The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-08-22
A FRENCHMAN,s w0OING.
The Cold-blooded Way IN whsch Courting
is Carried on In France.

if not exactly BY the object of his choice.
It brings out all the hidden frankness of
his nature. There is no beating about
the bush with him; he announces his
intention to all the world, at least to all
whom it may concern, to-wit, the old
ladies. He lays his situation before
them with modest confidence, and, in
doing so, of course, gives the personal
attractions on which he must necessarily
be silent an opportunity of speaking for
themselves. He is explicit as to his
age, his family, his means, particularly
as to his means. He has so much, and
he wants so much to add to it, with all
the youth, beauty, wit and good sense
that can be thrown in by way of bonus.
VIII the old ladies be good enough to
bear his case in mind, and to look out
for him among their numerous ac-
quaintancesP OF course they will; they
could not have a more agreeable CON-
mission. It is deed of mercy that viii
be twice blessed-to the girl that wants
a husband, to the man that wants a wife.
They tell him he may consider the mat
ter as settled; it is in their hands. II
After that he has only to show a
proper assiduity in calling--to look in
upon these honorary commission agents
from time to time for the "tip," while
they proceed TO pass all their eligible
feminine acquaintances in review. They
make all the requisite inquiries as to
means, and connections, and contrive
accidental meetings, at which he
may have a view of the wares.
" Bon jour, Monsieurl TAI songe q
votre petite affaire" When you hear
that said at a morning call you know what
it means. The hurried colloquy in the
back drawing-room that follows is like
wise no mystery; the good old creature
is giving him few main particulars, and
" the office" for tomorrow night.
There is to be little soiree, and he is
not to fail to be there, for she, the cam
didate, is invited. In plain terms,
he to come and see if she
will do. 1t is an inspection. All that can
be learned by mere report he knows-the
candidate is up to the mark in family
and fortune; other needful particulars
as mind and manners can only De OBJ
tanned at the interview. She, on her
part, or rather her mother for her, has
likewise had the tip from the same
friendly quarter. Are they not the
most methodical people in the worldP
She either pleases,or does not please.
In the former case, the fathers call on
one another, and then the notaries; in
the latter there is no harm done. Moth
ing has been said to compromise them
before each other or before the world.
If they met, "'twas in a crowd" and
he did no more than ask her opinion of
a picture or of the new tenor at the
Ttaliens. He is expected to divine from
her monosyllabic answers to these
questions what kind of a companion she
would make for life-journey, how she
would stand by him in sickness and in
health, in riches and in poverty, until
death do them part. No; not in riches
and in poverty, though; he obtained
satisfactory assurances as to thatpart OF
the prospect before he ran the risk of
falling in love. They are a practical
people to the last.
When all is arranged, they begin to
make love, with mother or some elder
ly friend to keep them company. They
must not be left alone-what would
people say? Worldly minded mothers
find this tete-a-tete of three great NUS
ance; it keeps them at home, and they
will often complain that the young
fedglings talk an unconscionable time.
There can be nothing else to censure; it
is the discreetest billing and cooling
ever witnessed since birds were birds.
In its widest excuses it never goes be-
yond giggle; and if hands do meet
occasionally, it is only under the cover
of a book, which perhaps, if we come to
the strictest necessities of the case, one
might hold as well as two. Mothers
have been known to leave the room for
a moment on pretense of looking for
letter; but in theory, at least, they are
always there. All is in consequence
fair and above board in French court
ship. You may "assist" at it if you are
a friend of the family. 1t is enough to
leave a corner sacred to the lovers;
they are not like our unreasonable
young people at home, who require
whole forest to themselves and new
moon to light it every night. They are
simply two in a drawing-roOm, and it
is, of course, polite fiction to consider
them but as other two. If the onloOker
be a philosopher, the situation is
not so dull for him as might
be supposed. He sees most
exciting drama going on under the
terms of ordinary social intercourse.
Now they are quarrehng; now they are
making it up; and there has hardly been
a sign to show for it to any but the most
experienced eye; o ''ballet of action"
could hardly be greater puzzle as a
means of telling a tale. That curt, low
toned Z" Non, monsieuri" was really an
indication of a veritable {" tempest of
the heart" ard when she walked over
to the side-table and took up the album,
it was to give him to understand for a
full five minutes that she was bidding
him an eternal adieu. His subsequent
observation about the charity ball was
really a passionate plea for forgiveness.
Her rejoinder that such festivities gave
her the migraiHe was meant to be taken
as the death-knell of hope. The inter-
est of the little comedy is greatly in
creased when third character is add
ed, in the shape of mother eager for
the match, who sends admonitions, en-
treaties, reproofs to the girl, under COW
er of the most ordinary gestures. "My
dear child, do not be an IDIOT" That
was plainly the meaning of the look
over the edge of the fan. " Now you
have lost himP" She said that in drop
ping the book. "What will your father
say?'' The question was never more
plainly asked in the form of a complaint
about the heat of the fire.
The Frenchman about to marry puts
up with all this, because he knows it is
not to last long. Three weeks or so will
see the end of it; engagements seldom
drag on far beyond that term, because of
the intolerable enBui of the season OF
Immemorial custom, too,
counts for something in his acquiescence.
1t was ever thus with father and fore
fathers, in so far as he can learn any
thing of the matter. Nothing can ex-
coed his embarrassment when the
chances Of the marriage-market throw
him into family, English or.American
Ill - l.