Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-12-10


Emile Augier. In which an aristocratic
lady relates how she was saved from
foolish ENHANCEMENT of her affections by
her lover going down ON his knees and
declaring his passion. lie had on his
no~e a little wart. which al ordinary
times was scarcely noticeable; but as the
pour fellow grew more and more carried
away by his fervor. reider and reddsr
grew this innocent little ercrescenoe,
iill at last tho oomioality % the thing
struck her. and she could not help burst
ing out laughing. That wart saved mel"
she exclaims. 10 the delight Of her Lady
friends on the stage and Of the audience.
let us now come 10 mAtrimony. I
have already said that young people In
France cannot marry without their
parents consent. and that at no matter
what age. However. when a man IL over
twenty five and . girl over twenty one.
they may compel their parents 20 give
them that consent
This extreme measure IL very seldom
rc-ort.d 10. for IL has 10 take the form u
a summons through a notary bat re-
lentless parents sometimes wish 10 re-
ceivs such summonscs. In order 10 bs
cas- the match should prove an unhappy
one. that they wash their hands of IL. AZ
soon a. the young lover Il accepted by
the girls parents ho Ia received la the
family. not. however. on terms ~ In.
thnacy. a. In England. lie pays frequent
but official visits, brings presents 10 the
young lady. many of which Afford him
the opportunity of conveying % her
little billet doux. The day before the
wedding be brings the corbeille; that s
% say, q casket containing valuable pre-
enis % lace. jewelry. etc. Tho contract
% marriage, settling money matters, s
signed bsfore notary and In the pres
cncs Of the relatives and the most init.
mate friends Of the bride and BRIDE
groom. A a rule, they are married by
the mayor of the town on that day. The
real wedding IL religious ceremony
tina, takes place the following day In the
morning
People with q little pretsnsion TO style
have for many years followed the Eng
li.h fashion of going away for the honey.
moon as soon as the wedding breakfast
IL over. but twelve or fourteen years
ago such was not thu practice; high and
low spent their wedding day much alike;
that 10 10 say. as the lower middle classes
still DO.
Thi. l. how the sveniful day u passedi
The morning IL like the proyerbial
April one. all SMILES and tears The
process of We elaborate toilet 10 inter.
rupted at every moment by tender en-
braces Mamma between the pause- Of
the petticoats, mus, clasp her dear fihns
In her arms. and listen 10 her ASSURANCES
that "she can never. never be 80 happy
a. she has been with her dear petite
mere" at any rate not happier. But
neither tears nor embraces have hindered
the little white robed figure from being
decked very effectively
At last all are quite ready. and the
bridegroom having arrived. the bridal
party sets nut for church. the bride and
her father occupying the fnt carriage.
and the bridegroom AMI bis future mo-
ther law the second Tho friends Aol.
low. and In thi, order the little process
sion marches up o. the altar. The ser.
vice IL followed by a short address 10 the
happy pair-a 'ermon on mairimony by
one who knows nothing about H. This
being duly Administered. the company
proceed 90 the vestTy. and NO sooner are
they there than mamma falls again on
the neck of her sweet child. and again
gives way % her feelings. Indeed.
by thl. time the event is felt 10 Ia
a great one all round. and one
that demands much outlet for the feel.
ing. Everybody kisses everybody else.
and there is general chorus % feliciia.
tons The next item in the programme
1. the wedding breakfast. a simple affair
given In the family appariement to the
members of tho family only. II the Ia
ther lives in Paris. AMI hi. purse viii al.
init of the carriages being retained all
day. the bridal party drive 10 the Bots lie
Boulogne or vincennes ~ pas. the after.
noon. but this time the young coupls
are not separated. and mamma has 10
hand her daughter over for the first tete-
a-tete with Adolphe. Il Is awful 20 think
Of. but she has to bear IL.
The most festive part ~ the days pro
ceedings comes In the shape of dinner
and ball At great restaurant To thb
entertainment acquaintances 10 the mum
Ter of hundred or two are frequently
invited OF course. In the case % bride
taken from a home large enough TO al.
init Of IL. this takes place In her parents
rooms 80 midnight. when all are en-.
gagged In the whirl of waltz, fihne 10
discrcetly lei away from the ballroom
by her mother and an old lady OF stand.
ing of the family. but not before the
bridegroom has had whispered intima-
ton Of her departure FROM the lips of the
lady who 10 now signed and sealed his
mother.in.lAw.
This last part of the comedy l. the mos,
solemn % all. Arrived In the homs
which /. 10 be- her daughters abods
hencsforth. % course the dear soul can
not help feeling moved once more. and
this time terribly. The process % the
mornings toilet l. reversed TO the same
accompaniment ~ tears and embraces
The honor Of taking o6 the garter 10
claimed by the old lady generally an
aunt of the bridel Adolphe. punctuAl to
tho whispered rendezvous given him In
ths hall room. arrives. and Il is mAmms
who comes 10 open the door TO him.
This scene may he more easily imagined
than described The moment is awful
for all concerned. The poor mother
throws herself into her ION .in-law's arms.
and. with all the fervor Of her heart, en-.
hOrts him TO take care of the treasure
she has handed over TO him and make
her life n bel of roses And-shs goes.
Adolphe and fifine are happy At last;
and now We will take leave OF them and
wish them long happiness and pros
perity.
There IL something TO be sAid In favor
OF all this
The ceremony OF matrimony IL the
prologue TO courtship. instead Of the cpl.
logue. as IL not unfrequently 10 In ooun-
trie. where society imposes 40 restric.
tons upon engaged people
Cos.iseed-
What see with my own livin' eyes,
and hear with my own livin' ears. can
believe" was favorite saying with an
old lady who had little knowledge Of
herself, and little confidence In mankind