Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-12-07

ures; he generally prefers rcsorting to
homeopathy; he loves another" Like
cure like: similia similibus curaptur.
Filtration is not a French pastime. a
few married women may indulge in III;
but girls. whatever may be said to tho
contrary, very seldom do. A woman
who flirted would pass in France for
giddy. not to say fast; she knows her
countrymcn too well for that. She is
aware, when she coquettes with them.
what she Is exposing herself to.
IL French girls felt inclined for little
filtration, how could they indulge in it?
Good heavensi What would her mother
and father say II they saw her taking n
walk by herself during the day--if IL
came TO their knowledge that a young
man had actually dared to whisper words
of love into her car before he had laid
bare his heart and made clear state
ment of his finances to them in tho first
placer Even when he has obtained con-
sent OF tho parent, and his visits to the
house where his fiancee resides are per-
mtted, the young couple are not allowed
to SEQ each other even for q moment
without the presence Of third party.
The pleasant operation familiar to Eng
lish lovers by the term Of "spooning" is
absolutely unknown 10 courtship as
practiced in France.
AS soon as two young French people
arc in lovo they want to die, unless their
parents Immediately consent TO their
marriage, which Is very seldom the
case. Well, to wish to die under these
circumstances Is trihe irrational, but
love and reason seldom 20 together. or
course they never do die. TAey live all
the while, and are almost inclined to
think that in love matters plain sailing
Is not so sweet or SO romantic as obsta-
cles to overcome. What lovely letters
crossed love suggests 10 them! Letters
invariably written at midnight--French
lovers never write by day--midnight,
"when all Is in repose around them"
Letters full Of "All is known; we arc
losti What will become of us? Ali for
get me as soon as you can; we shall
never be each others. AS for me, /
shall die of il; l know shall. Then
you will marry another woman. will
pray in heaven for your happiness. Per-
haps now and then you will come to the
cemetery and lay bunch of violets on
my tomb. You know, beloved one, that
violets are my favorite flowers. You
won't forget that, will you? weep,
weep and weep. Farewelly' And this
shiver giving letter, how to post it the
following day? The poor child cannot
go out alone. The housemaid is coaxed
and bribed. She becomes tho conf
dante. She posts the letter, receives the
answer, and plays the part of loves
messenger.
Cupid may delight in mystery, but
this is not business. However, things
come right in time, as we shall see pres
emily.
When the Frenchman in love has an
opportunity of making viva voce dec
laration to tho mistress of his heart. he
generally sets about IL in theatrical
fashion. He goes down on his knee.
Now, man, except he be very young,
with irreproachable features, can scarce.
ly afford TO do this: he runs a thousand
risks of appearing ridiculous and show
ing his little defective points. While he
is on his feet, that small bald spot on the
top of his head Is not noticeable, and the
unpicturcsquo male attire of the Nine
teenth century looks well enough. But
let man who is no longer slim Apollo
get down on his knees, and pour pas
sionate protestations to woman with
the slightest sense of the ridiculous,
and j maintain he is running a risk OF
killing what little tender sentiment she
may have for him. His face is red, or
perhaps purple, with tho unwontcd ex-
ertion and excitement as he warns to
his subject. Out of this red face CLEAN
two eyes that show all their white.
All the time the little demon of OBJ
servation may take inventory of all these
blemishes. No, no; man should not
allow woman to contemplate him in
such servile attitude. He should not
abdicate his dignity in going on his
knees to implore favors that the dear
fellow is probably destined to pay enough
for.
All this puts me in mind Of a play of
Emile Augier, in which an aristocratic
lady relates how she was saved from a
foolish ENHANCEMENT of her affections by
her lover going down on his knees and
declaring his passion. He had on his
nose u little wart, which at ordinary
times was scarcely noticeable; but as the
poor Iellow grew more and more carried
away by his fervor, redder and redder
grew this innocent little excrescence,
till ut last the comicaity of the thing
struck her, and she could not help burst
ing utlaughing. "That wart saved mel"
she exclaims, to the delight of her lady
friends ON the stage and of the audience
Let us now come to matrimony. l
have already said that young people in
France cannot marry without their
parents consent, and that at no matter
what age However, when man is over
twenty five and a girl over twenty one,
they may compel their parents TO give
them that consent.
This extreme measure is very seldom
resorted TO, for it has to take TIE form of
q summons through n notary; but re-
lentless parents sometimes wish to re-
ceive such summonses, in order to be
able one day TO tell their children, in
case the match should prove an unhappy
one, that they wash their hands of it. As
uoon as the young lover is accepted by
the girls parents he is received ia the
family; not, however, on terms Of in.
timacy, as in England. He pays frequent
but official visits, brings presents to the
young lady, many of which afford him
the opportunity of conveying to her
little billet doux. The day before the
wedding he brings the corbeille that is
TO say, casket containing valuable pres
ents of lace, jewelry, etc. The contract
of marriage, settling money matters, is
signed before notary and in the pres
ence of the relatives and the most init
mate friends of the bride and BRIDE
groom. As a rule. they are married hy