PEEPS AT PARIS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 293, 7 September 1931, Page 5

PEEPS AT PARIS

Historic Celebrations

REVOLUTION LIVES

(By Melanie)

Dominion Special Service.

Paris, July 20. One of the many charms of France is the “livingness” of her history. To us the French Revolution is little more than a matter of a date or two, with a viague revulsion, and a wonder how a civilised nation could do such things. But come over here or, better still, go away south, in the Avignon district, from where marched the fiercest revolutionists, and it will not be long before you feel the tang of it still. It brings it close to us when our genial landlord says quite casually: "Oh, yes, that is where my grandfather was killed by the mob as he was painting his wall I”; or when you climb up the crags of Villen-

euve across the Loire and see amid the f ruins of its lovely Carthusian monastery queer little homes in any odd corner, mere shelters made of carved stones. These were flung together anyhow when the. monks were butchered, the peasants taking what they could—including, we may be sure, casks of Chartreuse liqueur —it was now their property as citizens of France, and who could deny them?

The curious state of affairs now exists that the Government wants the ruins as a tourist attraction, but cannot turn the .-tenants out, though legally they have no claim to their homes! Bit by bit as the head of a family dies the land is being bought back by France for France . . . All this apropos of July 14 celebrations, when all except Royalist, of whom there are still a goodly number, remind themselves that the bad old days came to a timely end just over 140 years ago, when the Bastille fell, and so taught the people what Strong fellows they were.

“People’s Day.”

Luckily for us class animosity has died out, and Paris as elsewhere gives herself to whole-hearted jollifications. It is absolutely “the people’s” day, so much so that all State-aided theatres, such as the Opera, the Comedie Franchise, etc., must give free performances to allow even beggars a .chance to taste the good things of life. From the Bastille, all round the working quarters of the Republique, up Montmartre, along the boulevards of Montparnasse you will see dancing in the streets till 2 a.m. On -the 14th itself traffic ceases at 8 p.m. in these districts to give a better dancing area. Clumsy labourers dance together, unheeding of the fact that near them twirl couples' of girls—nothing matters except that the night should be fine, and noises unrestricted? Within a few yards of each other cafes will have bands of ■trumpets and drums, saxophones for the more fashionable, gramophones for tho poorer, concertinas for the really musical To help matters on, the Government provides an elaborate programme of fireworks; perhaps, too, a military pageant, as this year from the great Colonial Exhibition., For quieter folk nothing is better than a stroll up the Champs Elysees, and round by the Madeleine. All round, eyes feast on illuminated fountains and sculptures whose gleaming figures are made even more beautiful by night with projectors.

Fashion in Hats. , ; It is only a matter of a couple of weeks or so that we were electrified by the sadden advent of Marquise hats, those little boat-shaped affairs that are cunningly tilted right on top of one side of the 'head. A popular variety resembles nothing so much as a shallow bowl inverted and enlarged by a narrow brim. High crowns apparently have suffered a sudden end. Carry on the boat idea by trimming the hat with a couple of fairsized wings that spread on either side joining in front, and a little imagination makes it a water bird gracefully floated on placid waters. For those who prefer land birds, nothing at the moment is more appropriate than ostriches! Whole windows display small hats from which hang almost or quite to the shoulder, a long slender feather. The short woman will do well not to try this fashion too much, but to content herself with what is equally modish, a couple, or even three ostrich tips at any angle and (anywhere. Black and white is a hot favourite, but it will not be long before all colours to match the dress will be found in profusion.

After all, this is but another step to the return of Dickens and Victorian, fashions. Long dresses are here to stay awhile, and now they- will have, and indeed already have, more amplitude, especially about the hips. Dare I tell you that Worth’s have already made an exclusive model for Countess X with a slight bustle and sides supported by hoops? “Robes de style” or period dresses are now everyday affairs, with mittens and ringlets complete. In strong opposition to all this retrograde movement is movement of a much later date. How can the sportswoman, let alone the office girl, with trams, buses and underground railways, or the professional one that drives her car to her rooms possibly adopt these dresses? I suppose that we shall compromise, incidentally increasing our wardrobes and decreasing our pockets by insisting on day and evening outfits. One more thread added to an already knotted existence.