Purple tints of Paris : character and manners in the new empire

Preface

I AM glad of the privilege of preliminary talk which a Preface affords. Like the few last words spoken at the window of a railway carriage by a traveller to the friends he leaves behind him, it gives an opportunity of correcting or explaining, or adapting to altered circumstances, or enforcing more briefly and energetically, what has already been largely unfolded. When I undertook to describe the " Purple Tints of Paris," the Imperial awning had only just been thrown over the country, and seemed to flutter in the breezes that blew from all sides. My object was, not exactly to paint the influence a new Government may have already had upon the externals of society — not to record changes in ladies' head-dresses or gentlemen's coats — but to show what features in French character, what defects in French civilisation, morality, and forms of thought, rendered an Empire possible. To a certain extent I may be admitted to have achieved this object; for I agree with all the great masters of history in tracing the fall of States to corruption of private manners and inefficient education.

IV PREFACE.

Do any Imperial tints flush over the surface of our own society? Is there sufficient ignorance and depravity to render it possible that we should ever fall back under — no matter what form of Government, and cease to assume the conduct of our own affairs ? I think not, because, although there is a party, long identified with the support of arbitrary principles, that endeavours to obstruct teaching, all the intellect of the nation seems engaged in elaborating or recom- ' mending schemes by which those who do not know may be made to know. Such a spontaneous movement has never taken place in France, where the tendency is always to deprive individuals of the duty and the privilege of thought. From the charge of the mineral waters of Yichy, up to the task of education, the responsibility of everything is thrown upon the State.

We must not, however, be too confident in the excellences of our own civilisation. Perhaps I have been away so much, in other moral and intellectual climates, that things very natural in themselves strike me as ludicrous or offensive. If I am not mistaken, the most obvious defect to be noticed in England is stiffness, physical and mental. It is this that leads foreigners into the strange mistake of supposing that we are without passion, whereas there is no nation more impulsive and impetuous. Are we obliged to be starched and bridled lest we should develop into unimaginable antics? Possibly — in the absence of a better kind of restraint. Until this be found, England will remain a cheerless place — with all her unsurpassed virtues — a kind of Miss Ophelia among

PREFACE.

nations, requiring close acquaintance to awaken anything like love. I shall endeavour to set down some of the observations that suggest themselves to me on English aspects in a little publication projected by a circle of friends— which I take this opportunity of advertising — to be called, somewhat oddly, "Utopia." Is it not better to lead the people in search even of a visionary good than to allow them to forget — like so many Lotophagi — over the nauseously sweet food now set before them, that to-day should be but a stepping-stone towards to-morrow ; whilst to-morrow, perhaps, they will find no footing and sink — no : be wafted, whither it imports them to inquire ?

I do not apologise for introducing extraneous matter into my Preface, because I know that such things are only read by the few who^like to draw a little nearer than usual to the writer by whom they are informed or amused. I always thus reward myself by anticipation for the labours of authorship ; for it is some reward to know, or to believe, that simultaneously all round a circle — no matter how restricted the diameter — your written words beget thoughts in many minds with whom you never may commune otherwise. Writers who select more elevated themes, or begin in a higher key, can afford to dispense with this confession ; but an Essayist, who is obliged to record his impressions as well as his experiences, and to introduce the reader as it were to the fire-side of his thoughts, must endeavor to be affably familiar.

In the present case, though I have set down a variety of observations on Paris that may be thought

VI PREFACE.

trifling or superfluous, I have been compelled sometimes to discuss the gravest subjects that can occupy the pen.

These volumes were planned, and in great part written, before circumstances forced England into active alliance with the Emperor of the French. They now seem to me to have acquired an additional and adventitious interest. Previously, in as far as my observations assumed a political character, they were in part intended to keep alive generally that spirit of opposition to arbitrary government — whether usurped or exercised by inheritance ; that is, usurped in another age — which forms the essential ally of public opinion in a free country. At present, we are menaced with a great danger. Interest is whispering corrupt things to our reason and our conscience ; and because we have need of one Autocrat to fight against another, some are willing to be persuaded that tyranny may be odious on the banks of the Neva and yet admirable on the banks of the Seine.

