant that lie was taken into the family counsels, into its very heart, and no greater honour could be bestowed upon him. Each member lives for the family in France. The son lives for his family and'his family for'him. His concerns "are theirs, and around the foyer they discuss his futurte career, his business, his marriage, ait'd settle all in the family conclave. Thus the record of each life belongs to tho race, not to the individual. Before the war tho Frenchwoman was considered to be capricious, shallow, volatile. This was a German falsehood, said M. Rouel, invented by her enemies to detract from her un-deniable-gracefulness. They declared her, to be merely an elegant doll; but she was not. She was a good woman, a true woman, deeply attached to her family. From being a model daughter she became a model wife, a good mother, a capable manager, of a domestic probity unexcelled in other countries. She accomplished ' .her home thrliios with a'complete forgetfulness of self, and spent herself for the welfare of her family. '. "There are as many good women in France as there are women." Thus it could bo xaidcrstood why the son adored his mother in Franco. His first arid last thoughts were for her. whether in the trenches,- in hospital, in death. When she hears ho has fallen, she weeps, but not bitterly., for she cannot think of him as dead. He has added another record to tho glorious heritage of Kis family, and" his deeds are now incorporated with the family traditions, and recited with glowing pride by the fireside when all are gathered around it. In his mother's prayers he is remembered, but with her resignation she says "Merci," and it is a "Merci" full of pride. M. Rouel asked his audience to assure these-bravo mothors of their respectful compassion now while they are making such untold sacrifices for their country.