Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-12-03
Partisan Matrimony.
MADAME ADAM DESCRIBES 8IATCHNIAK-
ING IN HUNGARY-PARIsIAN
MARRIAGE AGENCIES.


In her new book, La Patrie Hon
grOise," Madame Adam tells us that in !
the Hungarian provinces marriages are |
managed after this wise: The young
man having made up his mind, pays a
formal visit to the parents of his ina
morta, and after spending the evening
with them, talking upon Indifferent
subjects mot a hint does he let fall
concerning his ultimate Intentions he
goes away, leaving his cloak behind
him. This is as much as to say
Barkis is willin'." If the girl, backed
by papa and mamma sees fit to reciprO-
cate his affection, nothing is said about
the cloak, and the owner of it, coming
to claim his garment, does so as an &C
cepted sutton. If, on the other hand,
his offer has to be rejected, the cloak is
sent or taken back to its owner, who
may be said, in the Partisan vernacu-
lar, to have TempOrte une UeSte.
What a charmingly simple arrange
ment! Diffident young fellows and
modest elderly bachelors, who tremble
at the idea of popping the question,
| would hail such a custom with delight.
Think of the rows of paletots and
ulsters left hanging in Beauty's hall
after a party! Some young ladies with
personal attractions of their own, and
pleasant little fortune to boot, would
have to keep a servant employed re-
tnrning rejected suitOrs' habilaments.
And then John Thomas "Them coats
would try the patience of a saint. If
my young lady does not make up her
mind to keep one of them paletots,
shall give warning" 1t is true, diff
culties might arise. The absent-mind-
ed find themselves launched into mat
rimOny because they forgot their coats
by pure accident. Imagine the feelings
of a discreet old bachelor, who finds
on arising the next morning that he
has left his outer garment at the house
of father blessed with many daugh-
ters, and the agitation in the dOmicil
before and after the mistake is discOv-
cred. Plots for any number of farces
: and opera bOuffes might be evolved
out of such complications.
: In no matter of equal consequence
, do the habits of countries differ more
r widely than in the etiquette to be pur-
! sued with regard to marriage
Englishmen and Americans have 9
/
F matter, and, however shy they may be-
D by nature, are altogether loath to de
pute another to act for them. French
? men never act for themselves, except
) in the case of widOws.-FOr a young
man to make personal proposal o
: marriage to the innocent object of hi
/. affections would be terrible breach 0
+ manners, though many a secret com
it pact, we may be sure, has been sealet
e between two figures of quadrllle
# Young people may understand eacl
: other" before the elders are asked 70
n their Opinions-yOuth, love, desire be
e ing the same the world over, in spite o
K etiquette and cOnventionality and
girl may love, and even tell he
= love though her mother keep he
never so carefully under her matronl
wing.
French matchmakers are of tw
kinds-thOse who make matches fc
y the love of the art, and those who d
so from interested motives. Again
K there are the Agences Matrimonial
|" proper, and the secret agents VIII
work under the rose" Now, thes
y are much more numerous than peopl
~ generally imagine. In the list Of pc
u sons who add small sums, from time I
~ time, to their incomes by this NEAR
. was made out, great would be the su
II prise in "the upper ten" The charm
70 ing widowed Countess, who is so fOn
r. of gathering young people about he
Ie and gives such delightful dance
rs although she has no daughters of h,
III own, makes a thousand dollars,
tP least, year out of divers matrimoni
Vi transactiOns--perfectly legitimate tran
n actions, be it understood, and viii,
~ give entire satisfaction to the princip
y parties concerned. Madame Mod
ny the fashionable dressmaker, h
- brought more couples together with
pr the last twelve months than l cou
'ol could count on my ten fingers. H
nc perquisites may be the making of t
6He wedding trousseau, or something MOI
IN Notaries sometimes act as go-betweeI
an the drawing up of marriage contraC
q being a lucrative item in their prof,
Us sion, and likely to lead to more prot
w able work still-iudicial separation
!" and, in the future, divorce cases.
ne Half the heiresses in Paris have the
'l Nr names down on the private ledgers
Vi of the agencies. The girls Intensely
I've and their families know nothing of
SSSu1 Some busy-body or other provides
Liz no requisite details as to age, position a
az the amount of the dot. If these pre-
my satisfactory to the applicant, some "
1 1i;n will be found to put them in presen
she In case of his being accepted the bri,
% groom has to pay a high per cents
l ! on the fortune when once the conf
'lo- bal knot is tied. Men have, beft
3 .t now, been married by means of
Cne agent, unknown to themselves; a
TE when about to start on their weddi
INC journey the bill is presented; it
uni paid-grudgingly. Anything is bet
- than that they should be suspected
Lt:S having had recourse to such a me;
SUI to obtain well-dowered bride.-Pd
IL ian Letter to the ArgOnGut.