These opinions are as absurd as they are unnecessary. We are no more bound to feel or affect admiration for the principles or the person of the French Emperor because our fleets are at present combined with his, than we are to be in ecstacies with the forms of Turkish administration because it is our policy to prevent Eussia from stealing another portion of the Ottoman dominions. In England — a country that prides itself, as I have hinted, on its coldness— there is, however, a great fund of ill-regulated enthusiasm, ready to flow with huge clamour and billowing towards the feet of any representative of

PREFACE. Vll

Power. Unless my recollections greatly deceive me, the present Czar of Kussia was received with acclamation in England during his last visit : that loathsome monster, Ibrahim Pasha, was made the pet of polite circles ; and I do not believe that anything with a crown on its head, or the title of Prince attached to its name, ever failed to excite noisy applause from the street-walking public. If a detested General, by imprudently putting himself in contact with a more genuine class of the community, did provoke an outburst of feeling, he was well compensated by expressed sympathy from all "respectable" quarters — the same that tried to "pooh-pooh" the popular demonstrations in favour of Kossuth.

"We must, therefore, take into account this servile tendency, which shows itself in alliance with the same greedy curiosity that prompts people to run after Aztec Indians, Devil-Kaisers, and other quackeries, in explaining the partial favour with which the name of Louis Napoleon is now received. But it is chiefly in a sort of affectation of policy that the cause must be sought. Sycophancy, however, will find itself mistaken. The Emperor of the French — eminently a man of one passion, the love of power — will be influenced in his actions neither by praise nor by blame. As long as he finds it useful to co-operate with this country he will co-operate, regardless alike of criticism and adulation. Nothing that is said on our side of the Channel will have any other effect than to influence the formation of our own modes of thought, the direction of our own speculations. To teach the people that power sanctifies him

PJFiEFACE.

who obtains it, no matter by what means — that successful administration atones for any guilt — that we may properly cling to liberty ourselves, and rejoice when our neighbours lose it — is certainly a dangerous attack on the idea of right, an effective pleading for the doctrine of expediency, but still more certainly will never retard, by one single day, any project of Aggression or Desertion — if such project be entertained on other grounds.

I think that our line of conduct and argumeut is very clearly laid down by circumstances. We should avoid as much as possible any personal attacks on the Chief of the French State, — any attempt to penetrate into his private life, — any temptation to repeat unnecessarily the withering charges which both opponents and spectators brought forward at the most decisive period of his history. Yet endeavours to exalt him into a pure benefactor of his country, to confound him with a Washington or an Antonine, to extenuate his crimes or metamorphose them into virtues, must be met with the materials which we have at hand. I have done my best to steer a middle course, — to judge rather of the politician than the man ; but I feel that indignation has sometimes carried me away, — not beyond the bounds of truth — I have never reached them, — but beyond what I conceived at the outset to be a tone in harmony with a description of manners and an analysis of national character. There are topics which the mind cannot approach without being heated. There are times when moderation must be hypocrisy.

However, if I have been very severe anywhere, it is against the French nation, or rather the educated

PREFACE. IX

and wealthy classes which affect to represent it. There is no possibility of giving an explanation of what has recently occurred, — in fact, of any great historical event since 1789, — without going upon this ground, that, for reasons which it is not my province now to develop, the upper classes in France, whether they be called Noblesse or Bourgeoisie, have proved themselves incompetent for government, and altogether unworthy of respect and confidence. It seems fashionable, among persons who are fonder of rhetoric than fact, to conjure up some hideous monsters from mythological Faubourgs,— men whose business is revolutions, whose delight is in emeutes, who appear only when society is in peril, and who are ever ready to fall upon and tear it to pieces. All this is very childish. If there be classes permanently desirous to engage in overthrowing a Government, that is a plain proof that the Government must be very bad indeed. Any one who attends for a moment to the mode of life of a workman in tolerably full employment, will understand at once that he cannot spend his time even in supporting laudable schemes. The necessities of the day absorb ninetenths of his attention. If, however, by a wasteful system of government, and an unjust distribution of taxation, you weigh so heavily upon him, that, with the utmost willingness, he cannot avoid misery ; if you answer his complaints by quotations from Political Economy, which always goes on the supposition that there are no artificial laws, by favour of which some are comfortable and others not, — a supposition untrue in any country ; if you excite and take advantage of 1*

