The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-02-06
How Girls are Bought and Sold III Mar
!. IFa riage in France. &s.. s.1...% =

You know how strictly systng girls are
I guarded in France, snder4ho eyes of$Stheit
parents, and how comp ple,ely, their personal
(; Independence issacriticed TO ,"propriety" and
their parcntsl%il.. A gentleman who late.
,ly visiteFa matrimonial Office in this city,
With a view Of obtaining an Insight into the
operations of the system, gives some interest
$iYg details in5rcgard to il. 49,
n Tho world, it appears, has in general A
false idea of these establishments, at least of
this one. 1t is generally believed that the
3 chief of the establishment keeps under key
n battalion of ladies that are made to tort
saround under tho eyes ofthe visitor, who
stands in the position of the Sultan ready to
throw the handkerchief. Some suppose that
they are permitted to sec the ladies who
wish to marry through a kcy-bolo or some
other from OF unsuspectcd .bull's-eye On
the contrary, nothing is moro simple than
this establishment, and at the same time
nothing is more complicated than its wheel
work.
The women have little to do in these op-
seratlons, nearly all tho business being accom-
plISbed between men. In the coninral
comedy, ofwhich the chief of the establish
inent is the manager, the women play their
part without knowing it. Thus he has cor
respondents in all the large towns. He il,
in relation with all, or nearly all, the nota-
ries i'll France, who keep him advised of the
different heiresses whose affairs they man
age. The Chief arranges ard he prctends
that he is. the only man in France, who can
say, approximately, each year, the united
wealth of the heircsscs Of the empire.
A gentleman whistles to get married. He
is lawyer, an agent or Il merchant. lie
presents himself to the chief the matrimon-
ial establishment, who demands first to know
what arc his pretcnsions. After this visit
the first duty of the agent is to seek inform
alton on the character; and position Of the
candidate, and if these arc satisfactory, be
appoints new rendezvous and proposes to
his client different ladies. CThe ladies, YOU
will rccolIcct, all this time ignorant that
they are the object ola speculation.) When
the parties come to terms, the matrimonial
agents puts in Foperation plan to bring the
Z gentleman > and lady together, and he ar
rivcs at this result naturally, without the la
s. dy ever suspccting that she is puppet NOV.
ed by thread in the hands Of a matrimonial
agent. 5.:. z>.,..s,
If the heiress lives in the province. the
agent address aletter4to his correspondent.
2 who can always find means of bringing
: these two unknown individuals into each
others presence. A soirce, n ball, ali acct
dental meeting at the house of a third. party,
there are many occasions of uniting those
two stars destined to shine in the same firm
ancnt. Once in presence Of the object, the
rest is the gentleman's own business; he
( must put his talent to play. Ifthe fish bites
at is again the time for tile agent to step in,
and "a through the agency of the notary, make
! fer the .preendant the official demand, as is
.tthes escustom in France, for the hand of the
I; lady. Andthus the agent accomplislics, in
secret and without the knowledge of the
world or Of. .one,half ofthe parties concerned,
"a high social mission, since it is that Of ren.
{ adering people happy, although it may be
5;strnly said that the bride is tie OILY one s
5sthe parties who enjoy thc3truc bliss of igno
rance as Ito how the match was brough
s. about.- Paris, Correspondence. AZ. Y
N