OUR PARIS LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3600, 10 July 1880, Page 1

OUR PARIS LETTER.

Pabis, May 20. THE BOUEGEOISISME." The celebrated novelist Gustave Flaubert, who has just died, held most in honor bourgeoisisme. As ordinarily understood, bourgeois signifies a person belonging to the middle classes, a well-to-do, or a retired John Gilpin. This was not Flaubert's meaning: he applied it to the vis inertia of his countrymen, who are opposed to all change, all progress; who are contented to live with a little and go down to the grave after a Paddy-go-easy vegetable kind of existence. It is- an error to suppose that bourgeois applies to individuals who wear their hair after the Merovingian pattern, or a transcendental beard, or a Babespienevest: to one who likes boiled beef and eats it; who carries an umbrella when it threatens rain, or rides in an omnibus. ISo, all these existed before the French Academy rejected Theophile Gautier for his long locks, and elected M. Bousse a member last.week, on account of his Titus cut hair. A cabby calls you bourgeois, as a compliment, suggestive of civic importance, money-bags, and turtle soup. Otherwise applied, it would involve you in as much difficulty as in the sixteenth century when a citizen would chase you in the streets with a larding pin, for applying the epithet to him.

Bonrgeoisisme is a special disease of the French mind, indeed, of the Latin character. It is synonymous with a cowardly fear of innovation, an idolatry for red tape, a weakness for what is retrogade; a love .for hesitation ; a resignation to be last in the race of life. It has been calculated that from '25 to 50 years at least are required in order that a practical idea can take root and fructify in France, even when its utility has been established beyond doubt in other countries. At the moment when the invention of the locomotive is to hare its jubilee, Louis Philippe, be it remembered, delegated M. Thiers to go to England and report on "the new thing so much talked about; " he did so, formed a very poor idea of the steam-engine, but suggested it ought "to be tried in order to amuse the Parisians." Well, the French even when the fruit is „ ripe, will not gather it, but tie it to thetree of knowledge till it falls from inherent rottenness. There are par Is ot the code based on the manners and customs of Louis 111 and the early Charless'; taxes are still collected after the bizarre usages of Philippe-Auguste: office, under republic, as under monarchy, is given away following compensutiou, conciliation and nepotism; ministers appear still to nap in some Sleeping Beauty of the World's Castle. It is this fear of rational and safe progress that has lost kingdoms and empires, aud which is;- commencing to influence the destiuies of the reigning Jtfepublio: the .cry is, " the present Government has accomplished very, very little in the way of reform of practical ameliorations.'* The old Adam still replies, " there are breakers ahead," "the sea is tempestuous," or '* the pilot is at breakfast." Even the .Republicans have fear to go ahead, to leave the beaten, track. "All or nothing," demand the

l?eds : " never all, but nothing, as much as you please," replies bourgeoisisme. VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS. Spring, although capricious, conducts herself well; we have plenty of green peas, and these, it was once observed, if behind time would be sufficient to provoke a revolution in Paris; we have fresh strawberries, smothered in cream or claret, for weeks; roses block up the flower markets, and trees, considered as dead, have returned to life. The cruel wounds that winter had inflicted, are being as rapidly healed as those resulting from the invasion. In the public squares and gardens, there are some mutilated, but rendered more glorious by their wounds even. Every good republican that possesses a laurel or a cedar that has withstood the inclement winter, baptises it " Victor Hugo." FASHIONABLE LIFE. This is the most favorite moment to enjoy Paris, and to gain an idea of fashionable life one should repair to the Bois de Boulogne between 8 and 11 in the morning : he will see all that is celebrated defile on horseback or in phseton. The alleys are superior to the Prater of Vienna, the Graben of Berlin or the Retiro of Madrid : the routes are so wide, so shady, so well watered, and the very sand has a velvety voluptuousness : now and then a ray of sunlight darts through the trees that adds a peculiar charm to the scene. For the military it is observed, they are oaly the infantry officers who ride, those of the cavalry abstain, as equitation is considered to lead to obesity. Marshals Macmahon and Canrobert ride - generally iete a Me ; the due de Nemoms, ever alone and at a walking pace ; the exabbe Bauer is a good horseman, so is J. G. Bennett, and among other notable journalists, Emile de Girardin ; the Princess de Sagan converts her plucky son into an out-rider; Missionnier, looks like a mounted prophet with his allegorical beard, and then succeed in swarms, schools of girls and boys under noted professors on horseback as happy as happy youth can be. Gentlemen of the old school generally dress in frock coat, trousers strapped under boot, and chimney-pot hat; the younger generation have the melon hat, short coat, and leggings. There is a story told that a Montagne and Capulet quarrel was at one time made up at these morning rides; the beads of the rival houses had purchased new horses, bat which were stable companions; when the horses met one morning in the alley they declined to separate, and their enemy-masters had to gallop alongside - for a great distance, friends saluting them as they passed. When they dismounted it was to enjoy a reconciliation breakfast. This recalls the practice in hospitals when mustard ran short, of making the one poultice serve two patients, placed side by side, at the same time. It is near the Arc de Triurophe that the preparations for the return home are effected ; here the ladies quit the saddle for the thousand and one light and various vehicles that await them; it is here that gossips are busy—that the latest news is to be gathered ; of the amount of money lost during the night at clubs, of births, deaths, marriages, elopements and reconciliations, of shooting stars, new bonnets, tight fitting toilettes, balls six hours old, and others ten hours hours to come.