PREFACE.

his enthusiasm one day, and then restrict political power to the classes which he regards as his natural enemies ; if you are ruthlessly savage in punishing his outbreaks ; if you surround him by every restriction, every difficulty, every annoyance that a police composed of thief-takers can invent ; if you give satisfaction to none of his ideas, and base your policy on principles which he detests — why, then it is absurd to complain that he should seize the opportunity of toppling down a dynasty in 1848, and for some time afterwards, tormented by vague desires, fears, and jealousies, which those in power excited rather than allayed, be ready to appeal to arms with or without reason. However, the restless classes were, at length, calmed down, although still none of their opinions were complied with. They prepared to exert the privileges which the constitution had given them, and began educating themselves in the machinery of elections. Instead of making some concessions — as I believe even the most bigoted party would have done in England — the Eeactionists in France struck off the list of voters nearly three millions of the men who had elected them ; and impudently announced their intention of carrying on the government with " the purified lists." What people affected to anticipate with so much alarm as " the fatal year 1852," was nothing but the chance that the excluded classes, I cannot think very improperly, should carry out their threat of voting in spite of the law that had robbed them of a right which they had gained by some hard fighting. Of course, such an attempt might have led to very serious disturbances; but who would

PREFACE.

have caused them, if not the party and the classes which had endeavoured to confiscate political power for their own profit ? On this stupendous blunder was the success of the present Emperor based. With wonderful knowledge of the French character he assisted in passing the disfranchising law, and then, at a moment chosen by himself, proposed to repeal it. At the last hour wisdom came not to the governing classes in France. They persisted,, and were deservedly punished. Every working man who did not vote for the Emperor from fear did so from a respectable, though unenlightened, gratitude ; and this is partly the reason, combined with certain velleities of Socialism, why he has become the instrument of the wrath of the Lower against the Upper Orders of Society. The people, at any rate, find some consolation for their disaster in beholding the politicians who believed that, without them, the world would not go round, entirely set aside, or banished, or ordered to remain within doors, or punished by the ignominy of pardon.

Prophecies are dangerous things to deal in, and I always avoid them if possible. However, I can scarcely conclude these remarks without saying that the hopes which seem to be entertained in France by certain relics of ancient parties — ancient and condemned — that another chance may be given to any members of the old reigning family, have no visible foundation. That family, in both its branches, has had opportunities enough. A nation cannot afford to be always restoring its kings. History, moreover, would become too monotonous. The probability, then, is, that Naxil PREFACE.

poleon III.— who has more talent and knowledge than a whole dynasty of princes of that effete kind, and perhaps quite as much virtue — will reign until the French nation, in sober sadness, once more sets about the task of constructing a Eepublic.

Chapter I

Hasty Conclusions— First Impressions — Old Acquaintance with France— My Prejudices—French and English—Limits of the subject— Egotism— New Streets — Changes in the Aspect of Paris — War against old Names — Great Battles and National Prejudices — "Waterloo — Counter-criticisms — Spoils of Conquest — Historical Amenities— Public Works and Communism— English Opinions— Our Countrywomen scolded — Beauty and Influence of Paris .... 1

Chapter II

Exiles from the Capital — An atrocious Provincial — English Ladies — Beautiful Climate—A Cloudy Day at Marseilles— The Country of Fogs— Coal and Charcoal — Dingy London— The Seine — Paris a Seaport— Floating Baths— Advantages of Modesty— Athletic Exercises — Promenades— The Ringdoves of the Luxembourg — Private Gardens— Flowers— Commissionaires— Omnibuses— Dearth of Talk— Cab Regulations — Umbrellas and Washerwomen — Street Noises — National Airs — Emigration of Organs — Newsmen — their Persecutions — Street Police — " The Guard " — Patrols— Learned Police — Political Crimes ..... 15

Chapter III

The Reader introduced to my Lodgings— Moving — Economy of a Paris House — Cheerful Streets — M. Mery in a Passion — Madame Joseph — Duties of a Porter — Arrangement of a Furnished Lodging— Cheapness— French and English Comforts— Surveillance of the Police — Suicides — M. Proudhon— the Porter and the Lodgers — Unsettled Population— Commentary on French Manners — Personal Observations— Rents . . ■ . . . . . 28

XIV CONTENTS.

