Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-07-29
German Views of Married Life.

TO ask Mary Mycr to tell me about silver
weddings and golden weddings, which
our people have borrowed of late years
from the Germans. The lady is one Of
the most charming persons ia the world.
OF literary fame her house the ren
dezYous OF the best Berlin society her
heart full Of sympathy for suffering hui
manlty in every shape, and her life
Deautilied with good deeds. She sat
down and applied herself to the task
OF exposition with the gusto Of congo
NAL occupation. knew she was in
earnest, because, like Fadladeen in the
4 tstern romance, whenever he spoke
oracularly, she folded her hands and be-
gan TO twist her thumbs.
The SILVER wedding says she, musing-
ly, the golden wedding Oh, YES but
VIII begin with the real wedding No;'
latter a pauseD 4 must 60 back farther,
must begin with the .polteyS a5end' No !:
farther back still in short, wth-with
the beginning"
Somewhat apprthensve that my fair
informant would commence with the
birth, rearing and elucation of TIE two
illustrative lovers, who were in process
OF time to become husband and wife. |
ven;Vred to say that the very slightest
notion of prelimlnaries would suffice.
Miss Meyer bowed assent and continued:
w hen, III Germany, gentleman eX-
perIences tender sentiment for ladv.
1the first thing that be does is to speak
to her father and mother If they look
approvimgly, then the gentleman asks
! IN l.,, 4
young lady it not, there the matter
ends"
opened my eyes. TIas the young
lady nothing to say on her own behalf 2
| demanded
Not much; 'tis not like in the United
States. We do things differently in Ger
many. Our way is better-far better
why better p I somewhat hurriedlv
askcd-morc hqrriedly than good-brecd-
ing in Germany allows, for the ccol. as
snred manner OF the lady annoyed me.
WY better, pray ?
why, better p she echoed with implr.
tuIbable selt-confdcnce simply JecauSe
u u.s.
could not be Otherwise than satisfied
with the womanhke logic of the answer.
1T the ladl's papa and mama see no
objection, the two young people exchange
rings, become engaged, call themselves
bride and bridegroom, and advertise
their engagement in the newspapers
But if the lady should happen to see
a gentleman she loves better 2 | asked
very deiercntially. Quick as quick could
be, my words were caught up.
~ woman never loves twice. observed
Miss Meyer, her face shadowed with an
instant displeasure. Women are Lot
like men,
| did not argue the point, but went
on, quite deteFentially, to suggest the
Hypothetical case OF change OF feeling
and opinion on the geutleman's part.
"A German young gentleman Is only
too happy TO get good wife, said Miss
Meyer. lie does not marry 4 girl for
her beauty alone, or her style. He
wants a help-mate, not a doll. Daugh-
ters are brought up in Germany to be
good wives, not fashionable women.
They know that husbands want comfort,
and SO they are prepared, the highest as
well as the lowest TO preside at his table,
superintend his house, oversee the kitch,
en-, make his coffee, light his pipe and
bring his slippers. Germans betrothed
do not wish to change their minds.
They are quite different from Americans.
Different how ? why
Because Mey are said Miss Meyer.
| could not be otherwise than satisfied.
III engagements are thus irrevocablr,'
| inquired, why don't the young people
get married at once ? 1t was a stupid
question. 1 ought to have reflected upon
the pecuniary means. That was not,
however, the point of view from which
the lady contemplated The marriage |
postponement.
The bride and bridegroom wait long
time years sometimes, occupied in
studying each others character. More |
over, it is pretty practice in some parts
of Faderland for the lady, however poor,
to furnish the house and find the lneL.'
1t was explained that want of power
did not often create the hiudrapce to
because each of the brides !
friends would give present-not trum-
perry triukets or silver or laccs-but sub
stanlial household goods In Germany |
a great number of the men are govern
ment employees and in this case a mans
income is known to penny. A young
lady does not expect to begin welded
life with all the luxuries enjoyed by her
parents.
well, the wedding day being fixed,
we come to the 'pOherS d6end.' If you |
consult your German dictionary, you
will find that POler means a great noise
what you Americans call roaC-and
q6end evening. Well, bride and baide-
groom, brothers and sisters, friends and
meet together on the evening
before the wedding, eating and drinking,
singing and dancing, telling stories and
playing games, according to the rank
and taste of the family. Then, next day
comes the wedding" "' .' !