52

PARIS .

disciplined lawlessness and pallid depra-vity that makes one shudder. Who canread Lacretelles History of the FrenchRevolution, and not feel the utmost an-tipathy and disgust at eveiy Parisian hemeets above the age of forty? for all suchwere quiet spectators, if not active per-petrators, of the bloody scenes there de-scribed *.

The women in the middle ranks of lifeare active and industrious wives and ten-der mothers. The manners of those inpolished society are playful, sprightly, en-chanting; but in beauty of feature anddignity of form, in fidelity of heart andunaffected simplicity, in useful know-ledge and modesty of demeanor, our coun-try-women far, very far, surpass them.Music they certainly excel in, yet I can-not allow that this boast is altogether cor-rect :—

“ Hispanus flet, dolet Italus, Gernianus boat,

“ Flander ululat, solus Gallus cantat.”

* See Appendix , 8.