The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-07-15
Etinuette of Matrimony.

parties betake themselves to the notary who has pre-
pared the document. In the case Of very wealthy
families and in the provinces, the notary comes to
the house of the cee, in which case etiquette re-
uuires that he should be invited to dine 1t is as with
u.s. esteemed an honor to have the document witnessed
by Prince of the blood or great State dgnitary
All expenses of the proceedings are to be PAID by the
future husband. The notary reads the document, NJ
Deaunay rises, makes bow to his fancee as though
to ask her consent takes the pen signs the deed and
| then passes the pen to Mademoiselle Rosaie. The
Young lady signs in turn, and passes the pen to the
mother of her intended who passes to the mother
of the bride, and so through the members of the
family present. who sign, for the most part in the or
der of their age. a-# -
| THE PREsENTs-It is on this day that NJ. Delaunay
is expected to send the presents known as the corbee
demariage The value of the presents should amount
to about ten per cent of the dot OF the lady They
consist generally of shawls, jewels lace, turs gloves,
fans, books and purse containing certain number
of gold pieces of money, which should be These
presents should be put either in an elegant box or
table destined to form part of the furniture of
the young couple. The cor5ee should arrive on the
morning of the signing of the contract accompanied
with handsome bouquet OF Howers and the corbesle,
together with the tO1sssedW of the dncee, which by
this time should be prepared is exhibited in her room,
astefuy arranged with flowers, for her friends to ad
mire If there is ball that evening" is customary,
at the house of the acee the young lady should be
in white She opens the ball with her intended, and
|
tary, who in olden times had the right of kissing her
on the cheek Everybody who signs the marriage
deed expected to make present to the young lady
| THE M4RRIAGE.-As for the actual marriage it is
we'll known this is performed in two ceremonies-one
at the ma5rie and the other the church. Both at
the marie and at the church marriages performed
on Thursdays and Saturdays in every week; at the
marie from in the morning to in the evening; at
the church from in the morning till l in the after
noon. The marriage at the Marie is of strictly civil
md 80 cd tho S,,o
the other, but sometimes two days beforehand
1t must however, precede the other, though strict
Catholics look on it legal formalty, and as
no marriage at all in proper The marie can
if he peases to honor persons ofimportance, perform
the marriage in his drawing room; but all the doors
in the honse be open down the street, so that
all the world may enter if they please The marie
marriage must be preceded by the proper legal for
malities-evdence of publication of bans, consent of
parents, Gf such is required by law and only be
celebrated three days after the notification has been
published at the Marie When the bride has signed
her at the marie, she passes the pen to her hus
band who receives it, and says: Merci madame"
The lady is thus styled madame for the first time
in her life by her future husband The publication of
the bans for the marriage in the church takes place
much the same as with us. On the morning of the
marriage the bridegroom and his family to call
for the bride and her family. The bridegroom then
presents the bouquet de moces which must be entirely
white, to his f01cee Carriages, hired by the bride
dy,
the exception of those at the house OF the BRIDE are
sent to fetch the witnesses of the marriage and the
members of the two families who are invited to be |
present, to the house of the bride The bridegroom,
provides the weddingrng and the piece de marriage,
piece of money, of gold silver according to the con
dition of the parties; if the former, is placed like
medal in morocco Among the peasants piece |
of copper coin fus the function of the piece de mar
2age which must receive the priests benedicton dur
ing the ceremony =..-...
H. rI,1ox ~
for the airie The bride is in the first carriage to
the right with her mother the back seat with her
father his representative in front of her. In the
second carriage is the bridegroom, the back seat
likewise but his motheror her representative if he
has nonetakes the right and his father sits on the
front seat. The witnesses of the marriage and the
other members Of the family follow. Arrived at the
church. the father of the bride leads her to the altar
and the bridegroom follows with his mother Then
the mother of the bride should follow in procession
with the father Of the bridegroom The nearest rea-
tves and most intimate friends of the families also
approach the altar The rest of those invited sit in
the body of the church, chairs prepared for them
The family Of the bridegroom and the bridegroom take
the right the bride and her family take the left of the
altar During the service qtee is made in the church.
which is performed by the sisters of the bride
and bridegroom, if they have any, on each side In
the absence of younger sisters the nearest younger e
male relatives supply the deficiency.
The CEREMoNY.-During the ceremony, when the
g Consentez Prendre pour epour2" etc. each of
them before replying turns to the side of the father
and mother, makes them bow courtesy, and then
each replies, not in loud tone, but ni-yoir. After
The oferory OF the mass the young couple arise, and
each takes taper, which is placed before them
and they go to the altar and place the money which
hey offer aims in the hands Of the priest And af
the Pater" is said pail is held over the heads of
he bride and bridegroom by the youngest boys-the
nearest relatives of each family. When the marriage
mass is over the young pair 60 to the sacristy and
here receive the congratulations of their friends The
order, however, of going there is just the reverse of
what it was on entering the church. Thus the father
If the bridegroom now leads the bride, and the mother
If the bride now takes the of the bridegroom
Those invited to the wedding follow after and make
heir compliments to the newly married and to both
antilles. There is general presentation by the BRIDE
groom OF his friends to his BRIDE and the mother of
he bride introduces her friends to the bridegroom
1t is contrary to all French usage to invite company
o the marriage OF widow, or even to any lady, SIR
reto above thirty which ought take place early
the morning. without display; and the toilette in
UGH cases should not be white.
HE HoNEYMOON.-lt Is not generally the custom a
low in France to take journey after the marriage
IN the contrary, the wedding party often spend the
lay together 60 for drive in the Bots de Bouloene
md have dinner and ball in the evening. At the
Inner the bride and bridegroom should be placed o.
oslte to each other the bride having her right the
ather of her husband, her mother sitting to the
lSht OF the bridegroom, and the bride is 10 be the
rst served at table, At the conclusion of the dinner
toast is proposed for the young married couple One
# the temos Of the bride proposes the health of the
ride and one of the temoins of the bridegroom pro
oses the health of the bridegroom. Oratory is re-
uired TO be brief and the fathers of the bride and
bridegroom return thanks for their respective chill
rem; but above all, no singing is expected among
ecent people; therefore if Englishman finds him
elf at such festival he not propose to the 'Ro-
er Bonhomme" of Beranger
The guests who have been invited to dine are ex-
ected, before leaving, to give an invitation to the
Dung couple for dinner soiree and such re-
Urn is called the ressdu de asoce, at which, naturally
lie best places and all the honor is given to the new
oupe. No one of course, must appear at marriage
mourning; even widow, if en- grand deul, must
'pear at the marriage of her daug in white and
'ay In the best society, however the festivity of
inner and ball takes place the day of the signing
the marriage contract; and is to be observed that
Protestant minister may be invited to the wedding q
1t Catholic priest never. At the ball the bride
'ens the dance with the guest to whom she wishes to
" the greatest attention. and the bridegroom does
e same thing. The newly married pair dance in T
ont of each other in the first quadre, but in the Il
cond they dance together After this the bride has Ne
e privilege of inviting whom she pleases for the rest
tne evening: The bride and bridegroom retire as