The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-12-01
4 SHORT CEREMONY.
Hsw Preninsss French sslsatist Married
Ais Two Daughters.
Paris Corr. 8. r. Chronicle.

| Paris Corr. s. r. Chronicle.
Every week has Ito surprises for Paris !; the
latest one ID The extraordinary marriage csr-
snony which took place ss . dinner party
only few days back. When the dessert
was brought on, Elisee Reclus, the host,
married Ills two daughtsn TO two gentlemen
Of about their own ages. The ssle formula
made ne Of was - follows:. Be husband
and wife, Iblass you! Increase and multi.
ply, and come 10 dine with me whenever you
wish TO-" Shortly aftsr the tive young lad.
lee toek their departure arm In arm with the
two gentlemen, and accompanied them to
their respective rssidences. This Is what the
members OF the political school to which
Nr. Reclus belongs call . "frse marriage" !"
that Il, marriage which neither the Church
nor STATE have hsd anything u ID. with. In
scotland aud number Of the States Of ths
Union, such = marriage would be aperfectly
valid one, bat In France, where marriages
must Of necessity be celebrated by the Aairs,
and where there are formalities Of oil kinds
that must be observed, this free marriage" I"
10 no marriage at al; the young wives have
| no protection to expect from the law should
their husbands prove unfsithful or abandon
them, will have no claim upon their property
| In the event Of their death, and the children
who may bs born 10 these unions will BE- IL
legitimate, unless the fathers see nt to adopt
shem In due form, anc even then they will
only have right Of Inheritance jointly with
the colla.sral heirs Of their fathers. II Mr..
Reclus were one Of the noisy politicians In
blouses Of the Quarter St. Antoine, his con-
duct In this matter would be Of little i'm
portsucs 10 any one except the two young
girls whose happiness he has risked In order
to reduce bis theory to practice. But Nr.
Reclus iss pstsonage Of some importance.
He 10 the son Of . Protestant clergyman, and
has during the whole Of bis life been = con-
spIcuous supporter Of Republican ideas. The
coup d'stat Of Napoleon LII, sent him into
exile for six or seven years, which he spent
in extended travels ever Europe and Amer.
ics. On his return to France he became Q
contributor to the Tour du Monde and the
Revue des Deuz Nondes; his articles were
founded on the notes that he had gathered
during his travels and they attracted great
deal Of attention.
AYRENp OF AMERICA.
When the American civil war broke out,
Mr.. Reclus was one Of the warmest and moot
active friends that the Union he'd In France.
His articles on the subject did. . great deal
toward forming public opinion In favor Of
the cause Of Mr.. Lincoln aud Of the Northern
States. 80 valuable were tho services which
he thus rendered that the American Minister
In Paris wished, on bshsif Of bis Govern
uent, to recognize them In . substantial
manner, "a offer which, although he was then
in very moderate circumstances, Mr.. Rsclus
declined, declaring that what he had written
had been written In the cause Of liberty and
right, and not for the purpose Of gain. The
chief literary successes Of Mr.. Reclus have
been In the production Of popular wsrks on
scientific subiscss. He 10 An active member
Of ths Geographic Society and . member Of
Ito Central Committee. During the siegs Of
Paris, Mr.. Rsclus, although no longer liable
10 military duty, enlisted In the bataillons
de Ia marche, but refused to accept COM
mission. Having taken sides with the Com
muns he was, ater On imprisonment Of
seven months, sent before . court martial,
convicted, and sentenced TO transportation.
The scientific world protested loudly In his
behalf. Darwin, Professor Williamson, Lord
Ambsrly we're among the principal signen
u . petition for his pardon, which proved
successful. There can bs no doubt about
the sincerity Of the convictions Of Mr.. Re.
clus, but II. - . savant, he considers that the
incense aud the Latin Of the Holy Catholic
Roman and Apostolic Church are Of no avail
in securing true hsppinsss in the holy state
Of nstrimony, still, - q. father, he has cor
tainly carried his ideas to an extravagant
point inthrowing bis daughters into the arms
Of two men, no matter how honorable they
may be, without the protection that the law
Of the land would have accorded to them -
wives. A. for the social aspect Of the case
and the eye with which society will be apt to
regard the wives Of this "fres marriage"
even IN France, where there 10 more indul-
ssnce In such matters than elsewhere, IL 10
10 be feared that tbs young wivss will nnd
that the confederation which attaches to the
married state will be refused them.