St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-24
How Pretty Girls Are Wooed
and Won in the Giddy
French Republic.
Objections to Widows and
Large Fortunes Said to Be
Quite Serious.
What a "Highly Respectable
and Sensible" Marriage
Is Like.
Matrimonial Agencies--Con-
cealing the Past--Apply-
ing for a Wife.

III may not Oe De out OIL pldce ~ SlVo
some account of what a French mar
rage de convenance-thati is to say
what conventional "highly respecta-
BILE" and sensible marriage-is like.
For the men who generally seek this
sort of marriage the first qualification is
to be thoroughly tired of bachelor exist
ence, and for this it is necessary to be
three-quarters,i if not completely ruined.
The gentleman is, of course, in bad
health, his youth and freshness have
entirely disappeared. and he is abso-
lutely tired and disguised with women
in general.
Having reached this stage CT complete
decadence the gentleman is generally
considered about ripe for matrimOny.
AS a rule, he selects, or rather his
friends ana relations select for him,
young girl, aged from seventeen to
twenty-One, who has just come out of a
convent school, is fresh, innocent, naive
and anxious to learn to love. Some
times, however, the young lady only
pretendS to be innocent and naive, has
but few illusions about matrimOny, and
is only too ready to submit to the obliga-
tons as concession to religious and
legal prejudices.
MatIimony to many French women
means freedom-the freedom to tiirt,
and worse.
AS a rule these marriages bring about
unforeseen revelations, groteSque sur
prises.
The honest, loving girl weeps over
her lost illusions; the gentleman, worn
out with fast living and who has mar
ried, $50 as to be quiet" is vaguely
anxious. Sometimes. though not often,
1t is the other way about. Innocence
and inexperience are on the side of the
man who is only twenty TO twenty-five
years old, has just left strict clerical
seminary, and is married by his parents
quickly. before he has time to get into
mischief.
In that case. his wife is generally
older than himself, knows far more than
she ought to know, and the ultimate re-
suit is scarcely preferable.
The man who. wants to marry may adj
dress himself to six different uterine
diaries-hiS relations, his friends, the
making a speciality, the matrimonial
agencies, and last, but not least. chance.
The fond lover is strongly opposed to
very large fortunes; 100000 would be
acceptable, but any exceptionally large
sum ''Smells strongly of petroleum or
timed provisions from Cincinnati. The
woman married may be adorably beautl-
full, nevertheless the man is sure to fall
to the low position of fellow who has
done a good stroke OF business.
He is also greatly opposed to widows,
and, out of the two, prefers the spinster
who is not free from reproach. The
latter will not allude to her past, where
as the widow is sure to talk OF her late
and lamented husband.
Nor does he recommend a very beau
tlfnl woman; an agreeable and elegant
woman is preferable. The husband
will be more tranquil. He will think
he has no cause for jealousy, and that
is just as good as if there were no cause.
A woman, also, who is gentle, virtuouS,
insignificant and fairly stupid, is more
likely to make good wife than very
intelligent woman.
With regard to the various agencies
through which wife is to be obtained,
we are told. above ALL not to trust the
family of the future bride; but, on the
contrary. to infinitely verify every de-
tail.
The same recommendation applies to
the case when friends are the inter-
mediaries. On the other hand, if man
addresses himself to a priest and the
priest undertakes to find him wife, he
may have the utmost condolences; but if,
on the contrary, it is the priest who
comes to him representing the interests
of the woman who is seeking husband,
then the imam must act with the pru-
dence of serpent and the skill of
Machiavel." Though he must not show
any distrust. still he must verify every
Rffirmation.E
In dealing with the lady matchmaker
the recommendations given are more as
suring.- The gentleman must pretend
that he does not in the least suspect her
of intriguing in the matrimonial line.
He must speak in an open, frank style,
In filial tones, and with tears in his
voice. He must grow eloquent on the
deserted, icy home of the bachelor, on
his absurd, empty existence. All, if he
could only meeE with some young lady
who-and here must be enumerated the
qualities which the said young lady
should possess. But. alas! no one
would take an interest in dissipated
fellow whose noisy, unsteady life has
become too notorious. No one would
depths of his broken soul: and yet, and
yet. if they did, knows what hidden
treasures of devotion. etc, ETC.?
On the morrow of an interesting con-
versation, conducted on these lines, one
Is almost sure to receive little note
written somewhat in this style:
"My dear child. | was moved by your
sincerity. know ayoung lady. charm
Ing child, whom | have watched from
Infancy upwards, and who. without
doubt. could bring you the calm joys of
Of which you were dreaming. But can
believe in the sincerity of your con-
version? Will | have no cause to repent
the confidence place in you? ours,
ETC.. THE MARCHIoNEss OF X.
''P. S.-Come and dine with me on
Thursday; she will be there. Above all,
do not say that you are a Bonapartst;
that would ruin the whole affair."
To the lady matchmaker is preferred
the open frankness of the matrimonial
agency, which has the further advant-
age of being less expensive. Nor is it
necessary to speak in humble and So
liciting tone. The applicant may be
even somewhat rude in his attitude: the
agency will think all the better of him.
BY any one or several of the SIX inter-
mediaries the introductions having been
brought about, what should be the atti-
tude of the gentleman?
In the first instance, he must be very
careful not to allow himself to be moved
ny any ICluCl oCOllOs nc luuSJ llOb ldll
Into the arms of the family. He must
not content himself with generaliza-
tons, but insist upon going into details
of the fortune. He must not address
himself to the parents, nor to the
friends, nor to the enemies of the fam
fly. These are all likely. willingly or
not. to give inaccurable information.
The best is to get at the family law
yer. If the young lady is really pleas
ant, pretty. and has produced favora-
BILE impression, then all thought of her
must be vigorously banished from the
mind; her form must not be seen
through the figures that represent her
fortune.
AS the son-in-law is almost sure to
quarrel with his wife's family on the
very morrow of his marriage, he must
Insist that the marriage portion be paid
Oh the very day of the marriage. Above
all, lands, farms. businesses that are
stated to bring in a large income, must
not be accepted.
The enumeration of the advantages
mill bo 1ictapnd IN with rQcnppt and