CHAPTEE IV.

French and English — Mutual Ignorance — Celts and Anglo-Saxons — Our Countrymen Abroad — Beards — Beau ideal of an Englishman — Londoners at Boulogne — Politeness — Odd Prejudices — Sight-seeing — How to collect Information — French Mistakes — International Sharp-shooting — A Cockney at Table — Yulgarity — The Pocket Dictionary — Scene of Eeconciliation — The Sabbath — Morality and Immorality . . . . . . • . . 41

Chapter V

Our judgments on the French— The " fickle " Nation — Historical Parallels— Our Mobility — Jokes on the French — Eoutine in Literature— Friendships— Eeligion — Wars of Conscience— M. Mignet— Deliberative Assemblies — Aversion to Travel — Nostalgia — Female Emigrant — Our Eoughnessess — National Dislikes — A bluff old Sailor — Liberty and Equality — A Legitimist Confession — Political Sympathies — Trees of Liberty— Plantation of Crosses — Absurdities of Fanaticism . 52

CHAPTEE VI.

National Enmities— Manners— Ignorance of the French about England — Popular Notions and Delusions — Our Eating and Drinking — No Vegetables in England — M. Viardot's Misfortune— Shepherds — English Women — M. Chateaubriand — Criticism — Our Literature — We have no good Writers — Mr. Macaulay — Eeputation, how made — The language of Birds — Curious Check to Population — Napoleonic Ideas— Strike of Engineers— Feeling towards England— Our Mission— M. Toussenel — Thistlewood— Bethnal Green— Great Exhibition — Contempt— Telegraphic Signals— French and Humanity— Why the French despise our Nation — Analysis of the Spirit of Mockery— Humiliation of France— Chamfort and De Tocqueville . ... . . . . . . 64

CHAPTEE VII.

Arrival in France— June, 184S— The Constitution— Cavaignac — The Presidency — The Coup oVEtat— Why it took place— Travelling Englishmen— The French Upper Classes— Outside of French Manners— A Soiree— Eules thereof— Female Costume — Influence of the Empire — Napoleon III. at Compiegne — Symbolic Hats — The Noblesse — How to disperse Emeutes — Gentlemen of the Old School — Conversation— Piety — Brilliant Talk— A Wit Analysed— Great Men of Society— A Fable — Fashionable Circles— Debility of the Old Governing Classes — The Cholera — A Countess — Definition of Society — Mission of Democracy — Terror of the Upper Classes — A Frightened Lady — Ignorance and Prejudices — Divine Institution of Eank— A New Aristocracy— Exaggeration of Political Economy — A Banker and his Wife— The Poor and the Eich . . . ... 76

CONTENTS. XV

CHAPTEE VIII.

Classes of a People— The Students — Intellectual Gipseydom — The. University under the Empire — Anecdote of Napoleon's Nose— Political Influence of Students — How they become Eespectable — Aspirations for Luxury — The First Tear— A Fair Companion — Young Bachelors — My Chest of Drawers — Alexis — Landlords and Eent— Punning away — Philosophy of Non-payment— French Novels — Eeal Life —Influence of early Vagabondage — My Experiences ... 96

CHAPTEE IX.

Systematising — Boy Schools — Studies— Professors— Punishments— Precocious Collegians—Small Philosophers — A young Lovelace— Spoiled Children— Paul-Auguste —Parents and Children — Time of Schooling— Brothers and Sisters— Quiet Manners— Mode of Fighting — Diminished Pugnacity — Courage — Immorality— The University — Theory of Anarchy — Centralisation — A Promising Youth . 109

CHAPTEE X.

