The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-10-18

BETRoTHALs in GEREApE.--A latter fsom Ger
many, published in the Congregational Bssaual,
says:
Since / have been In Msntz, The bsaaa1s bslle
Of Mshdniek Ia town a. large as Concord became
engaged 70 each other. Il made as much sensation
az If the town had been burned down. As Il usual
notice Vval laIsdia1eiy gieaa - "A tha nsigl1fs
and the next day the engaged pals eoIafasficed
making their calls Ia the new relation o. bride and
bridegroom; for you must know that when,an en-
gagsment takes place, the gentleman is called ths.
bridegroom and the lady the bride. The partiss
speak Of each other always in this way When
you meet the gentleman you inquire after bis BRIDE
as you inquire in America Of a husband after his
wife. The next week. az is usual notice ap-
peaTed in the Berlin paper 10 the effect that Max
Beelitz and Johanna Hermann were engaged
How it came to pass that our Engliaa notions
and practices, in regard to these Matters are oh
-isciOnable, we do not know. The plan of keep
ing matrimonial engagements secret, (happlY going
somewhat out of fashion, seems 70 rs exceedingly
wrong in itself, and perncious in its consequences
l. Young persons ought not to appear in society
In a false position. A lady secretly engaged may
without intending it, seriously occupy the attention
and thoughts of another TO his injury, and perhaps
to the injury Of her companions. When person no
longer IS at liberty 70 make receive offers, 1t is
wrong TO appear at liberty.
2. The practice diminiahes the impression that
ought to prevail, of the sacredness of a matgimo-
NAL OngaR cement; and thus leads, on the one hand,
TO hasy and il-c0nsidefed Engagements, and on the
Other a. natural consequence TO the violation Of
such pledges. An engagement 70 marry ought to
be considered as marriage itself We mean what
we say. Such an engagement cannot be rightly
made without such a state of the mind and the
affections must often render its fulflment essen
tat to the well being OF one Of the parties; nor
can il be made, or at least long continued in most
cases, without interfering seriously with other plans
Of life and prospects, which the parties might 9TH
0rwise have embraced. The engagement ought to
be considered a. the solemn.mutuaf avOwal, before
God, of a union for life. Were engagements al
| ways 70 be made pubie at onse, and with such
public sentiment respecting them, we should be rid
Of suits of breach Of promises, sustained by cir
cumsIantial evidence, and often involving the ex-
posture TO SCOT and ridicule, Of things that ought
to be held sacred.
/ 8. Private engagements are made uss of by I'm
/ prinCipicd msn to deceive and ruin the unsuspi-
ci0us. In how many cases of seduction it is found
thata promise of marriage has played its part
The German custom would be a great barrier TO
rths uss Of that means.
4. We. add one other consideration, which,
though it may appear triAing when compared with
the preceding, is yet important IN ITSELF 1t is this
the temptation that private engagement lays the
paFtiaH, and sometimes their friends under to praC
tila tallshood and deception. In fact, remarked
IN the outset, the parties necessarily appear IN
clsty in q false p0altion-Which tends Of Itself TO
operate injuriOuslY upon them. They are also
tempted TO the use of various arts Of conduct und
/ language, if not 70 absolute lying to produce &
| false impression This cannos ba-practzed wl,I
out injury to that character of 0pel truth aal frank
| ness, which ought to be cherished