The French is slightly dated in some ways, but definitely could have been written today (albeit by an old school literary type, of which we have plenty).
"Enfin, j'ai découvert une horrible et cruelle méthode, que je ne conseille qu'aux hommes d'une excessive vigueur, à cheveux noir et durs, à peau mélangée d'ocre et de vermillon, à mains carrées, à jambes en forme de balustres comme ceux de la place Louis XV."
The original text states "... with mixed/blended ochre and vermillion skin"
http://www.bmlisieux.com/curiosa/excitant.htm
The French is slightly dated in some ways, but definitely could have been written today (albeit by an old school literary type, of which we have plenty).