Figure 1.--This French postcard, probably from the 1920s illustrates what the Frech at the time would have referred to as "Garçons Modèles". Younger boys would have worn rompers. Image courtesy of the MD collection.

HBC has noted the term used in France " enfants modèles " and " garçon modèles ". This translates as model child and boy. A French reader strsses, however, that this basic definition does not really capture the true mening of the term. We have noted that rompers are one of the outfits used for what the French call "garçons modèles" or particularly well behave and dressed boys. One French reader stresses that this concept of a beautifully behaved and dressed boy was particularly prevalent for French mothers in the 1940s and 50s. Perhaps the disaster of World War II caused mothers to treat their children even more carefully and mother them more than in past generations. Thus fashions for boys emphasizing their innonsence and youth were very popular. A "garçon modèles" was expected to be obdedient and polite as well as clean and neat. He was also expected to be well dressed. HBC has noted several garments that are often associated with a "garçon modèles". The two most important are rompers and short pants, but there were other garments as well.

Countess de Ségur

The Countess de Ségur is one of the most famous of all French authors of children's books. De Ségur's books were so widely read that they helped set the standard foe well behaved children, especially girls, in the 19th century. Her term " petites filles modèles " entered the French language to described a well behaved and mannered little girl. Some mothers also used it to describe their sons as " petites garçones modèles ".

Chronology

After World war I French attitudes toward bringing up children changed. Children wre expected to have excellent manners and were often very carefully dresses. The style petites filles modèles corresponded to the desire of the mothers ; quickly it was also applied for the boys. A French reader writes, "The nature of the relationship between adult and children had change substantially in France since the Revolution. It was a exemple copied by the mostly world countries. The principal idee of this change , was that the children must be respected for their specific nature, that means they have right to the protection, affection, education; school compulsory without exception for all; child labor laws. Before World War I, the French children were well behaved and well dressed as well. The change in this attitude came after World war I. France during the War supported a terrible disaster, several millions killed nd even more injured. Large numbers of children were orphaned. Our country was for a time in the hands of women. The children problems took one of the principal place in our sociaty. Child labor was forbidden, despite the economic difficulties. It was devolopped the idee that the children might be raising as children in their education, attitude, and clothing. And the result was that the women considered finaly their children as dolis. The innocence; the affection; the juvenile look were the rules, Till the 1970s these rules were respected here, in a certain way these rules are still in large part in the french mentality to day.

Terminology

HBC defines garçon modèle as a model or ideal child. A French reader writes, "The French term " petit garçon modèle " or " enfants modèles " has two meanings. First it can mean enfants modèles for catalogues, and we say " modèle garçon modèle fille ". Second it can mean an ideal child according old french concept. We we say " petit garçon modèle ; petite fille modèle " Notice to avoid confusion , we add " petit " . These terms are always used to day, and perfectly understood. These terms were invented by Madame la Comtesse de Ségur in 19th century. This concept way for boy was in fashion after World War I until the end of the 1950s. The principal meaning is that of a perfect, ideal, or dream child. This means a boy who is well behaved, innocent, and delicate. He is dressed with a fancy and juvenil look. He is always perfectly clean and well groomed." Our French reader adds, "This is of course quite different than what we find today! Such boys in France are very rare." HBC thinks that model or ideal are adequate literal translations. We do think, however, that there ardifferences in what is considerd a model child. Of course this varies from person to person. The concept of an ideal child in America would not include the delicay our French reader mentions. An ideal American boy might be more in the line of Tom Sawyer who migjht be just alittle bit naughty--in a boyish sence. Here a mother and father migh have slightly different concepts and of course such concepts change over time.

Promotion

The french concept of a enfant modèle was not just a family concept. It was promoted in the schools. There were many reference in children's literatue. There were also historical references.

Les Poulbots

Opposite to the enfant modèle in France was " Les poulbots de Paris " a term appearing during the French Revolution. These boys had a similar look to Huckleberry Finn. These children lived freely in the street, either as orphans or neglected by their parents. They commonly wore long pants and their hair was uncombed. They were often depicted as juveniledlinquents and did not respect the bonnes manières.

