Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-06-20

profound courtesy to her mother, To
ask her Permtgsion to answer. Nam.
ma responds 81 another inclination,
and then her daughter says "Yes,' u
which gives her freedom evermore.
j The Youngest sister Of either bride
or bridegroonS handed by the young.
est gentleIneI Of the party, and pre-
coded BY ourfriend with the sound
silver pole, taen, goes through the
crowd, with lowncast eyes and a
velvet bag iIl her hand, soliciting
contributions pour les pauvres, s'il
vous plait." They then adjourn to
to the yestry;aand then. for the first
time, the bridegroom calls his wife
by her Christian l1ame-though the
timid bride does not drop the "Mon-
sieur" till solae days siter she hus
been a wife. Then there is feasting
at home--dressing, dancing, and a
little crying; end then the bride, in
stalled in her home by her mother,
leaves foreser3the parental roof.
Now, in all probability, the princi.
pal actors In this scene have never
spoken twenty sentences to each
other since they were first introduced.
This is the way they court in France:
One lady sayssto another
MY daughter Is eighteen. She
has so much every girl has a
francO "Ydnhave known her from
a child. You1see so many young
men---cannot Eou think Of one to
suit her?" 4 -.
OF course tie lady can--for men
arc as eager, u France, to marry. as
the girls are t6 get husbands. 1t is
an increase ofaortune, and a patent
of respectabill.ty, in. all stations, in
all professions The young man is
spoken to, and Of course the young
lady named toshim. A party il Civ
en-, and they meet. Or sometimes
the girl is taken to the opera, and
the lover examines her through his
glass. If Satisfied with the survey,
he is allowed 70 pay a visit. Then
the girl, supposed to be in entire ig-
norance up tA this point, is asked
how she would like 50 and-so for a
husband. s
Now, it is tut just to say, that if
the girl does MT approve, the ncgo-
Citations go ndRfarther. But, as she
has never spolen to this sutton, and
knows she wilfnot speak to any fu-
ture suitor, ifsthe man is tolerably
good looking, end the tailor has done
his duty, why she-beins assured
by her parents that the money is all
right generally says, Eyes"
The mamma Of the bridegroom
comes one evening, when. the house
has been set Yin order, and every
body dressed q his best. And af-
ter the first saNtation, she rises, and
in a solemn v&ce asks the hand Of
Mademoiselle Estelle - for Mon
sieus Achille e.. Then the mann
ma, on the opposite side of the house,
accepts the Offer; Mademoisellc Es-
telfe weeps, aid throws herself into
her future moiher's arms; whilst the
son-in-law embraces the mother of
his intended The papas shake
hands; the betsothed lovers, released
from the mafernal arms, mutually
bow to each oher-and the servants
bring in tea. IT. J..
Then the lawyers sets to work to
draw up the Contract, the mamma
orders new dresses, etc, for her
daugtcr, and puts new caps and
dresses on hertelf. The bridegroom
comes every evening with grand
boquet, which he offers to Mademo-
>iselle--Airts M hour or two with the
mother--bowss to tho daughter
and goes off: The BRIDE elect has
only to embraider quietly by her
mothers side, 70 smile, to blush and
shipper. Il 4
Then the negotiating lady comes
in grand state .preceded by an enor.
nous trunk. Mamma and the bride
receive her--never: of course, heed
ing the trunk. Then the lady makes
a speech, opens the trunk, and pre-
sents the bride with the cor6cale-|
namely, the wedding dress, veil and
wreath, two or three cashmere shawls1
ditto velvet dresses, d set Of fursI q |
set of large aounces, a set Of dia-
monds, a watch, n fan, q prayer
book and pufse. Of gold, These
come from thd bridegroom. In re-
turn, the ladysgets a bracelet from
the bride, with many thanks for the
parent and the husband. The man.
ma scolds the Intended for the reck.
less magnificdnee displayed, when
he comes at night. The bride says,
"Ah, Monsieul" bushes, and throwa
herself into Her mothers arms
Then the inahma gives her pres
ent for/ her iptended-six cambria
shirts and siS white crayats, the
whole trimmed with valenciennes,
chosen with an eye to the future
pocket-handheschiefs Of the bride.
for, after the Wedding day, what man
will be bedecked with lace? -. j |
At last comes the singing Of the
contract. Thebride takes one step
into the worlds receives her yisi-