DOMESTIC LIFE IN FRANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 307, 27 December 1924, Page 17

DOMESTIC LIFE IN FRANCE.

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DIFFERS FROM ENGLAND.

FAMILY TIES CLOSER. (By FKEDERIC STUBBS, F.R.G.S.) A3 a rule the tourist sees little or nothing of French domestic life. I myself visited France several times before I saw the inside of a private house, and it was not until 1922 that I became intimate with a French family. The fact is, tho Frenchman, like the German, seldom asks a visitor to his home. If he wishes to show him hospitality ho invites him to a restaurant or cafe. The French are decidedly less hospitable than the British, and the Frenchman's home much more jealously guarded. If a foreigner is asked to dine and spend the evening "en famille," he may justly take it as a very gTeat compliment. We sometimes complain, not without reason, of the decline of British hospitality, jut'our hospitality, especially in the Dominions, is lavish compared with what one meets in France, Belgium, and some other European countries. In Germany your acquaintance does not ask you to his home, but will probably propose a visit to a beer-garden. On the whole, however, he is more hospitable and decidedly more liberal than the Frenchman. The Frenchman's Home. But when you have once secured the entree to a Frenchman's home, the experience is delightful. Such politeness! With what grace will monsieur or madame conduct you to a seat, saying nice things all the time. Politeness may be but ai veneer. I don't claim that the politeness | of a Frenchman or a German, a Chinese or a Japanese expresses any more kind-' ness of heart than the British, but it ie certainly more in evidence, and it makes the machinery of daily intercourse run a little more smoothly. Though the French aro not as hospitable as we are, they are more sociable; hate to be alone;' love the society of their fellows; talk freely and loudly with many gesticulations; talk freely even in cafes, without previous introduction. They are much less reserved. It is amazing, indeed, how intimate conversation may become, say at the breakfast table. A French lady e.g., will speak of matters of the toilette) or tell you what medicine she took and describe its physical effects, without the slightest embarrassment. It is only the foreigner that is embarrassed. The fact is the British and American peoples are more fastidious in regard to such matters than most other peoples. I think we are right and they are wrong, but we must be careful not to judge the foreigner by our own conventions. The furniture in a Frenchman's home is different from oure. As a rule (I speak only of middle-class homes) it has appeared to mc heavier and more substantial, like that of a middle-class house 60 years ago, whilst the decorations of the walls, ceilings and draperies are more elaborate. The French are especially fond of the lavish use of gold. Parents, Children and Servants. I have already remarked on the closeness of the ties which bind the various members of the family together. The respect and affection of children—big as well as little —for their parents is great

and abiding. The bereaved will not appear at places of amusement for manymonths; anniversaries are solemnly kept; graves periodically visited. The "family will support and defend a member who is in trouble even when he is in the wrong. As a rule, neither son nor daughter will think of marrying without the parents' consent. The mother's influence with the grown-up children i 3 greater than with us. And the influence and interest of the iamily follows a nan to the end of his days. The position of the servants in the household would be considered by most as inferior to ours. They work harder; live anyhow; will do anything; will eat their food either sitting or—as I have often seen them—standing all the time. Their sleeping accommodation is inferior. On the other hand they are treated with much more freedom and familiarity— more like humble friends of the family than mere servitors. They talk freely to the mistress, are consulted by her, advise her, interest themselves in'the welfare and prosperity of the whole family, as I am sorry to say few British servants would now do or be expected to do. If pou are a visitor, lie attitude of the

French domestic is less stiff, more friendly. The Frenchwoman. The Frenchwoman is good-looking and rather more piquante than the English. At one time she paid a great deal more attention to dress, though that would hardly be possible to-day. But even now j her clothes seem to hang on her more gracefully, and her movements are more graceful. I really think she has rather more taste in euch matters. Her expression, too, is brighter, more vivacious, more varied —though one does not like to admit it. But she is less healthy and fresh-looking than the English girl, and not as good a "pal." She is rarely blonde, has dark-brown, expressive eyes, black hair, good teeth, and uses rather more powder and paint than our ladies. I Some of the finest specimens of woman- i hood are to be seen in shops and restaurants. Marriage is based chiefly on finance, and is arranged with a view to future bread and butter. Every girl has j a dowry. Even the young girl will know i how much it is and discuss her chances of | matrimony quite freely. There is seldom ! any question as to who is to be the mas- i tAr of the uousg ! srp arrsiTipflH I

by the parents. Sweethearting as we know it does not exist in France. When the Frenchwoman gets married, it is said, her good time begins; in the case of the Englishwoman I am afraid it sometimes ends. Thriftiness. I have left myself littlp space to speak of the thriftiness of the French people. This is so excessive as to almost become a vice. I must be careful in the choice of a term, but I should say that they are less liberal than most other peoples. Xo matter how poor the peasant, he saves money, and the same may be said of the domestic. Their industry is untiring. You may see a whole family stooping at their work in the fields even on Sunday. Every'tenth man is a land-owner. If "a young fellow is inclined to be a spendthrift his nearest relations may invoke the law to takr the control of his money out of his hands. The French have some national traits not beautiful; all nations have. But in the cohesion of the family, and the closeness of the tie which bind the members together, in their cheerfulness and politeness, their industry and thrift, their charm of person and manner, T.nPV flfp fl.l r,rv(ypt.npr flnm irn nl A