Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-15

not perhaps as fruitful IN results OF ac-
quaintanceship as those of longer duration
and extended permission of private assoc
cations. But, however long courtslip may
last, who is the man or woman who does
not persist in putting on his Sunday man
ners as well as his Sunday clothes as long
as 1t lasts? George Eliot ably put the ques-
ton in Middlen.arch" when she saws:
1nierences may seem large, but really
life could never have gone on at any period
but for the liberal allowance of conclusions
which have facilitated marriage under the
difficulties of civilization Has anyone
pinched into its pilulous snallness the
cobweb of prematrimonial acquaintance
ship ?n
As rule, during courtship, the young
lady does not call nor visit al the house OF
her betrothed; no dinners or festivities
take place there until after the marriage.
All The members OF his family, however,
are frequently invited bv the parents OF
the young lady TO meet all of her relations
and form a circle OF alliance. They are
all expected TO formally call on each other
at least once or twice q year, if closer ties
OF soclablilty are not maintained 1t is
not considered bon ton for the engaged
couple to call each other by their Christian
name without the prefix of Miss or Mr.
The French thee and thou are reserved for
after marriage, and now frequently are
used as an endearing way for husband and
wife to speak TO each other only in the pri-
racy OF tete-a-tete. Presents are ex-
changed only the day before the marriage
ceremony. 1t is the future husbands duty
to furnish his house. He of course con.
suits the taste of his bride, and especi-
ally that OF her mother, who has
more experience, and who thoroughly
hos of i
The trousseau, and all the house
linen are provided by the bride The sum
expended on the rousseau is often men,
toned in the contract with the amount OF
the dover. 4 girl who will bring $50, DOC
into the new household generally has a
rousseau worth $1,000. 1t is customary
for the bridegroom to offer presents in pro
portion to his wealth-iewels, laces and
carriages are expected Of the man who can
afford them. If his mother has no girls
she presents her future daughter with a
portion OF the diamonds and laceS which
she would have reserved for her own
daughters. Laces and jewels are thus
handed down and kept from generation to
generation. Relatives on both sides are ex.
pected to offer something more precious
than long array of nicBel-plated cake
baskets, cruet-stands, and napkin-rings
As You see, to maintain these expensive
traditions it is impossible for the French
to have large families, for it is q national
and family pride for parents to give as
large a dover as their fortunes will
allow, with the proviso, however, OF
keeping the larger portion for themselves
I for 1t does not enter into the customs
to lessen the importance of their own es-
| Establishments for the marriage settlement OF
their children. This custom of dover ex-
| lists in ali classes of people who have any
thing to give. Small trades people will sci
| up shop for their children; peasants and
farmers will give so many head of cattle
or q portion of their land. Others, whose
incomes cannot be divided draw up papers
| to pay q certain amount of it yearly tC
their children, and lawsuits which force
parents TO live up to the terms stipulated
| III marriage contracts, are often the subject
OF Court discussions. The ceremony Of
| signing the contract opens the wedding
| festivities. 1t usually takes place the day
before the civil and religious marriages, al
| the house of the bride. The contract is
signed in the presence of the family law
yers, by the bride, bridegroom, parents and
witnesses, just before guests arrive, who
have been invited to a reception, a InuSica
soiree or ball. The bride, for this occa
sion, wears her last girIish party-dress, &
| light pink or blue gauze, simply made Ia
VERGE, adorned with no jewels but those
she has been allowed to wear in her girl
| hood-ceral, small pearls and turquoise
[Cor. Brooklyn Eagle