Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-12-03
The Marriage Trade i'm France.

There are few, perhaps, of your readers
who arc not aware that there are in this city
number of offices in which lorn Benedicts
and fair danes in a state of single blessed
ness may, for 'con-s-d Iteration, ha We them
selves duly provided with partners for life,
but few, perhaps, will believe that people OF
respectable positions in society. and even of
rank, have recourse to these matrimonial
agencies. Such, however is the TACT, an d
you will see itproved by a report in the ne VS.
papers, in which NJ Foy, the great marriage
broker, is represented as having got iudg-
ment from law court against q dishonest
client. for four hundred pounds, for having
negotiated the marriage Of the neice of
marquis. The marriage brokers, and this
man Foy especially, arc accustomed to ad-
vertise Their establishments, day after day,
in the newspapers; and their calling is as
perfectly recognized by the authorities, and
as generally accepted by The population, as
that Of an uphosterer. a coal dealer, lawyer.
or a physician. Does not this reveal Gu
rous state of society? Fancy man in
want of wife: NJ. Foy, there is guinea;
want to be married; the girl must be young,
handsome, respectable, and have money
My dear sir says Foy, you have just call
ed in the nick of time; Baron Bingo de Binko
sent for me yesterday TO marry his daughter.
Go to her--there is the address-my fee two
hundred pounds The person presents him
self 10 the baron, states his bu,in, s., des-
cribes his position, and is accepted. The
baron then rings for his daughter: NV
dear, says he, this is Baron Bngo de Binko,
whose ancestors distinguished themselves in
the crusades, in which they ana ssrd money.
You will marry him, my dear 'Very well,
pa, says the obedient damsel. 'Oh, joyful
day" cries the baron, and he kisses the tips
of the young lady's fingers. 'When shall
the ceremony beF says he. Oh, not too
soon, replies the young lady, with modest
blush; mot before the day after tomorrow,
decidedly BE it so, idol of my hearth
cries the baron and he hurres off to order
dresses, prepare deeds, and bring the ring,
and the thing is done. That, | say. is the |
way in which marriages are coneocted; aud |
ask, can anything be more expedtiousl--
Nor is 1t only the advertising brokers, like |
Foy and Co., who make it a business 10 ne
gotiate marriages; in private society also, |
there are set of people, male and female, |
who devote themselves TO the same branch |
Of industry, not from any abstract enthusiasm |
Tor the marriage state, or desire TO pro- /
mote the happiness of the unwedded. but to
put money in their purses. In fact, marriage
IN France IS thing ofmere barter and traffic.
Just as much as buying horses or treacle is
m England. Marriages which are effec-
led without the instrumentality of broker,
DR. quasi broker, are so-money, convenience.
are the only things thought of on either side,
And with such hot haste are weddings some.
lines patched up, that it is positive fact
hat bride and bridegroom at the altar scar
,ely know each other. myself know a
married. lady, who says that when she went
o the church on her wedding day, she knew
10 little of her destined husband, that if she
lad been directed to pick him out from half
I-dozen men, she could not have done so.-
ct people there are who are astonshed that
n France there is so much immortality in
vedded life. They should rather he surpri-
ed that, with such an abominable system.
morality is TO be found at all.-[Paris Cor
espondent Of the Britannia.