The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-05-27
German BetrOthals.

A Berlin correspondent of San Francisco
paper says, in speaking of German marriages
and betrothals AFTER the announcement OF
q betrothal, it is en- regle for all who have re-
ceived it to call and congratulate the lucky
Young lady and her fortunate parents. In this
case [ had ightacquaintance with the young
ady-a fresh, fair handsome German blondd
but thought my intercourse with her hae
been TOO limited for me either to take the lib
erty of calling to congratulate her. or even do
ing this when met her on the following Sun
day coming out of the church on the arm OF
the bridegroom. But the next time met her,
in a private circle. / found that such scruples
on my part had been quite uncalled for, since,
in the frankest manner, though Eith great
modesty and simplicity, on my saying word
onsthe subject she began to relate to me the
history of the whole love affair from its begin
ming to its crowning point-the betrothal-aa
few days before. "We met each other several
times" she said "in the Society, for Social In
tercourse here, but had not much opportunity
to speak to one another. Last week the socie-
ty rave its anniversary festival and little
dance afte the ceremonies. We danced togeth-
er great many times, and at the end OF the
evening felt ourselves quite we'll acquainted:
The next Wednesday he paid his first visit, and
the following day our betrothal took place."
Such q rapid march of events quite took away
my mental breath, and / ventured to make
some remarks as to the different fashion OF do
ing such matters in Germany and America.
"The ladies with u.s." 1 remarked, generally
make their admirers wait while before they
give their consent" "Wby do they do that 2"
innocenty inquired the newly betrothed, II
they intend to marry them ?" "Oh," replied,
"we think it is the right thing to keep them in
uneasy suspense for awhile and torture them
little, that they ma afterward better appreciate
their good fortune" "Oh l am sure you can
not mean that in earnest" cried the kind
hearted madchen; "no girl could be so unkind
and cruel to man she really loved !! That
was the German view of our per-retinement,
young ladies of America. My friends, the la
dies Of the house, who paid the regular con-
graduation CALL came back quite, full of the
lovely picture of family Joy which they hei had a.
e tber mother, the sister, the whole family cir
Gle. so proud and pleased and joyful" and
thew e' Sc seemed to sympathize with this joy in
hearty, friendly, neighborly fashion, that was
pleasant to see.
'The formal betrothal is family festival,
to which only relatives or the nearest friends
are invited. As soon as it takes place the lady
is called 6raut-that is, "bride"-and the
gentleman is her brautigams-her bridegroom"
9and they always use these titles in speaking
of one another The lady, with all the quiet
simplicity possible, introduces the gentleman
to any new acquaintance as "my bridegroom"
and he speaks quite naturally of her as "my
BRIDE" The marriage ceremony, instead of
giving them right to these titles as with US,
deprives them of them forever, unless one of
them should be so unfortunate as to be hereaf-
ter left desolate and compelled to choose anoth-
er mate"