The Osceola times., 1883-02-24
FRENCH WEDDINGS.

4
prcliminaries are Of a character not to be
overlooked.
| When French girls attain marriage
able age, they are restricted to the So
ciety of their fathers, brothers, uncles
and cousins, and no man outside this
degree ef kindred is admitted 70 the
family circle except as suitor. So
rigidly is this custom adhered to, that
any young lady who Is seen in the COM
pany of a gentleman not related by the
ties of blood, is Immediately set down as
engaged and, should the rimors prove
false, her chances of matrimony are di-
minished immeasurably, for everybody
suspects that some moral or physical de.
feet has deferred the gentleman from
contracting an alliance with her.
Marriage in Paris may be quoted as a
'barter and sale y for, when the moment
arrives for mademoisclle to be Settled"
all the friends and acquaintances OF the
family are scrutinizcd, and the eligibility
Of each possible or probable candidate is
canvassed with much more zeal by his
respe .tivc supporters than political
nominee meets with in an election cam
paign in New York.
In all classes Of society a dot Is expect
cd with the bride !; but since the fall OF
the last empire, so many of the new and
old nobility have met with reverse of
fortune. and there seems 80 little pros
pect Of a restoration of rank and riches,
that the parents are glad to barter blood
for money, and not few of the trades
people are eager TO ally their honest
names with the dowerless daughters Of a
defunct nobility.
A case came under the writer's obser-
vation, which illustrates the subject per-
fectly. A gentleman Of title had a large
family, among them were five daughters.
The eldest was disliked by her mother
because of her resemblance to her faith
er; while the second was miniature
edition Of her mother, and a favorite
with her. The amiability of the eldest
attracted every one, but, being portion
less, her parents could not find partner
for her among their friends An acquain-
tance came to the rescue, and proposed
a tradesman old enough to be the girls
father. This mans antecedents were
investigated, and, although il was sup
posed that a certain young shopkaper
owed education and start in business
to his claims upon the consanguinity of
the s'iitor, the suitor's bank account was
found satisfactory and the engagement
announced six weeks prior to the cele-
bration Of the nupitals.
The marriage took place, and in less
than three months fearful scene laid
the young bride upon a bed of illness,
from which she did not rise for six weeks.
1t transpired, that her parents knew what
should have induced them to bury their
daughter rather than wed her to such
groom, but, in their estimation, all this
had been provided for in the Contract
by which, sin case of separation, half
the mans fortune was, or is, TO devolye
upon his wife" The poor girl knew
nothing of this clause until, in the bit
terness of the first quarrel, her spouse
informed her Of the forethought of her
parents adding, Il now see why your
mamma is so anxious to have you under
stand my past; she would force you to
leave me, and claim half my fortune"
The frantic husbands words had far
different effect than he anticipated; his
wife was inspired with such contempt
for her unnatural parents that she chose
to live with her purchaser rather than
enrich her family by enforcing the terms
Of the contract. In the face of this cir
cumstanoe the parents do not see that
they have done the least wrong to their
child and are moving heaven and earth
to form a brilliant MATCH for the moth
er's favorite.
Nearly all the incidents connected
with the above marriage are repeated
every day in Paris. The parents gave
any number of breakfasts and dinners.
after the engagement was announced TO
which immediate relations and friends
were invited. They provideda trousseau
elegant in outward appearance, but of
such quality as no girl with any pride
would care to take to her nupitals; the
bridal dress was of white satin that
would not bear alteration after the cere-
mony; the linen was shop" made, and
not even subjected to the process Of the
laundry to refine its inelegances of fabri.
cation; the few dresses supplied were Of
flimsy material, but fitted the girlish
figure perfectly. Neither bed nor table
linen was provided as the groom had
plentiful store OF these necessaries in his
bachelor apartments which had been
prepared to receive his young wife.
Relatives and friends gave few pres-
ents that were choice and elegant. while
the groom presented a Sc, OF diamonds
that might have graced the toilet of a
duchess; but after the marriage he re-
turned the necklace and bracelet 10 the
merchant Of whom he had taken them
on approval saving they were "too ele-
CANT for the wife of a bour-eois."
While the above is bat one Of the
many marriages that disgrace the name.
there are Others on which friends and
fortune smile, and which time ripcns in.
70 a steadfast and fond affection ON both