The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-04-09
MAKING 0NE or TWO
The HaYIAGs Ceremony 10 All tho
Countries Of The World.
QueeF ways % Tying NapslaI IknOss.
After An, Our Coed Plain AmsFl.
can Way h - tiOOd as Any.

Just 50 long as this old world Of ours
goes on, 80 long rs there are youths to
WOO and maidens to be won, courtship
and marriage will be subjects Of perhaps
greater interest than all other things put
together, We in America, where, In the
case Of choosing husband or a wife, as
in everything else, there is so much free
dom Of action, can better appreciate the
sanctity and beauty Of the marriage tie
by comparing our customs, forms and
ceremonies with those Of other countries.
It is known Of course that in all Euro
pean countries women, particularly Of the
upper classes, have very little to say in
regard to this life step, parents or guar
diAns arranging everything to their own
satisfaction, and acquainting her Of the
details aiterward.
In France the marriage de covenance"
is the only one thought, and We are told
that in these marriages very often the
husband is . man past middle age, man
who has become satiated with all the
pleasures Of life, so decides to settle down
and spend his declining years in a sem
blance Of responsibility. To do this be
will marry, and that, too, 4 young, limo
cent girl who, perhaps, just from q con-
vent or the hands Of a governess, Is des-
tined to all too quickly have her fairy
castles in the air." her girlish illusions,
rudely dispelled.
THE FRENCH WAY.
The Frenchman who wants to marry
may address himself to a number OF in
termediaries. In case he has already
fixed his choice and is known to her par
ents and guardians he may lay his suit
before them. II, on the contrary, he Just
makes up his mind to marry without any
choice at all he can apply to his own rela-
tives, friends, matrimonial agencies, etc.
He must pretend to he very tired Of bach
eiOr life, very much in earnest 10 longing
for the peace and quiet Of domesticity and
wish earnestly that he might meet some
good young girl with whom he could SET
tie down and live happily.
In due time his interested friends find
one they think will suit him. He is In
vited to a dinner, reception, anything,
10 meet her. Preliminaries in the way
Of financial settlements are arranged and
the farce continued to the last words,
"What God hath joined together let no
man put asunder."
Matrimony in France is held in very
little respect, men in any kind Of q social
position rarely marrying except for ma
terial advantage. It Is for this reason,
undoubtedly, that the home lives Of the
French are such wTetched failures, and
why to many girls the title Of madam"
Is but q license for much that is impru-
dent il not actually wrong.
THE GERMAN CUSTOM.
As with France 10 with many other
countries, 80 far as the match being made
by outside people is concerned. In Ger
many 1t is quite Il businesslike affair.
There is an officer in the German army
to-day who wears upon his finger a ring
which many years ago was given him by
the girl whom he loved. but whom he had
TO give up, she not having the "dower"
requisite Tor an army mans wife.
In Italy, while among the better class
OF people u young man and woman are
never allowed to see each other alone,
and there il that same looking out on
both sides for the substantial part Of the
transaction, still 1t Is often an affair de
occur" and not an Unusual thing for an
Italian lover TO give up home, parents
and money in order to wed the girl Of his
choice.
When the families are upon good terms,
however, the young man calls at the house
and sees his loved one in the presence Of
others. Though they are never alone Il
can easily be imagined that there Il q
language Of eyes which cannot be stopped,
even II seen, and which tells the young
man when to speak. Even after the ques.
ton is Pot to those in charge Of the young
lady, after settlements are made and the
betrothal made public, the lovers are
never allowed to be Glone, nor to show in
any way their affection for each other.
CIVIL CONTRACT IN TURKEY.
Among the Turks marriage Is civil
contract, and the union Of the parties is