PRIDE AND POVERTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 8 (Supplement)

PRIDE AND POVERTY.

FRENCH ARISTOCRATS.

WOMEN" DRUDGE IN SECRET

DEPRESSION" RELIEF HAMPERED,

Social consequences of the economic depression, quite aside from labour troubles and unemployment, are the subject of much discussion among those interested in philanthropic work in France, says a correspondent of the "New York Times."

The type of case that seems to be arousing the greatest interest is that of the woman of good standing who through financial losses has been forced to accept a status of lesser consideration in society. In France this is a serious matter and one which brings most unfortunate social consequences. While the French Revolution brought justice before the law and equality of rights, that equality has never extended to the levelling of castes. A person who bccomes declasse becomes almost an outcast in society, no longer acceptable to former associates and never welcomed with any enthusiasm into any lower order.

Clandestine Drudgery. It is for this reason that many women I who can no longer afford to maintain their former scaje of living are being forced to all manner of subterfuges to prevent their familiars from discovering their plight. They are impelled to undertake secret economies and even clandestine drudgery, so that they may continue at intervals to receive guests and appear as prosperous as ever. Should their poverty be discovered, they might be dropped from their circle of friends and fall into another group which is giving charity workers a great deal of anxiety, the group of solitary women.

Thousands of women of this type live solitary lives in the large cities, without distraction or social contacts with any of their kind. A demand has been made for the organisation of societies that would provide a social life for them, but the social structure of France makes this difficult, since these lonely women would not take part in the activities of clubs open to all classes. Only the type of organisation catering to the class of society to which they belonged would attract them.

I "Unfortunately, in this country people attach the greatest importance to habits and manners," says Edmond Jaloux in discussing this problem in the "Echo de Paris." "I have seen persons ruled out of certain circles for some little act which might not have been noticed in a class slightly less refined. These, fine distinctions in relationships are one of the fundamentals of French society that nothing can change. They seem to survive all moral and political tribulations." In view of this it becomes more easy to understand the description of the "Petit Parisien," which tells of a matron who works night and day knitting sweaters and baby clothes for the shops in order that she may be able once every month to invite her friends to tea. If by chance one of them, surprises her at work, 6ho says she is knitting for children of friends or for charity. "Only the born aristocrat, whose position depends on her ancestry," says the "Petit Parisien," "can afford to look lightly upon such matters. The woman of high family rank in France may do whatever she likes, without the fear of losing either respect or consideration."