THOSE AMERICAN GIRLS IN EUROPE. By Madame Adam.

Otago Witness, Issue 1926, 15 January 1891, Page 35

THOSE AMERICAN GIRLS IN EUROPE. By Madame Adam.

Under the above, title we find a sprightly article by the late editor of the Nouvelle Revue, published in the North American Review. If the American girls love Paris, it is clear that Paris returns the compliment. The leasons aTe explained by Madame Adam, and they are characteristic. The writer evidently means to make herself agreeable ; indeed, she begins her article with a compliment to the editor of "this incomparable review." She gives wing to her fancy, never having visited the States, and this is what she sees in her mind's eye. LBS STBUGGLE-FOR-LIFEUES. When I think of the United States, and realise that I am ignorant of the peculiarities to be observed on penetrating more deeply into anything, I naturally proceed to take a general view. I see a nation, manly, daring, audacious, valiant, whose people command success wherever they pursue it, whose citizens despise weakness of whatever sort it may be, and scorn danger— death itself — with a heroism so simple as to appear unconscious. My vision of such a people is severe, sombre ; even for a Parisian this mass incessantly waging war with everything that may be overcome is disturbing. A GRACIOUS VISION. But in the midst of these austere struggles for life a luminous and smiling figure detaches itself. She is beautiful with perfect beauty, or endowed with a triumphal grace. It seems that all this rude civilisation becomes gentle for her alone. The young girl is the aristocracy, the luxury, the art, the crown of American society, as the Epicurean was of ancient society. She alone enjoys and profits by her leisure. It is for her that man bends with such fury beneath the weight of labour for his betrothed or his daughter. SALLY POTTS DOING THE GBAND. An unidentified virgin, who bears some resemblance to the above-mentioned heroine of fiction, is described as follows : — Miss is arrayed in a rather loud though tasteful gown, fitting to- perfection. The young men who flit around the coquettish young married women rush to meet the American, surround her, press her hand i£ they know her, or have themselves introduced. She is at her ease with all; this pack of admirers and observers does not trouble her ; she answers them all, talks and laughs loudly, dominates them all, and, if she has made a choice, parades it with a boldness which sometimes embarrasses even a Lovelace. FOE THE GOOD OF THE PEERAGE. The young French girl who has lived at Cannes or at Nice may be known by a little American air that she has. She rides more boldly on horseback and converses in a different way with the young men in a ballroom ; in short, she has a certain dash which she would never have if she did not copy the Americans. That which is striking in American girls, and which induces French, English, and Italian noblemen to marry them, is that they never look like shopkeepers' daughters; they sometimes have' unbearable, shocking ways, but they a?e never vulgar. They may be charged with what we call in France airs de cocodettes ; but not one, of them looks like a tradeswoman, though they aie mostly daughters cf manufacturers. The American girl has ths science of pleasing which captivates even the Old World Don Juans unawares. She seems to us exceptionally intelligent, putting forth

all her talents to attain the final end, which is trapping, often for his own good, a titled husband. THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN. " Miss M." was very beautiful (dark hair and blue eyes) and very witty. But all that was sentimental made her smile. And, indeed, Madame Adam "found her ferocious." But surely there must be a tender place somewhere. „ Our scientific inquirer tried to probe it. Let her tell the tale of her rebuff. " But," said I to her one day, " what idea have you of marriage 1 Whom do you think of marrying 1 " "I do not like the vraj sof the American men," she replied, " they are too rough. However, I could never marry a European ; bis ways are too gentle, he talks nonsense, he warbles, he is deceitful, he listens to his own speeches. Then his greatest defect is too great a love of money for his own enjoyment; he is a hunter who willingly eats all his game. The American gives money to spend to his family; he hardly longs or wishes for any. Man is an animal thrown by woman on society, and must bring something in return." OBOHID V. VIOLET. '

You know the conservatories of orchids — that flower, of richness among all flowers ? It needs more heat and light than any other. It is a curious flower, which blooms in a way that surprises you incessantly. Beautiful, dazzling, it first charms you by its strangeness, and then intoxicates you with its subtle perfume. It lives on air, and needs none of the material conditions of existence for other plants ; it often comes from a gnarled stem which seems to defy beauty; yet from this stem it blossoms frequently with singular, but always incomparable, attractiveness. The French maiden, on the other hand, is but a modest drooping violet. But there is one drawback to these human orchids. They are terribly expensive. " The American girl must be rich, for she has an insatiable desire to spend. Therefore she must have wealth, even to be married by a rich man." Which remark of Madame Adam's, being interpreted, oceans, we presume, that your gallant Frenchman insists upon his " dot."