The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-07-10
Marriages in Paris.

ing classes, singular in some respects,
have not changed during the last forty
years ; while marriages among the up
per classes have been gradually losing
the domestic and private character
which formerly attached to them. To-
day, as forty years ago, the working
man or the small tradesman goes in a
great carriage, specially reserved for
such occasions, to the church where the
religious service is to be performed. A
visitor to any Of the large livery stables
Of Paris would not fail to be struck
by one remarkable peculiarly. In
some corner Of the vast yard will be OBJ
served a number Of carriages, evidently
intended for holiday occasions, en-
blazoned with shields and coat-of-arms
of all kinds, from the arms Of particu-
lar towns to those Of the crown itself,
and whose faded splendor seems like a
strange reflection on French revolutions.
The bigger the coach, the more gliding
it displays, the more profuse its en-
blazonment, the greater is the demand
for it for marriage parties. When the
religious ceremony is concluded, these
same carriages Immediately convey
bride, bridegroom, parents, relatives,
and friends to one Of those monster res
taurants Of the Jau6ourgs or the ban
lieue, which are specially famous for
their wedding feasts. After the feasts
the same string of carriages proceeds to
the bois de Boulogne, at the entrance
to which the party, with the bride and
the bridegroom at their head, alight and
walk in procession through the park.
A young woman Of the humber ranks
Of Paris life would not believe that she
was really married if this state visit to
the Bots was omitted. Marriages in
high life, on the other hand, assume the
character of a religious and musical
fete. Invitations upon beautifully
printed paper are issued for the re-
ligious ceremony. Ladies and gentle
men respond by appearing in elegant
morning dresses, except those favored
individuals who are to be placed near
est TO the altar, and who are in evening
dress. Until lately the musical per-
formances were limited to a few strains
from the organ, played upon the en-
trance and departure Of the wedding
party, but now the composition of the
musical selection has become one Of the
great questions connected with the re-
ligious ceremony Of marriage. The
church at the same time is handsomely
decorated and brilliantly lighted, and,
with all these elegantly dressed ladies
conversing in low tones behind their
fans, the gentlemen walking about ok
changing smiles and recognition, almost
resembles q saloon where some acting
charade is being performed, in which q
young man dressed in black, and q
young woman dressed in white, repre-.
sent two beings whose fates are to be
united. When the ceremony is com,
pleted, a few hurried congratulations
are offered, and the ladies leave by the
great door of the church, where the
carriages, summoned by the shouts Of
the attendant foot-men, await them
while the gentlemen, indulging in most
worldly conversation, scrutinize at lei
sure the toilets and salute the wearers
! A foreigner who happened to light upoI
such a scene might we'll imagine himsel
witnessing the dispersion of an audi
; ence which had been attending the frs
representation of a new play.