The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-12

Ding his hands, and giving Otner slgho VI ueP"
ture from his usual quiet mood OF mind. Come"
said he, 4" | want you to go with me to the church
st. Sulpice. have Just received proposition,
dowry 25 600 francs but wouldn't accept before
seeing the lady, and it is all arranged that am
to meet her as she goes to mass with her mother"
An engagement at the time prevented my wit
Messing this singular inspection OF the charms OF
young lady, but c. told me afterwards that
she was not quite SO pretty as he had expected,
and he had refused to take her unless her friends
would add % 900 francs to the dowry
One of my American friends, man OF strik-
ingly intellectual appearance, was waited on not
long since by professional matchmaker, with
proposition Of marriage from lady whom he had
met once at An evening party, and conversed win
for few minutes Nothing was wanting 10 make
the offer good one; the attractions were, dow
ry in hand Of 100000 francs, expectations from
rich aunt. rich apartment in her own house, and
the aid of an uncle. whose influence in the polii-
cal world is very considerable ! do not know
how my couutryman contrved to withstand thls
battery brought to bear on him, but he ana 50,
and declined TO be wooed and won in manner
unknown TO the customs OF his native land. De
pend on it. | have scolded him roundiy for his
want of gsllantry in giving lazy che mi'ten
But gentleman Is not Iorced 10 wall uDgl ne
~...'-. 'h-o"''s y ~
courtship before popping the question. Indeed,
he may do so without having seen the lady at all
aud NO one thinks him at all eccentric. This
fashion has its advantages. We will suppose you
a vertsble Lavater in physiognomy you see
young lady at church, meet her in the street, or
get n glimpse of her as she whirls round IN
waltz her appearance pleases you, and you send
a friend at the instant to present your PROPOSE
ton TO the father and convince him that the ALI
ance is safe one Next day, you are an aili-
anced man. IL you are old enough to be her
father, so much the worse for the young lady,
but you have no right TO complain. In America,
she would repulse you as horrid old fellow, with
too much wig and asthma TO be fitting beau; in
France she accepts you with your establishment
Professional matchmakers do good business
at Paris Their knowledge of eligible young men,
old men, and blooming girls with good dowres is
80 extensive and accurate that their services are
frequently called for though secretly, by the best
families, for TO consult them is not quite the
genteel thing
Whatever we may think of the policy of hav-
ing professional aid in finding mate, we can all
agree that advertising for one is pushing the
thing little too far. Yet this is not uncommon.
l.psy be said for the French marriage advertise
ments, however, that they are notas ridiculous as
with US they are not descriptions, more or less
hattered, Of the temper eyes, teeth, hair, and &C
complishments of the fair one, followed by d.
rection to address A. u. at the post office. But
they state briefly the age ofthe lady, her position
in society, the amount of dowry she will give, and
direct applicants to call on Monsieur or Madame
nH-ao Of thnr m 10 M
pers contain plans of lotteries in which young
lady is the prize and her dowry the amount Of
the contributions. She reserves the privilege of
refusing the winner but, in that case, relinqush-
es to him the money "From the lights at pres
ent before u.s." we think putting girl up as a
lottery prize is running the thing into the
ground.
Suppose the match agreed on by all the parties
concerned, there is still hedge of iormaiities
For foreigner, this hedge is made as high and
thorny as possible. He must send for papers to
prove bis BIRTH flor the French never take it for
granted that you have been born, and demand, on
all occasions, certificate to that effect) his age,
identity, nationality, ceibacy, and fifty other
things A German who had become naturalized
in America, aud returned to Europe to marry his
sweetheart, pretty Alsacien girl, was detained
here year before he could procure the necessary
papers
After the proper authorities are satisfied that
the parties have been born &c, &c, permission is
given TO publish the bans at the door of the may
orally. This is an indispensable ceremony.
say Indispensable for if it has been neglected, the
is void Yes my fair countrywomen
who have given your hands with your hearts in
them, to natives of sunny France you may have
been married with all the formalities Of Ameri-
can law, but il your bans were not published in
the parish Of your husband, you are not his wife
in the eye Of the French law, your children can
not inherit through the father, and if you ever
come to France with your husband, he will be
amenable to the rigors of the correctional police
unless he marry you over again. II pains me to
tell you Of this part Of the French code, but
my pen slipped naturally into it Gpropos Of
bans Ask the nearest French consul, and he
will tell you that Frenchman may marry in
every foreign country according to the formalties
Of each and disembarrass himself Of all his wives
and families by returning to his native land
But reuenOas nos moutonS, that is to the young
couple about to be married. The ceremonies are
not to be got through with in a hurry, as found
out last week, by officiating for a friend as a
" mapessn 1t is rare thing to have groomsmen
or bridesmaids, but each party has two nrnessfS,
who serve the same purpose, and receive their
name from the number of papers they attest.
Ten o'clock in the morning was appointed for
the ceremony at the mayoralty. We were pune
tual A lackey received us at the outer door, an
other ushered US up the broad stairs, third into
the large saloon where the ceremony was to take
place. One Of two minor mayors scribbling at a
desk, asked us to be seated on some velvet-cush-
ioned benches We sat there, chatting for half
an hour, when we were called up TO sign the con-
tracts, and half n dozen other mysterious docu-
ments connected with the marriage. There was
n great bundle of them for the bride TO sign.
This over, We went back to the cushioned seats,
and waited for his honor the mayor. The room
filed up gradually with other bridal parties until
there must have been n hundred persons present.
At last, after two hours waiting, his honor
hustled in, called our party to the platform before
him, and read the ceremony. Ii was short, and
lnuttered over hurriedly, with the exception of
the last phrase, which was uttered 80 distinctly
hat every one in the room could hear I" Mes
sieurs, do not forget the poor, if you please His
honor held out, at the same time, tin contribu-
tion-box. In the circumstances, there was moth
ing left for it but to give, and, | must say, we
bled well
From the mayoralty, We drove full speed, for
his honor had kept US dancing attendance long
time, to the Catholic church of Notre Dame de
Lorette, 80 called not after the iOtateS of Paris,
but after the patron saint of the Italian town
Of Loretta. We were met at the door by
well-brushed, dapper gentleman, in
small-clotbes, and polished low shoes with enor-
nous gold buckles. His fine black cloth coat
was buttoned up to his chin; around his neck,
and hanging down on his breast, was a massive
gold chain; under his arm he wore a black
cooked hat fringed With silk and at his side a
rapior. This elegant guide led us
into the sacristy, and retired: The beadle then
made his appearance and | had the pleasure
Of examining him while he questioned one of
the witnesses as to the readiness Of our party
A Paris beadle is magnificent fellow. No one
under six feet and half high can be a candi-
date for the post nor is talluess sufficient, he
must be fat, and have majestic, gruif air. And
then his dress Solomon in all his glory was not
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