The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-26
a French LOwer-ClaBs WoddipS.
Did you ever witness q wedding at

DID you ever witness wedding at
marie In Parish If not, go some Saturday,
for that Is the day which, though never
chosen by fashionable people, seems to be
set apart specially for the class who labor,
exist by the fruits of their labor, and have
no time to lose. They have Sunday to
falre la noce, and on Monday they put
themselves once more at work. About
II A. NJ, generally, the finances, their
relatives, and their witnesses all meet to-
gctncr. Some of the company have brought
with them their children dressed IN new
clothes for the grand occasion, frizzed, pom
madcd, and "got up regardless in honor
OF the festive event. The garcons de noce
are blooming In appearance, the intended
husband and wife are critically inspected
by all the company. They try, therefore,
TO put on IN air of modest Indifference, and,
naturally enough, do not make much Of a
success Of it. NJ lc maire, or his adioint
has arrived. He puts on the tri-colorod
scarf across his breast dlagonally, which
glorious scarf, I'm the eyes Of tho people,
confers on HIM alone the power of pro-
nounclng the magic words whose effects
no human power can ever break. He
takes in his hands little book bound in
red morocco, gives glance at the mirror
III order TO assure himself that his cravat Is
correctly tied, and walks forward to the pre-
tore, where low platform supporting a
mahogany stand represents the tribunal of
lndlssolublc union. A servant playing the
role OF huissicr announces II le mairc. He
enters. All rise up. lie seats himself
Everybody does the same. Whatever be
the season, however cold It NAV be. tho
doors always stand wide open, for the act
of marriage essentially public Apreffier
Tor recordcr) is seated before pulpit.like
desk with register before him, which big
book resembles huge ledger in counting
room. A name is called Then advance
TO the little platform the Aancos, the rela.
tlves, the witnesses; they arrange them
selves in front of the mare in some red
velvet arm-chairs, which remind one of the
orchestra stalls in our thcatcrs. The
grciicr reads the commencement of the
marriage act. Then the maire, calling the
candidates for matrimony by name asks of
them each individually If they consent 10
take the other as spouse. Their response
must be made clearly and loudly III such
manner as to be distinctly heard by all
present. Ii there arc present the progenf-
tors Oh the couple, tho mairc asks them il
thcy give their consent to the marriage of
tlolr children. Then If granted, he opens
INC little red book, reads article 2l2, 2l3,
2l4 of the Code Civil, relative to the rights
and duties of the spouscs, terminating with
article 626 which says: "The wife may
make will without tho authorization of
her husband" Tho ones who most often
accept this permission are, 80 it is said
Hebrews. The mairc then declares the
couple "unitcd in marriage" The grcfller
rcsuming his reading, finishes it; the
lemons, the relatives, and the married
couple arc invited to sign tho record of
the cermony written down upon the great
register of tho Etat Civil. The garcon dc
burcan brawls out; "Donr forget the poor,
81 Vous plait," and each one In passing
out drops small coin in tho poor-box on
the table.