Life in Paris.-Max O'Rell's Book. Englishwomen as Seen by a Frenchman.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 82, 27 December 1884, Page 5

Life in Paris.-Max O'Rell's Book. Englishwomen as Seen by a Frenchman.

M. Max O'Rell's new book, "Les Filles de John Bull," is not quite such good reading as his previous production, "John Bull et son lie," and that this is the case does not appear to be any fault of the author. He has, in fact, made himself better acquainted with England, and for that reason the amusing mistakes observable in his first attempt are fewer. England looked at from a Frenchman's point of view, however, never fails to have a deep interest, especially for an Englishman. The author begins by a preface, in which he particularly recommends his work to the notice of ladies, with an overpowering gallantry that at onco stamps him a Frenchman. The preface is short and to the point, and the book proper in its first pages goes to the heart of the subject with a disquisition upon how wives make or do not make the fortunes of their husbands in England. "Before an Englishman is nominated to a post of importance the first question always asked by his appointers is, ' What kind of wife has he got ?' "The English value discretion above all things in those placed in responsible positions. They say, for instance, if Mr So-and-So, who desires to be head of this college, or this institution, does not know how to manage his wife, how can he manage a thousand subordinates? "I could name a number of men of merit who are indebted to their wives for remaining all their lives only obscure heroes." This is the introductory part of the volume. M. O'Rell having shown what a serious thing the choosing of a wife in England i% sets to work immediately to show the happy-fo-lucky method in which the choice i& sometimes taken in hand. "Flirtation, a word for which no French equivalent exists, because the thing itself is unknown among us, is an essentially English pastime. In France we do not llirt ; wo are more serious in our love affairs. It seems possible to trace the verb "to flirt" to our word fleureter, -which in our old French meant to say nothing (evidently soft nothings), to chaff. Flirtation is very innocent I have read in the albums of confessions belonging to well-brought up young ladies :—: — "What is your favourite pastime?— Flirting." The roply was not in very good taste, oven from an English point of view ; but no one would understand it in any bad sense. M. Max O'Rell hero proceeds to give certain details as to how he has seen flirting carried on in a corner of a room in which a learned London society was giving a conversazione. The story is one which almost suggests that the young foreigner must have been deceived by a knavish cabman, and tak°.n to some place other than the hall of a learned society, say te the London Pavilion, instead ot to Burlington House. But no doubt he erjoyed himself, and the mistake concerning flirting is one of the few he makes. Flirting, being a light subject, is dismissed briefly, and we come to the more serious business of sweethearting. " Sweethcarting is a different thing; it means love taken au serienx. By ' sweethearts ' are meant two young people who have declared their feelings and have mutually accepted each other, with or without the consent of their p irents. Swccthcarting is a word, by the way, only u*ed in connection with the bourgeoisie. Sweethearting does not exist in France, where an engaged ecu pie can hardly repeat their mutual vows except before a future mother-in-law. In England it signifies for a young man openly to pay his court, take his jiam-ie to his friends, to concerts, theatres, balls, for sentimental walks, and, in short, to go through a complete comedy of love. In a country where reserve, prudery, ani decency are pushed to even inconvenient extremes, it is strange to observe at nightfall loving couples promenading, holding each other's hands, clasping each other's waists and necks. These couples in certain somewhat deserted streets form veritable processions. Ido not speak of the higher classes, be it understood, but of the middle class — the well-to-do shopkeepers, the clerks, and the shopgirls, all very well dressed, and as a rule very respectable. These couples walk slowly, regarding each other with a languishing air and not speaking a word. When you pass them they look at you as much as to say : ' You know what we are, and what we are doing. You've been through it all yourself, we dare say, and we needn't bother about you.' " The benches of all the parks and public promenades are occupied by sweethearts all the evening. These benches are mads for three people, but at a pinch will accommodate six. Couples sit there hour after hour silent, with hands interlaced." M. Max O'Kcll tells a story which shows that thero was once a humorous policeman on duty at the Marble Arch. M. O'Rell, after passing through Hyde Park, remarked to this functionary on the self -composure of the couples whom he saw, and the fact that they had not interrupted their innocent endearments upon this approach. " Robert politely replied : ' No ; no fear, sir : if they were to bother about that, they'd never enjoy themselves.' M. O'Rell draws his own inference from this, viz — " The policeman was at the entrance of the park to protect the sweethearts and hinder anyone from disturbing them. I had alwaj s wondered why policemen were stationed at the entrances of the parks and did not enter after dusk. Now I understand. One doos not define everything at the first glance." Of course not, great O'Rell. M. O'Rell is very much in favour of the English method of making offers of marriage as compared with that prevalent in France, and is charmed with the habit English ladies have of sitting on low chairs. To sum up for the present, we may quote M. O'Rell's comparison of the women of France and England. " The Frenchwoman is more graceful and piquant, but she is less healthy and clearskinned. She has more lively eyes, ai prettier mouth, a more elegant figure j perhaps, but a much less fine and white skin. "What strikes one who first arrives in Paris from England is the exceeding stoutness of the women, &c." It is difficult to pick out from the author's work his sense of beauty. He declares that Miss Mary Andorson might pdse as the champion beauty of the world, and he also expresses his deep admiration for the young ladies who serve in London shops, and* for the barmaids of Messrs Spiers and Pond. His acclimatisation^ is evidently proceodng ragidly. — " Modem Society"