Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-05-06
Marrying in France.

France are seduloUsly kept apart, thai
wooing and winning are unnecessary
preliminaries TO French marriage, an,
facts that have been much commented
upon; but how they marry in France
and the etiquette Of that very formal and
b,siness-like ceremonial, and the pre-
liminaries considered necessary thereto
are, we believe, but little understood on
our side of the water.
The first thing to he done is to &c
through that time-honored formality
called popping the question. But
French aspirant for matrimonial honors
is not allowed to make his proposals in
person 10 the young lady. That would
be a sad breach of les c0ilrcndRccs and
would probably horfify the jeunc per
some out of her seven senses. A friend
is charged with the delicate Office OF
asking her parents, not if they will ac-
cept NJ So-and-so for a son-in-law, hut
if il wonld be agreeable to them 10 con-
slider him in that possible light. Should
the answer prove favorable, the gentle
man may desire an interview with the
lady's parents or guardians, ut which in
teryiew the young lady must not be pres
ent. In this first interview all business
questions, including the important one
of the dowry, and the almost equally i'm
portant one of the young mans fortune.
expectations, etc. are settled. Should all
these prclminaries be favorably arrang-
cd. a second interview is decided upon.
and the day and hour vigorously settled
beforehand. Exactly at the specified
time the future bridegroom must present
himself, carefully but not too carefully
dressed thatpoint is essential. His be-
trothed, in elegant but simple attire,
awaits his coming, surrounded by her
parents and relatives After this first
visit he is entitled to be received as Il
pretendp. but must request admission to
this privilege either by writing or
through one Of his near relatives. Per-
mission once accorded, he is then for the
first time presented TO his lady love as
her future bsisband, and may afterward
visit the house on an intimate but not :,
familiar footing. He must always come
in full dress, nor can his fancee receive
him in other than very careful toilet.
4 morning-dress, no matter how fresh
or tasteful, is completely inadmissible.
The gentleman must invariably send his
fancoo bouquet on the days that he in
tends to call The engaged pair must
never be permitted to indulge in q fete-
d-tote, nor can they call each other by
their first names without using the pre-
fixes of Monsieur and Mademoiselle
An engagement ought 10 he kept secret,
and should he officially announced only
n few days before the signing Of the con-
tract. OF course. French engagements
are usually very brief, such life of con-
straint and formality being agreeable to
neither party.
These preliminary formalities having
been scripulously gone through with,
next comes the question of the wedding,
or rather weddings, for our French
couple must lie married twice oyer.once
at the mayoralty. in accordance with the
law, and once at church. to satisfy relig-
ions scruples This latter ceremony is
by no means essential 10 the legality of
the marriage; but not to he married in
church is considered a proof of irreligion
and republicanism Of the most ultra type.
Now comes an amount of bother which,
10 our extremely simple ideas as regards
marriage. appears to-be nj once stupid
and unnecessary. As a necessary pre-
iiminary to the civil marriage, the bride
and groom must arm themselves with
half dozen documents each. First
comes the dcte dc ndisSdRce, or birth
certificate; then the consent in writing
Of both parents, or, if either or both of
them be dead, the proofs of their de-
cease, and the consent of grandparents
or guardians in their stead If You are
60 years of age, and have parents still
living. this written consent is still indis-
pensable, unless, indeed, you 90 through
the formality of the trois somnidtions re-
speotuenSes, which consists in respect