The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-11-24
Marriages In Brittany,

Marriages 0f6 cOIlUelldnce are custom
sry not only among the higher and
aristOcTatic classes, but extend as well
TO the lowest peasantry. Property is
among all, the great thing desird the
| poorest peasant has at least some trif-
ling pittanee laid By, with parts of
which he intends to endow his chill
dren when they marry. There is the
same diplomatic negotiation among
them, when n marriage is to be ar
I ranged, rs takes place in the upper
circles. Marriages Of the 'cOmmerci-
aln sort are, however, not so general
among the peasants as among their
social betteTs. The parties immedi-
/ ately concerned are more frequently
I consulted rs to their inclinatiOns. The
I first move is made after q preference
/ has been manifested among the young
/ peasants themselves. A young man
I sees a lass who pleases him. He
makes certain advances rather BASH
: fully; she responds by tokens equally
shy. 1t comes to be generally under
stood in the village that Jacques and
Nannine will make a matchn-if
( they can. Then occurs o remarkable
event. There is in Brittany curious
3 SuDEEoklllOu-OE EdLLcI SuDeESLlLA-
Gus tradition-abOut tdilOrs. 1t is de-
rived from some ancient legend which
has endowed the village tailor with a
| peculiar saeredness and reverence
| The tailor Tin default OF q notary is
called upon 70 settle disputes, to teach
the children with the priest, and to
advise the good folks in all domestic
or social difficulties. His peculiar pre-
rogative is to negotiate marriages. =
The young man who Is taken with the
passion that comes in time to all finds
him trusty adviser, engages him to
arrange a marriage with the damsel's
parents, and to vicariOusly "pOp the
question. !" There is q Breton saying
that the tailor could, and be would,
"marry a Turk to a Jewess." Anoth-
er diplomat in marriages, the tailOr's
rival, is he who is called the "marry-
ing beggar," who has similar prerOga-
tives In this meter. The tailor, when
he enters upon marriage negotiation,
carries with him, as a symbol of his
Office and a hint OF his errand, 8
broomstick lin low Breton called "6dz- |
UdLdnr), making the object Of his Wis
it clearly known to all concerned. -
For his services he receives an invita-
ton to the wedding feast, and pres
ents Of clothes and money. The bride !
is also fain to give him a pair of
stockings with yellow rims, some |
times a yellow stocking for one foot, !
q red one for the other. The tailor, !
according to tradition, not 80 favOra- /
BILE to him, must remain a bachelor
it is disgrace 10 parents TO marry /
their daughter to him. He Is the con-
fidant both of the parents and the low /
ers, and is consequently profound in 4
all the domestic and interesting sec
rets of the neighborhOod. He is the
universal judge of the scandals he
makes it point to keep his mouth
tight while his ears are Open-and so
is a mentor to all. When the tailor
has brought the parents Of the two
lovers together, there ensues an ami
mated bargaining about the dOwries.
It is a shrewd, mercantile negotiation,
usually, with the mediation Of the
tailor, ending in o treaty mutually
satisfactory. Once in accord, the par
ties proceed to seal the contract by
as much of the best wine to
be had as each can master; afterward
seating themselves about the table,
and smoking the pipe OF peace, alli-
ance, and concord. The lass who is
the subject OF discourse is perhaps
listening, ears all agape; futters with
the mOmeatary doubtfulness goes
wild with joy over the c0nelusion.-t
both families meet at the
cabaret aud formally sign the con-
tract, which the tailor has drawn up
in true legal shape; adjourning to the
farms Of each family to inspect the
and to exhibit the substan-
tiaI evidences that the dOwrY promised
win be forthcoming.-GEORGE NJ.
TowLE, in HGrpers' Magazine for
Droou1HeF