PARISIANS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 216, 12 September 1925, Page 31

PARISIANS.

(By GEORGE CECIL.) Old Girls' Club. During the past few years Paris has .dXdto her formidable list of clubs. S«"at men and the thin men have their Srticular "cercle." Thereare reading Jtobs which exist for the improvement of the mind; and many a eympoEium is held by ladies, who, anxious to rival Kinon de l'Enclcs (whose grandson fell violently in love with her), meet to discuss ways and mean of cheating time. Rappers, too, have long enjoyed the advantages of club membership. Becently a Dumber of unmarried iromen, several of whom admit having lost all hope of securing a husband, most treasured of trophies, met in solemn Save. "London has its Bachelors' Club" quotb the Eenior lady, a singularly well-informed person of austere countenance. "Why should not Paris launch out into a similar institution for cirls who have decided to retain their glorious independence." Animated discussion followed, some of those present cherishing the belief that fortune would smile upon them, and that a club for membership of which married women are not eligible possessed little attraction But the traditional show of hande decided in favour of the Old Girl's Club, co called out of compliment to the British colony in Paris,, which has furnished nineteen enthusiastic members. "Most votes," as Mr. Sam Weller might have eaid/had he been present, "carried the day-" The celibates have established themeelves in a delightful old-world house With a shady little garden, in which they sip tea "laced" with rum, French fashion, and nibble at toothsome cakes. The club women discuss their cats, parrots, and ailments, as well as politics and the arts. Man, however, must not be mentioned; considered a brute, he is taboo. Political Hotheads. "Are the Socialists to rule France?" is the question of the hour. Under M. Herriot's short-sighted policy they _ all but did so, the Painleve-Briand Cabinet only preventing the calamity in the nick of time. Now, however, this mischievous party has been reinforced by hotheads who, unfortunately, are not with- ■ out followers. A number of these misguided people deserted the ranks of Socialism for those of Communism, attracted, presumably, by the vapourings of mob orators. Recently they have returned to their old love, wooing her with redoubled ardour. As inconstant as the wind are these patriots. Meanwhile, the Premier has lost many' of his supporters, and it is generally thought that the Government cannot last much longer. That the present cabinet should have lasted so long is, all things considered, surprising. During the past few years the Parisienne has become a really ardent athlete. Tennis has engaged her attention fbr some time past; autumn finds tKe young ladies' schools preparing for the hockey season; gymnastics have a vogue all the year round. Fencing, too, is favoured by feminine devotees, while several more or less sturdy misses take boxing seriously—especially when an expert adversary delivers a well-placed tipper cut, or a ferociou3 > punch on a powdered nose. Indeed, "la bpxe" has caught on tremendously, ~ the exercise : being considered most stimulating. Foot- - iklir'aJßoi" Js-ETjpported, though it must be confessed that the girls who take part in the game are considered by many vito Jack femininity. . . * "Such' Amazons," sniff the scoffers. Recently the ardent ones h»vi started their own particular "cercle," t!he membership of which, already ha» nounted to two hundred. The members foregather once a week at an open-air cafe in the umbrageous Boise de Boulogne, to discuss all the ramifications of athletics. Some atheletes, greatly daring, endeavour to introduce the topic of furbelowe and frills.- They are called to order. Barefooted 'Tariaiennes." As a rule, high-placed Parisiennes do not set the fashion. Duchesses and the like are content to follow (at a; more or less discreet distance the startling innovations which have been mothered by the divinities of the music-hall and other charmers who devote countless hours to evolving strange modes, or to exploiting the "confections" of . the dress, hat and shoe establishments. But an excessively go-ahead countess of extremely ancient lineage-has cut-out her lowly sisters by introducing the bare foot. The lady's shoe consists of en extremely high heel, a tiny and flimsy, strap round the ankle, a sole of gos-samer-like thinness, and a toe which is so diminutive that its dimensions are microscpoic Naturally, *the -apology fox a shoe is not intended for walking pur- . poses. Madame la Comtesse halts her super-luxurious open car half-way down the Avenue dv Bois at a spot where the gay crowd is thickest, places two cur-iously-shod: feet on a velvet cushion, and receives the homage of her.men friends. ' Envious women also congratulate the wearer of the airy -trifles, whose feet, by the way, are as perfect as were those of Dv Maurier's Trilby. Each is a poem in rose-pink flesh, they inspire the longhaired sonneteers and the budding de ■Mussets. Never had woman a greater triumph. Other ladies have followed the Coun-~ tess' example, heel, strap and what passes for a toe, being of patent leather, brocade, gold tissue, and what-not. And all go stockingless. None, however, possess such pretty feet, so arched an instep, so neat an ankle, a dream of dreams. " SOME WEIX-CHOSEN WORDS." In the New South Wales Assembly the other day, Miss Preston Stanley, in her maiden speech, denounced Mrs. Walsh, formerly Miss Adela Pankhurst, wife of Tom WaLsh (president of the Seamen's Union), as a "demagogistie philosophress." lon may call mc a "silly old peanut" or worse, Ton may say I'm a 'IBolshie" let loose, i ?t y mnlt iPl? every conceivable enrse -ana bury mc deep 'neath abuse. J £on t mind a bit, but I'll bite like a flea •it L yon cannot your feelings suppress, . * «, yOD ventDr e to designate mc a demagogistie philosoDhress." You may indicate in some choice, eloquent wora, That I'm far from a model of sense, J-flat some negligent policeman or keeper has erred, rii V §?* ttrongh a hole in the fence, ill .swallow all that, but, by .gum. I'll fee 1 "lid. • ■ • Avd ™ U e:e , r , y° ur opinions express. fySu'rfrikd, 110 ma " er b ™ -A- "demasogistic phllosophreßS.". That's the dizziest limit of language Ire lVs\l he Grossest word puzzle I've eeen. «» tomest Billingsgate ever coined FoTfVJ" 2 ' ultima te poison of spleen. An/°n-,T oU](i k l ep just a •*«* o* re£ P ect TJon ? trii c m ? t,eep mental ? t can mc, I prithee—oh, do recount! —B.A.