Morris tribune., 1886-09-01
FRENCH MARRIAGES.

FRENCH NJ MARtlAGES. n
From Mime. Greville's lecture on '.Wo-
men," No Frenchman of the working
class is without Il home of his own. lni
London workman often lives in a hap
hazard way, taking his meals here and
sleeping there. A Frenchman always
has some place he can call his own.
His wife makes it truly home. She is
never sullen to him or to the children,
no matter how hard she may have to
work. The children are at home every
evening after or o'clock. They read
the inevitable newspaper, which one
can never get rid of, aloud to their faith
er, and the home life is perfect. Free
schools came from America twenty
years ago. When man is in business
he does all the buying and selling and
outside work. His wife keeps his books
Sometimes very rich man in commerce
will know nothing whatever OF his busi-
ness accounts. But they are safe with his
wife, and could not be in better hands.
But she cannot even sign her name
without his leave, under the law. Often
the wife supports the man entirely, while
he lounges and drinks at the cabaret.
Then if she dies, he is like baby, and
knows nothing of his affairs. Girls must
be married. 1t is nothing dreadful if
there is but one daughter. But when
there are half dozen it is truly terrible.
When a girl is II or Is her mother be-
gins to look about for husband, and
everybody begins to dread her. They
forget to send her invitations, and in
vent excuses about cards having been
lost. Some one has been careless; she
will be invited next time. When the
son-in-law is secured he is invited to
dinner. He looks about to see if the
linen, the silver, and the furniture are
all right. He criticises the cooking. He
calls two or three times week, and
brings magnificent flowers. No matter
how poor he is, the flowers are always
splendid. He expects the brides por-
ton to make up for it. This is a mar
riage de CONVEYANCE, though what con-
venience do not know very well. Per-
haps the brides portion may be the con-
venience in the young mans eyes. do
not approve of such marriages, though
l admit that they generally turn out
well. If a girl refuses the man her par
ents have provided in accordance with
her own views she can do nothing. She
generally yields when she gets to be 21
ana finds the chances are against her
getting any husband unless she takes
the one provided. 1t is not the way
married. and | should not approve of it
for any one | cared for. | married my
self After the legal ceremonies and the
marriage at the marie comes the we'd
ding in church. When that is over the
young pair do not 90 home; that would
be highly improper. They go to some
hotel, where Il magnificent breakfast is
provided. If YOU are ever so fortunate
as to be favored with an invitation to
such feast advise you to eat good
breakfast before you 90 and good din
ner after it. For there is nothing to eat;
all is show. But the bride has the con-
ISOLATION of knowing that her dress is
very much handsomer than the dress OF
her best friend, who was married a few
weeks ago; and what greater happiness
can any woman desire? In fact, it is far
too handsome to be worn again. After
the wedding they settle down. The hus-
band goes to his business; the wife has
her reception day. Her ''collation"
consists of cake and Malaga wine from
the grocer's shop over the way. The
guests know too much to touch the stale
cakes or the sour wine. So one bottle
of wine and few cakes serve all Win
ter. She has had her ''day.' and it
matters not how she looks on all the
other days. No one sees her, but she
has made great show. When this
period is past, the couple generally settle
down much better than could have been
expected, and are reasonably happy to-
gether. They have no idea that there
can be better way of marrying. Still
it is dreadful to have a daughter to
caser-''put in the case" l think the
system of marrying for portion is aw-
full. l have known cases, however, where
there was none.' A girl feels that she is
married for her money. Education is
better now than formerly. There has
been great change within the last
thirty years, and now it is almost as
good as it is in America. But no girl is
ever allowed to go alone in the streets.
1t would be dreadful; something would
surely happen; it would hurt her future.
If girls are to be escorted to school an
army of servants must be kept. This
system is absolutely bad. Fifty or sixty
of lis have decided that our daughters
shall go to school alone, and / hope our
example may be followed and that there
may be great change in this respect
within the next ten years. / must say
one word about woman's suffrage. 1t
has been much ridiculed among us. 1t
certainly will not do now. We are not
fit for it. 1t would upset all the hopes
of it's advocates if it were given to us
now. Things would be worse. Women
must be educated to judge of such things
first, especially in France. / am sure
that our granddaughters will be fit for
suffrage, but not our daughters. Legal
rights are not SO necessary now that we
have divorce. don't believe in using
divorce like pair of tongs But |
think that women will be more careful
in the future in selecting their husbands.
They can have second chance if the
first is not successful. The freedom
which you have we shall have also
when we desire it. In Italy suffrage
would be thrown away. There the wo-
men spend their days in the churches
tanning themselves They are not pray
ing, but passing their time. But in
France the day will come we shall be
sufficiently clever, learned, and wise for
suffrage, and when that day comes we
shall have it.
Presidents Washington, Monroe, Jack
son Harrison Tavlor Piaroa Grant