Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-17
MARRIAGES ~ mAgoRoA AND SICILY.

The Rev. H. Christmas. in the frat vol
ume of his "Shores and Islands of the
Mediterranean, published in 1851, relates
the following story, which is both amusing
and characteristic, as to the then existing
state of clerical influence and practice ex.
ercised in domestic affairs in the Spanish
island of Majorca A young couple pre-.
sen:ed themselves to be married. The
parish priest objected to perform the cere.
mony, as the parties stood within the pro-
hibited degrees of consaDguinity, which he
demonstrated thus Their mothers are god.
mothers TO the same child this, in the
eyes Of the Church, made them sisters
from that time forth, and their mutual
progeny fret cousins. The lovers repu-
dated the logic with the quod erat demon
straadans, aAd appealed to the bishop. The
prelate said there was no remedy but 8
dispensation from Rome. ave cannot
wait so long," cried the disconsolate pair.
There's no OCCASION" said the bishop :;
we have them ready" and he opened a
drawerful, as promptly as Shylock pro-
duces his scales. "Pay twenty dollars and
the business is done" They could as easily
have paid the national debt Of England.
and were about to go home in despair.
The mother Of the girl, strong-minded
woman, endeavored to shake the bishop,
but he was inexorable. "Take the kew of
the house, and take my daughter" she
said to the expectant but diecomforted
son.in.lsw his lordship knows that the
twenty dollars had nothing to do with the
merits of the case, Since you are unable
to pay for the blessing of the Church, you
must make the best shift you can without
it. No, no p exclaimed the worthy
bishop. little alarmed at the turn matters
were taking; 1--WE must have no scandal
here. will give you the dispensation
rather tnan allow such irregular proceed.
ings." And 30 the priest, furnished with
the talsmanic bit of parchment. united
them forthwith, and all parties went ON
their way rejoicing.
As pendant to this anecdote related by
Mr.. Christmas, we beg to subioin one.
something similar, and little more highly
colored, though not exaggerated, which is
vouched for by returned traveller. many
years ago, IN Sicily. There is no occasion
TO mention the exact date. The young
Count a fell desperately in love with
mis- cousin, the only daughter and heress
of the Prince and Princess Of P; the
young lady reciprocated his passion, and
both families were anxious for the mar
riage, which would unite and keep together
two large estates. But in this case. the
couple were bona fide frat cousins. and a
dispensstion from the Pope was imperative.
In Sicily they did not keep them ready, as
IL MsJorca. and money, with the Arch
bishop OF Palermo, was not to be named.
Plus the Seventh was at that time a close
prisoner at Fountainebleau, and between
the vigilance Of the English blockading
cruisers and the severity of Napoleon's
Nonintercourse Act, it was extremely diff.
cnlt to get access to the Holy Father. Ex-
pense being no consideration with the par.
ties interested, confidential messenger
was privately dispatched, who, after en-
couatering unheard of obstacles, and a te.
dious delay of several months, at length
returned with the long-looked for docu.
ment. The young lovers fastened in &C.
stacy to the Archbishop, who solemnIy in.
dued his spectacles, opened the packet and
examined It's contents with tantalizine |
scrutiny. After careful peruaal of the |
he shook his head in ominous
incredulity. The writing was so bad that |
he could scarcely decipher it. The forgery |
was palpable. My children, +" said ne. in |
q responding tone, sidnlo tutti coglionati, |
we are all hoaxed. This is not the hand |
Of His Holiness, with which 1 am well &C.
quainted. It is miserable imitation, i'll.
spslt, abominsbly scrawled, and the form
uncanonical." Both lovers were in ago.
MES. They stormed, threatened, expostu-
ted, implored and wept. In vain they aug
gested that the Pope was old and nervous,
and that his hand shook, and his memory
failed him, and that it was a trebly cruel
case that so much happiness should be
wrecked On technicality. Fathers and
mothers on both sides came in to their as.
distance, and at last the good prelate re-
ented. Z" see way" he said, to make
al smooth. believe this a wretched fab.
rication" which he tore in pieces
will exert an episcopal power, as access to
She Sovereign Pontiff is impossible, and
dispense you from the obstacle. The Pope,
when free, will confirm my act. Go, my
and be happy" They adopted
his considerate expedient, and in a very
hort time were joined together and
happy couple they were.-[Leslie's Sunday
Magazine.