Clothing

A "garçon modèles" was expected to be well dressed. HBC has noted several garments that are often associated with a "garçon modèles". The two most important are rompers and short pants, but there were other garments as well. A French reader tells HBC that most parents no longer dress children in the fashionanle clothes once worn by a "garçons modèle". The children have more say in what they wear and have adopted a kind of international style. I note that sometimes parents bring back the old, traditiional fashions for the baptism or other special occassions. For instance, boys commonly wear "culotte anglaise" (English short pants) for weddings. A French reader writes, "The chooce about the ideal juvenile look was not given to the Fauntleroy style , but the dressy very short dresses for girls and fancy very short pant suit for boys. After the 1930 , the fancy very puffed rompers were also adopted for the petits garçons modèles of 4-7 years."

Blouses

Rompers

Perhaps the most popular garment for younger "garçons modèles" during the 1930s-early 50s was the romper or "barboteuse". All kinds of rompers might be worn, including both one-piece suits and suspender and button-on romper bottoms. The one-pice rompers might have especially long waise sashes that could be ties in big bows in the back. The one-piece romper was seen as suitable for the younger boy and the suspender or button-on romper bottoms, worn with fancy blouses, as more appropriate for the older boy. In earlier generations boys were dressed in other fancy outfits and were a particularly popular sunject on French postcards. We do not know if the term "garçons modèles" was then in term. Along with rompers boy might wear smocked blouses with puff sleeves, white kneesocks, strap shoes, and white gloves.

Short Pants

Rompers were popular for younger garçon modèles, especially before entering school. Once school began, most suuh boys would wear short pants. A well dressed boy would wear a short pants suit. Yonger primary school children might wear shorts with a dressy blouse, in some cases the smocked blouses with puff sleeves and Peter Pan collars that might have been worn with suspender rompoer bottoms. The style for the shorts worn by these boys boys were commonly short cut and trim fitting. A French reader writes, "For us French, 'Les petits garçons modèles' today means the same as 'Les garçons en culottes courtes' (boys in short pants)".

Other Garments

HBC has noted several other garments often associated with garçon modèles. One sich garment was a dressy blouse. Some such blouses worn by younger boys with both suspender rompers and short pants. In some cases the smocked blouses with puff sleeves and Peter Pan collars, but many other styles were worn as well. Other garments included white gloves, white kneesocks, and strap shoes or closed-toe sandals. I do not know of any cap that was associated with these outfits. Certainly it was not the béret which was considered to be rather backward and common.

Behavior

A "garçon modèle" was expected to be obdedient and polite as well as clean and neat. Good manners in French are called "L'éducation soignée des enfants". A one describes a child respecting these rules as "c'est un enfant à l'éducation soignée." And a child with good manners and well dressed still to day one says " C'est un enfant soigné" or "C'est un enfant modèle". A French reader complains wissfully, "Unfortunetly there are not many French children today that fit this description and before long this expression may disappear."

Obedieance

Mannerly

French garçons modèles were not only well dressed, but they were also very well behaved. A French reader who lived for a time in Austria tells us, "For the posterity I will speak about the good manners concerning the children from good families during the 1950s. It seems that is unknown by the new generation. In the 1950s when I grew up there were unwritten rules for children that they were none-the-less obliged to respect. The same was true in Austria where I lived for a time. Today all this is changed. Children today are treated like little kings. In 1950s they was a world for children and a world for adults and it was not possible to mix them. It is true also that the children had no on many topics, often including the selection of their clothes. The tree principal groups of rules were: 1) the child's behavior with the members of his family (at home); 2) the child's behavior with the persons outside his family or visiting friends and realtives; 3) the child's behavior at school for general teaching, music, or other activities. Special manners were not needed while playing with other children, except not to use swear words and not to fight. In Austria, as in France, there were variations and there were differences for boys and girls. Children were taught the rules at a very young age. They change with the age of the child. All the Austrian children respected these rules, probably they were getting strictly enforce as other aspects of the NAZI regime. [HBC tends to believe this more part of Germanic national character than NAZI influence on the family.] In France it was less complicated and the adult contacts with the children were more tender. In France we kiss often the children and the family gives them constant cuddles." A French reader tells us about trends in manners, "In France and in Austria " bonnes manières " were practically the same, perhaps even more often used inside the standard family than in France. Probably these rules were also used in others European countries as well. A large part of this education style comes from past traditions. My granmother was very attentive to manners and teaching the children. My parents were not really that concerned and me not at all. The modern society doesn't permit such manners to be easily taught. Now the small child in France is rather considered as a little king. In past generations a child under 5 years was not included in many family activities. He was treated like a baby without a personality an almost hiden. Myself I think babies and children should be given all the family attention they need."