Observations on the University of France ..... 124

CHAPTEE XL

Eeading M«n— Celebrity — Public Libraries— The College of France and the In-, stitute— French Savans— Ignorance— French Language— Knowing Gentlemen — Geographical Blunders — The Mamelukes — Books of Travels— Political Economy —The Young Noblesse — How Knowledge is Lost— Eevolution of '89— Eelics of Barbarism — Property and Mind — Laws of Inheritance — Peasant Ignorance — The Electors— The Malforts and the Eibeaumonts— Literature in the Provinces — Skindeep Civilisation ........ 140

CHAPTEE XII.

Agricole Passager— Country Proprietaires— A Student sent to Paris — Division of Property— Struggle for Distinction— Arduous Undertaking— Small means— Career of Agricole— His Affairs of the Heart — French Ladies— Passion and Genius- Seeking for Lodgings— Wilful Poverty— Eeminiscences of Fiflne— A Biographer — Fiflne, what — How Agricole was fitted out — First Day in Paris — His Expenses — Sufferings of poor Students— The Poor Bachelor in Paris— His Philosophy and Manners— His Eesources — Confession of the Poor Bachelor— Expenses of the Day —A Cremerie— Playing at Dominoes— Delights of Laziness— Object of Life— Superstitious Skeptic — Politics of the Poor Bachelor— The Conservative Citizen— M. Croquignole— Another Species— Atrocious Morality— Bad Books and Bad men — M. Croquignole's Den— A noisy Hotel— Seeing Life . . 160

CONTENTS.

OHAPTEE XIII.

Cafe of the Eue du Bouloi — Cafes in general— Their Economy and Appearanco— Waiters— Cockneys abroad again— English and French Soldiers— Furniture of Cafes — Articles consumed — Habits of Customers — Beer — Sobriety of the French — Instances and Exceptions — Population of the Banlieue — A ferocious Pastry-woman— Political "Workmen — Drunkards' Association — Domino Players — Four ditto Gentlemen — The Cafe de la Eegence — Parasites of the Cafes — Their Habits and Character — Billiard-playing — La Poule — Cards — The Point of Honour — Gambling— Playhouses — Their Eestoration plotted — Frail Health of Morality — How to Demoralize a People — Acquaintances in Public Places — Police Agents — Informers—Conspiring Spies— The Singing Coffee-houses— Applause forbidden — The Students disobey— Delphine— Songs sung— National Airs suppressed . 175

CHAPTEE XIV.

Further Account of M. Agricold— Poor Fifine— A Visit to Home — A prudent Girl — A. renewed Acquaintance— The Cremerie— A charming Woman— Fifine comes upon the Stage — Her Conversation— A Knot of French People — Madame Adele's Shop — A discreet Lady — The Neighbours — Talk of Butter and Cheese — Eggs — Stock of the Cremerie — Breakfasts — Fifine and Adele— Philosophy of Females- Formation of a Club— Eules and Eegulations— Alexis introduced — A New Candidate—M. Petit— A Mysterious Character— Our Manners — Watching a Eival — Tom Pouce— Ludicrous Simplicity— Blackballing a Beard— The Man who lives upon Cremieres— I moralise— The Game of Consequences . . . 188

CHAPTEE XV.

The Brune Therese— An Arrival — M. X , a new Clubbist— Story of Madame

Adele— Theory of Marriage — An Ideal — Political Economy — Early Marriages — Polygamy — The " Mistress " — Motives of Women — English Women — Why Girls go astray— Schmidt — The Infant Adele— The Blood— A Semi-adoption— Pride must have a fall— A Marriage de Convenance— Tradesmen's Wives— Why M X sought a Mistress— Conjugal Fidelity— Conflicting Passions— Life a Contest— Virtue in France — Lax tone of Morality — Alexandre Dumas — Details of an Intrigue— French Wives — Severity of the Law — Hide-and-Seek Life — Its Conclusion—The Cigar-shop— Frontier-ground — The Students and the Middle Classes — Public Characters — Political Immorality — Villanous Theories — Progress of Virtue in Free States— Women of Nations we hate— Marie Antoinette and the Empress Eugenie ... . . .' . . . . 203

CHAPTEE XVI.

