Germain, c'est tout a fait
Parisien, Monsieur, tout a fait Parisien."
The Ellrichs' party was to celebrate the New Tear. Even the richest
of the members of the German bourgeoisie is obliged to be educated
gradually to the cultured usages of society, and are still far from
accomplished in the art of easy familiarity. It finds in its homely
culture no hard-and-fast traditions by which it can regulate its
conduct, and by a deficiency of observation, or by the want of
development of the finer feelings, is only imperfectly helped by
foreign or aristocratic manners. Herr Ellrich, who loved splendor
and expense, felt that the New Year must be celebrated by
rejoicings, and he had therefore invited his whole circle of
acquaintances to this New Year's party to rejoice with him.
In the third room the councilor's wife sat near the fireplace in a
claret-colored silk dress, ostrich feathers in her hair, and
resplendent with diamonds. Nevertheless there was nothing stiff in
her demeanor, and she was friendly and good-natured as ever. Grouped
around her in armchairs were several ladies, who in their own
judgment had passed the age of dancing. Among them were the wives of
civil officers, in whose dresses a practiced and capable eye might
detect a simplicity and old-fashioned taste, while the wives of
certain financiers were gorgeous in then fashionable costumes and
the brilliancy of their ornaments.
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