Polite speech

French " enfants modèles " were also expected to speak properly. The children were taught to speak clearly and to pronounce the best they could. The were expected to enunciate the vowels and consoles of the words very clearly. For instance they didn't say " mamman " but " maman ". A French reader tells us that in the past children were taught to use formal verb tenses when speaking to adults. In French there are two form s of "you", "vous" and "tu". This is the same in Spanish (usted/tu) and German (Sie/du). Here English is an exception. (There was such a word, "thou", now only found in the King James Bible. This rule was very important. Our reader tells us, "When I was boy, I was taught to say "vous" to everybody except my parents, my nanny and of course my friends. Inside the "bonnes familles" or "bourgeoisie" the people, the family staff have to say "vous" to the children except the nanny to her child. In the school, principaly in private school the teatchers still say "vous". In certain high family the children were obliged to say "vous" to their parents. This rule is still used sometime to day. When I visited a choir school in 2000, I spook with the heardmastor about the "vous" or "tu" when speaking to the boys. He told me that they decided to say "tu" to the children, because boarding was already a difficult adjustment for them. It was decided that to create a more friendly boarding establishment, it was best not to be too formal with the "vous" usage .

Cleanliness and neatness

Adults

The French also had rather formalozed rules concerning how adults should act around "garçon modèles". A French reader tells us that in polite society it was not permited for guests to touch a child without ask the permission to the parent. So a lady would say, " Chère amie puis-je donner un baiser à Charles ?" The others person made a slight and quick move of their head and said, "Bonjour Charles" and even "Bonjour mon chéri" for the close relatives. When a family had invited guests, it was not permit for a child to speak first. His answers had to end by the nature of the person addressed. For instance: " Oui madame" "Non mon oncle" " oui papa" that was compulsory. Our French reade tells us that these rules were the same in Austria.

American and English Image

A French HBC reader asks, "I don't know , what the American can thought about our petits garçons modèles? Here ; never a petit garçon modèle was teased ; we found this attitude normal ; even when the child spook with his proper language." Hard to say precisely. Certainly many mothers would have wnted a son like this and to dress him in attractve clothing. We would say that such a boy woukd not be popular in either America or England. There is no precice term for a Garçons Modèles in America. An American boy might be called a Garçons Modèles a Little Lord Fauntleroy by the other boys and treased about their clothing and behavior. English boys would have had the same opinion. There are examples in English literature of such encounters. William from Just William in particular was dismissive of such well dressed and well behaved boys--especially Georgie Murdoch.

Chronology

A French reader writes in 2004, "About the ' petits garçons modèles ' This morning I went to the Mass in Paris ( Notre Dame de la Croix ) and they were two smartly dressed little boys 6-9 years old dressed this typic style. It is quite rare to day. They wore a wool short pants navy blue suit with a white shirt round collar; white knee stocking , some shiny black souliers. They also wore very short navy coats. Both had a hairstyle ' coupe anglaise '. They were probably brothers or relatives. There were other boys in short pants. It is quite common to see older boy in short pants, but not in this style. Here a little boy can be dressed in sailor suit, short pants suits, and fancy clothes with Smocking. Less common today are boys wearing puffed rompers."