Women Educators of Youth— Their Influenee on Morality— A Trip to St. Germain — Beautiful Scene— Historical Associations— " Charlie " — Fifine and Chronology- Comparative Length of Life— A Fete-day— Country Amusements— Dancing-places— " Paying the Piper "—Odd Style of Performance— The Police— Degrees

CONTENTS. XV11

of Immorality — Public Balls, by whom frequented — Young Girls— How to make Acquaintance with a Grisette — Simple Tastes — The Old Story — Making Happy the present time — The Fair — "Wandering in the Forest — Eose the Prudent — Fiflne at fault — A Country Eestaurant — Difficulties — Fire-works — Eeturn to Asnieres — The Dancing-avenue— How the Grisette was created — She is not Defunct — Mr. Cockney at Meurice's— The Present and the Future . . . 221

CHAPTEE XVII.

The Grisettes not an " Institution "—The "Working Girl who has a Friend— Why she takes him— Her Eivals— The Lorettes— Eomancers at Bay— The Dame aux Camelias— Immorality of French Literature, past and present— Incidents in Novels — Historical Eomances— Alexandre Dumas— Types of Character in Fiction— Their Eepresentatives in the World— The French Face— Influence of Eomantic Writing — Lorette and Grisette— Another Adventure of Mr. Cockney— Protection of Life and Property — Letters emigrate— Dangerous Curiosity of Married Women— Advice to Ladies — The Carnival — Agricole makes a Proposal — We agree to go to the Masked Ball— Priests and Soldiers inviolable— The Dames de la Halle— Who and what they are — Victory — The CatecMsme Poissard — Eeine Leclerc — Carnival of 1853 — Preparation for the Ball — Costume of the Ladies— First View of the Theatre — A Pierrette gone astray — A fortunate Bear — Fiflne in Society — Effects of Dancing— All the World mad — A good Story with a bad End — Eiot and Ribaldry 233

CHAPTEE XVIII.

The Story of Fiflne 251

CHAPTEE XIX.

Feminine Organisation of the French — Ethical Theories — Philosophical Skeptics — Eeligion and Morals — Feeling of Shame — Eules of Conduct — The Church and the Philosophers — Young Men Adrift — Students, how their Morals are Influenced— A Simple Narrative — Mademoiselle Pauline — Influence of the Boulevard Ladies — A Heart in Danger — A Knotty Question for the Law — Pauline at large — A new Friend — A Separation — An Arrangement — Influence of a Breakfast on Misery— Meeting in a Crowd — Marriage in Sight— Pauline and the People— Eise of Aristocracies— Origin of Prevalent Ideas about Women— Noble Paternity of Vice— The Porter's Bell— Financiers— A Queer Family— Seeing Life— Mothers and Sons — Illegitimate Children — Foundling Hospitals— Trade of Child-Exposers — Influence of Climate on Morality— Beauty of Natural Children — Example of the Old— Inheritance of the Past — M. Croquignole again— Who pays for the Toilettes at Longchamps ?— A Plea for Education — Art of Government — Moralising hy Force— Danger of Virtue— An over-zealous Bishop . . . 280

C0NTE>7TS.

CHAPTER XX.

General Position of Women— An Odd Anecdote— Esprit de Corps— Virtue— Basis of Eeligion— A Political Illustration— National Character — Fatalism— Theory of Rehabilitation—Public Opinion with regard to "Women— Female Emancipation — Oriental Theories— Liberty and Seclusion— The Married and the Unmarried- Girls, why watched— Artificial Training— The Empress— English and French Systems— Course of Instruction — A Philippic against Crochet- work — Music— German Songs— National prejudice— Education of Women of the Humbler Classes— The Sisters— Immoral Influence of Catholicism— Convents and Boarding-schools- Prizes in Publie— Rewards for Virtue— Chamfort— Pension St. Denis . 29T

CHAPTER XXI.

