PEEPS OF FRANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 77

PEEPS OF FRANCE.

(Special for the Otago Witness.) These articles, from the pen of a New Zealand girl who has gone to France to continue her education, have been specially written for my Little Folk. We hope that after reading them you will have a new idea of a country which, to many of you, is known only as another place to be learned about in a geography lesson.—DOT. XXXIV. CANNES. Mes Petites, —One of the latest beach novelties “ fresh from Paris ” is a special shelter, made of canvas —a kind of threesided screen, behind which one can retire, if so inclined, for a nap or a read on the sand.

For the most part these shelters are painted in varying shades of green and blue, against which graphically drawn sea monsters, real and imaginary, stand ouT in vivid relief, while, to give a further “ beachified ” effect to the whole contrivance, the cushions are stuffed with sand. --- Another novelty in the way of dainty finishing for lingerie and table linen is the lately acquired fashion of embroidering on the articles old proverbs and saws and sayings’ of all descriptions. The fashion has, needless to say, been started in Paris, and seems to be very popular indeed, lending a note of daintiness and charm to the articles. There is, in fact, no end to the pretty, dainty things to be found in and around Paris. The shops are wonderful and beautiful, and no less attractive are some of the restaurants and tea rooms. One especially, called the Restaurant de Madame de Sevigne, struck me as being particularly attractive—a lovely place, with scenes from seventeenth century court life painted on the walls and ceiling, and pictures and paintings portraying scenes, apparently, from Madame de Scvigue’s own life. Madame de Sevigne, as perhaps you know, was one of the most famous French women writers of the seventeenth century, and her “ Letters,” portraying the social life of her time, have made her name fambus in French literature. She appears to have been- a very fascinating and charming woman, in an age which was noted for charming and beautiful women, and the French Court at that time was the centre of all the youth and beauty and gallantry of the land. It was a regular world in itself, and some day you must read for yourselves something of French history. It is all so interesting, and will help you to appreciate your trip to France, if you ever come.

It is so lovely to see and visit places of which one has read and known something beforehand. You will find that in visiting any country, not only France. France’s military history, of course, is full of glory. Not long ago I read of a fete which had been held in Brittany, and at which a kind of pageant had taken place, in which were imperson ated all the outstanding military leaders of France from the early days of the barbaric invasions right up to the days of the Great War. Among these warriors, of course, Napoleon figures always very prominently. He is still just as much of a hero among v the French as he is always painted in, legend and history, and no visit to Paris would be complete without an afternoon or morning spent at the Hotel des Invalides, of which I

think I have told you before, and in which are to be found many souvenirs of Napoleon—his uniform and personal belongings. It is interesting to know that Napoleon knew this part of France—Provence—very well indeed, and it was at Nice, one of the old towns of the Riviera, not far from Cannes, that he collected his armv together for his invasion of Italy. When you are older you should try to read a book called “ Napoleon Interne,” by a man called Arthur Levy.” It is written in French, of course, and so interesting—all about Napoleon himself—his family life and family relations, quite apart from the story of his military career. Nice, of which I told you before, is a most interesting place, and full of history, as are all the little towns and vil lages in Southern France. No less charming than the places actually on the Mediterranean coast are some of the wee towns among the surrounding hills. In fact, there is hardly a hill in "Provence which does not show some sign of habitation. One little perched-up vil lage which I saw to-day not far from Cannes is particularly picturesque. It stands all alone on a solitary hill overtaking endless fields of flowers, and away in the distance is the sea, half hidden by a range of low-lying, hills. Just now the rose pickers are it work in the fields, and you have no idea how wonderful the roses look growing out in the open—masses and masses of them, ready to be picked for perfume making Those-grown specially for that purpose appear to be mostly of the pink or blush rose variety—but in the gardens they are of all shades—rich crimson and yellow, pale pink and white, and a perfect picture, in spite of the wind. Provence is indeed a land of flowers. —Yours with love, Jeanne.