The Arkansas banner., 1849-11-20
ReirnlhalS in Germany,

A letter from Germany, published in the Con- gressional Journal, says:
 "Since have becn in Ments, the beau and belle of Mehdnck Ga town as large as CoHcord) became engaged 10 each other. It made as much sensation as il the town had been burned down. As IS usual, noiice was immediately given to all the neig ighbors and the next day ihe engaged pair comfnenced nIaK ing their calls in their new relation of bride and bridegroom. For you must know, that when an engagement fakes place, the gentleman is called ile bridegroom and ;he lady the bride. The parties speak oi each other always in ths way. When you meet the gentleman you inqune after his bride, as you inquire m America oi husband after his wife The next week. asis usual, notice appeared in the Berlin paper. to the effect that Max BeelItZ and Johanna Hermann were engaged"
 How 1t has come 10 pass that English notions and practices, in regard to these matters obc- | tIonable, We do not know. The plan of keeping ! matrimonial engagements secret, (happiiy going somewhat out of isshon,) seems 10 exceedingi ' wrong in iisslf and pernlcous in it's consequences l. Young persons ought not to appear in society in false position. lady scarcely engaged may, without intending it, seriously occupy the attention and hougts o another, 10 his injury and perhaps to | the injury oi her companion. When person no longer IS at liberty to make or receive offers, it Is wrong 10 dPpear at liberty.
 2. The practice dilnihishes the impression that ought to pfevait, of the sscTedness of a matrimonial engagement; and thus leads the hand too hasty and ill-considered engagements, and on the other as natural consequence, 10 the violation of such pledges. An engagement 10 marry ought to be con- sidered as marriage itself. We mean what we say. Such engagement cannot be rightly made, with out such state of tine mind and the affections as must often render it's lulilment essential ic the we'll being of one of the paitIes nor can it be made of at least long continued, in most cases, without in- terering seriously with other plans of life and pros poets which the parties might otherwise have einbta- eed. The engagement ought to be considered as the solemn mutual avowa, before God, of a union Tor life. Were engagements always 10 be made public at once. and with such pahlic sentiment respect ing them, we should be rid Of suits of breach of promises, sustained by cIeumstaniAl evidence, and often involving the exposure to scoH and ridicuie, of things that ought to be held sacred,
 3. Private engagements are made use of by uR- pTincped men 10 deceive and ruin inc unsuspicious. In how many of seduction it is found that a promise of marriage has play yei its part The Ger man custom would be great barrier 10 the use oi that means.
 1. We add one other consideration, which, though il may appear triding when compared with the pre- ceding, is yet important in itself II is thls:-The temptation that private engagement lays the par ialsehood and deception. In fact, as remarked in the outset, The parties necessarily appear in society in false position which tends of itself to operate injurioa.ly upon them. They ate also tempted to the oi various arts ot conduct and language, il not to absolute yiDg, 10 produce false impression This cannot be pracrced without injury 10 tisat char aciei of opeE Huth irankDess, which ought to bt cherished. 4