Treatment of Infants— Nurses— A Fortunate Beggar— Cost of Nurses— Their Influenceon Character— Governesses— Story of Eugenie and Marie— Going to Mass— An Intrigue in a Church— Aristocracies— English Prudery and French Immorality— Before and After Marriage— Girls of the Poorer Classes— War against Modesty- Literature read by Grisettes— Story of Amelie— Influence of Female Occupations —Dressmakers— The Limits of Knowledge— Indigent Men and Women— Why Women take Lovers— Virtuous Courtesans and French Romancers . 309

CHAPTER XXII.

Influence of Institutions— Primogeniture and the Position of Women— Allies of Conservatism—Theory of the Married State— Marriage a Convenience— English Sentimentality—Youth in France— The Ideal— Property and Parental Authority- Elopements— A Matrimonial Negociation— Young Ladies not to be pitied— Object in Life— How Maidens are Persuaded— Effect of Ennui— Preparation for Marriage —The Signing of the Contract— Imitation of the Upper Classes— Expeditious Courtship— Buying a Husband— A Cherry-tree— An avaricious Barber — Saving a Dowry— Making Acquaintance with a Wife— Romance in Marriage— The Family in danger— Odious Theorists— The Bourgeois, how worked upon— Objects of the Democratic Party— Theories of Property— Spoliation— Hostility to Marriage- True Topics of Criticism— Divorce, its effects— Corruption of the Upper and Observation of the Lower Classes . . ■ . . . . 320

CHAPTER XXIII.

Marriage Customs— Humorous Persecution— Dinners at the Barrier— Materials — Jokes and Songs— Dancing— An Impatient Locksmith — The Socialists — Making Acquaintance with the Bride— Illusions of Youth— A sham-delicate Idea— Two Aristocracies — After the Honeymoon — Beating Wives — Due de Praslin— Austerity of the old Bourgeoisie— Female Admirers of the Emperor— Joys of Marriage — Antagonists of the Institution— George Sand — Women and Circumstances—

CONTENTS. XIX

Female Education— Madame L " Successes " in Society— M. Toussenel — An

affectionate Mother — A dutiful Wife — Accepting Presents — Consequence of Immorality— Eight and Expediency— A fortunate Eake — Auguste Guyard and Prejudice— M. Leynardier on Family Life— Laws of Property . . 335

CHAPTER XXIY.

Natural Sentiments— Dutiful Sons — An awkward Maternal Visit— Family Festivities— Presents— Joviality— Sunday Afternoon— Ordinary French Living— Cheapness—French and English Dinners— The Noblesse— Luxury— Glutton's Bazaars — Clothing Marts— Artifices of Tradesmen— The Blouse and the Black Coat— Upper and Lower Classes — Ladies in Families — Afternoon Eeceptions — Eules — Character of the Fat— His Conversation— Green Peas — " The "Weather and the Crops" — Esbrouffe— A Paradox— Scandalous Stories— Imprisonment— A Visit to Mazas— Habeas Corpus— French Homes ...... 347

CHAPTER XXV.

The Bourgeois— His Settling in Life — Paradise of "Women— Female Government — Flower Presents— A French Kitchen— The Pot-au-feu— A Eeceipt— Soupe aux Choux— Kitchen Furniture— Analysis of a Quartier— Clothes'-Shops— Tradesmen's Trickery — Fine Names and Semblances— Suspicious Matters — Second-hand Eating-houses— Commissioners of Analysis — Merchants of the Four Seasons— Fried Potatoes — Bad Furniture — Instances — Economy of a French Family — The bonne — Treatment of Servants — Aristocrats and Artistes — Paris Hospitals — Household Work — Washing — Wood and Coal-dealers — Shopping— Mariette and Mr. Yellow — Selling Hair— A Young Heart— Conjugal fidelity— Dress of the Bourgeois — Theatres— Free Admissions— Theatrical Critics— The Claque— The Queue— Moralising Influence of the Theatre— Stolen Jokes — The Moral Bourgeois— Contrast between his Taste and that of the Working Classes . . . 358