THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



351 



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Pliotograph by IT. C. Ellis 



BOOK STALXS ALONG THE SEINE : THE BOOKWORM'S PARADISE 



"In the Frenchman we find an unusual love o£ philosophy and a certain worship of 

 reason which are rather discouraging to us more loosely thinking, more sentimental, Amer- 

 icans. The Frenchman, even of the lower middle classes, is always searching for a reason, 

 an explanation, a more thorough understanding of this and that." 



of meat so small that only the national 

 optimism could magnify it into a square 

 meal, and yet the bon mot flourished upon 

 this very poverty of food. It simply 

 means that the Frenchman has learned to 

 enjoy life independent of all circum- 

 stances, and whether in city or in trench 

 he is still the man of society. 



Near the battle fronts the American 

 soldiers at meal time snatch up their mess 

 kits, rush to the camp kitchen, hastily 

 swallow their food with scarcely a word, 

 and go about their business ; but the 

 French seat themselves with some cere- 

 mony, take an hour or more to eat their 

 small ration, and meanwhile discuss with 

 precision, energy, and lively wit a multi- 

 tude of subjects. 



WHERE THE 

 And yet, 



FRENCH BECOME RETICENT 



contrary to the common 

 American opinion, the Frenchman is not 



at all effusive about his personal affairs. 

 On philosophy, art, and literature he will 

 debate with you with titanic energy, but 

 attempt to divert the conversation into 

 matters domestic or personal and you will 

 find the talk suddenly languishing. 



In other words, your Frenchman is not 

 a believer in a "shameless exposure of 

 spiritual nudity." His personal, domestic, 

 and spiritual life are not for public or 

 incidental discussion, and, though you 

 may know him for years and spend a 

 multitude of hours with him in the most 

 stimulating conversations of your life, 

 still you feel that you do not and prob- 

 ably cannot ever know his inner life. 



He can have the most unselfish en- 

 thusiasm for your success ; without a 

 trace of jealousy he will wildly applaud 

 the successful feats of his colleague in 

 university, laboratory, or court ; but never 

 does he open his heart to you or that col- 



