The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-30
TEE WAY TO DO 1T.
How a Fashionable ParisIan Gets
Married.

Paris. the Mecca OF the lashionables, Is fast
regainng lts pre-eminence. Those who
thought that to the German vlctors must 60
all the spoils must admit disappointment In
this, and to the gay capital of France they
must still look for their styles and their
etiouette. The bride who willingly acknowl-
edges the sway of French milliner or man
tua-maker, should certainly not hesitate to
adopt the manners and customs OF the more
educated and refined class as TO the conduct
of that interesting ceremony, the wedding.
The way OF Hymen Is thus described BY the
London Echo: a.-o
SIGNING THE CONTRACT.
After Stranss' swaltzes and Mile. Favarts re-
citation, It is the turn OF the contrat de mar
fape as fashionable entertainment for the eVe-
Ming. And the signature of this all.important
document is not unfrequently as amusing as
the French version OF De Mussett's Chandelier
orLe Rhin AlemaEd, the two subjects for
private defamation in vogue this season.
of the ..sfuture." She has taken her place,
! properly shielded by her mother, at the door
of the great salon. A silentibsttalion OF rear
relatives-those who are most presentaole-
supports mother and daughter. and as each
guest arrives, there Is o smile that says moth
lnQ. IL OIupRG lubU U kOoC . tNSeASi sS
stereotype Ielcitation aud embrace. The
future husband Is twelve PAGES In the rear and
receIyes the men. In the smaller salon BIT
the notaire and his clerk, with contract and
a sheaf of new pens before them; and further
on in the state bedroom, the corbeille de
nou is spread nut for exhibition; Tine
proeramme never varies; congratulations
to tie mother and daughter in the arst salon.,
or q limp seizure OF the utures hand, II one
is of the male sex briet signature IN the
second salon, and an Inspection OF tna Wase
rIage glorles In the bedroom. The cashmere
and dlamonds are appraised, lshaWls ana aia, so
monds are the regulation offerings OF the
brideproom) the laces are looked at, and the
tronsseau, by female friends, and the guests
ara free. until the next act, which takes place
hefore the mayor. They are not 80 numerous
there-the municipal authorities decline to
admit marriage parties OF more Than twenty
nor quite so brilliant as they will be TWO days
hsnce at the church; for there are several
other parties, of all classes, n the sale des
mariqees, and the bridegroom In broadcloth
viii 1rohably find himself Ia painful juxtaposl-
ton to 'sfIture" In blouse, or, perhaps, be
called after his own laundress in the act OF
handing over her daughter and apprentice to
when the party Numero Deux (lhey are all
nnmbered) is called, however, the rest Is easy
and rapid.
The official, in a trl-color scarf, reeites
faw lines of the code, making inquiries con-
oerning possible impedimenls, receives fees
and signatures, and declares Mademoiselle
Madame. The entire cost, consisting n-mere-
" voluntary fees, amounts 10 no more IMAM
fifteen francs. 1t Is really not worth while to
Weep. make speeches, be sentimental or en-
thusisstic for so small sum; and so the civil
ceremony is nearly always rather nat and
diull affair; the toilettes and tears and tender
phrases are reserved for the church, and much
more pompous and favorable background.
Thus, though the, greater part Of Parlslens
Wonld willingly coDtent themselves with the
civil ceremony, there is not Parlslenne, nn-
less she be petroleuse, who does not strike
for the religious festivity This is the hnal ACT,
and on 1t all the resources, pecuniary anu ar
tistic, of the authors aud spectators Oh tne
great, comedy are concentrated. The 0nrly
Suisse rings his staff of Office on the marble
floor; all the candles are lighted; the taberna-
cle and the vessel Of the Host shine between
the columns Befare the altar, In arm chairs
of crimson velvet, are collected the grand pa.
rents and the msriee-sne was married two
days ago, hut she has only just became Ia
mariee.
THE CHURCH SERVICE.
The organ notes swell and subsde; the stoles
and vestments glitter; the congresation-the
audience would be more exact-is brave in It's
IOnpchamps or flower show costumes; It ls
the Ann act OF ''Robert le Dable," only '.Rob-
ert le Diable" is more religious. The sermon
is prea .hed by a celebrated predicateur in
academical phrases, containing compliments
Sor everybody mpliments to the mother,
stIu whom all the distinctions de pesprir are
nnIted. with all the delicaLesses de cGnr;'
compliments to the father-in-law, who, BE-
cause he served three years In Africa and goes
occasionally 10 mass is likened to the ancien,
preux, brave and plous; compliments to al
academician, who is present as friend; com
pliments to q member OF the Assemblee, Will
q touching allusion to notre pauvre France
and N. Gambetta; finally, compliments tt
the newly-marred couple. Then two chill
dren-a boy and q girl-dressed for the Occa
sion, hand round the bag for offerings. You
must have gold If you are related to the
hrjde or bridegroom. There is vocal music
which procla!ms 1t ceremony-at twelve
hundred francs; there are carpets on the steps
nj the church, which Increase the sum u
f1fteen -hundre j. When the service is over
the Snisse marshals the guests into compac
Ala. which proceeds round the church to the
sacrlsty-there to exchange the conversa
tIonal hand. clasp with the father OF the bride
Here the felicitations recommence, the bride
proom's friends are introduced, ana the Drlos
makes one hundred and fifty plunges into ne
laces and receives as many kisses. BreaKias
there Ia none. Though the French nlgne
classes have adopted the honeymoon as an ln q
stitution, the preceding ghastly ceremo!ial !
MT vat acnltmatizrd and let IL be lOpeQ