Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-11
FRENCH MARRIAGE.
The Religio Civil Ceremony Ar.
ranged Between the Two
Families.


Marriages are arranged in France, with
very few exceptions, on pure business prln-
ciples They don't sell young girls in France
like calves and colts, as they do in Germany,
but they sometimes come pretty close to it.
The present marriage laws Of France are
very singular and belong to an antiquated
state of society which was misused for so long
by the priesthood. Until man is 25 years
old he is compelled to ask permission of his
parents to wed, and if his parents are dead
then he must seek permission from his grand
mother and grandfather. If he is turned
25' he may serve his unwilling father and
mother with those documents, at in
tervals Of a fortnight from each other,
called sommations respecteuse, or respectful
summons, and if the parents still remain
obstinate then the maire gives him permission
to passer outre, that is, to get married with
out their consent With the woman the age
Of her freedom is fixed at 81; but should she
undertake TO get married even after that age
without full parental consent society would
have so much to say about it that she would
be almost cast out among the wicked ones Of
the world. This gives the parents quite
despotic power over the matrimonial inclna-
tons OF their beloved offspring. Sending
document through the medium of a notary TO
stubborn parents would be scandal far
more shocking than to break either one or
the commandments.
Generally speaking, marriages in France
are arranged between the two families with
the help OF a notary. Sometimes, it is true,
there is q romance or a sentiment about the
affair which tells Of love and affection; but
this does not often happen. The usual way
IS for the parents to arrange matters. A
marriage having been considered advisable
between two families, the young couple are
informed of the fate which is in store for
them, and after a few interviews in the pres
ence Of third persons the banns are pub
lshed, as they say in England, but not in the
same manner. In France the bannS are put
up at the nlairies mayors Offices, OF which
there are twenty in Paris alone. They con-
sist of q notice posted on the doors of the
marie, where it remains foT two weeks.
Usually there are two weddings; but one
alone-that at the marie, or the civil mar
riage-is made obligatory by the law, and
without it the religious marriage is entirely
void The religious marriage is always cele-
brated after the civil ceremony and great
many persons Disregard altogether.
have witnessed many weddings here in
Paris, both civil and religious ones, and I
must say that usually they are not the inn
pressive affairs some writers would have us
believe them to be. The popular days for
weddings are Tuesdays and Saturdays. The
fiances, their relations and their witnesses
have met for the purpose of proceeding to the
marie. The witnesses are by long odds the
most important personages in the group. He
is lucky bridegroom who can induce some
great parsonage to serve him in this matri-
monial capacity. A great deal depends upon
the standing of these witnesses, and happy
are the couple who can boast that states
man, an academician or nobleman is one of
their friends ''for this occasion only if 10
longer. Some of the invited guests have
brought their children, dressed out like dolls
and as timid as mice. While the party are
taking their seats the marie is preparing him
self for the occasion. He wraps a tricolored
scarf around his waist, and it is this scarf
which alone confers on him the power to
pronounce the words from the civil code
which no human power can afterwards set
aside. When he is ready the hussier opens
the door leading into the public sale and
cries out, ''8Ionsieur lie Maire" Everybody
stands up, the MARE enters, sits down. and
then the audience do the same.
The door leading into the street is left wide
open, and it must remain so during the entire
ceremony, for the law requires that a civil
marriage shall be public one. Any one has
g right to enter, and, if there be any reason
for doing SO, to make an objection. At the
marie a clerk is seated before desk, with a
large register before him. When their names
are called the flowing couple" advance to the
platform, and, with their relatives and wit
nesses, seat themselves in certain large plush
chairs, which are used exclusively for such
occasions. The clerk reads part of the law
governing marriages, and then the MARE
asks both candidates for matrimony if they
consent to take each other for man and wife.
When the progenitors of the couple are pre-
sent, they are asked if they give their con-
sent Then the MARIE reads from the civil
code the paragraphs descriptive of the rights
and duties of the spouses. He then declares
them married, and the signing of the record
by the married couple and their witnesses
completes the ceremony. Last of all there
is collection taken up at the door, pour
les pauvres."