The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-13
FOREIGN NoBLEMEN AND AATERI-
CAN REIRESSES.

The forthcoming marriage of Miss Garner
Of New York to the Marquis of Breteuil
which is set for February oath, will furnish
text for the usual hOmiles on the unwisd0m
of alliances between European noblemen
and American heiresseS If these discourses
were to be believed, the one aim and object
of an American girl no goes to Paris is TO
capture no0leman, and on the other hand
the recognized way in which a broken down
man Of title in Europe retTi5ves his fortunes
Is by leading to the altar a fair barbarian,
who has inherited millions in American
mines, or railroads, or oil wells. That is
the fashion in which novelists, whose
knowledge Of noblemen and fair barbarians
is supplied by their Imagination, depict this
phase of modern society.
In point of fact, marriages between Eu-
ropean men Of title and American girls are
very rare indeed, and this for the simple
reason that really eligible noblemen marry
in their own country and generally in their
own set, and that American girls have far
too much sense, as rule, to accept men
who are not eligible though they may be
titled. There are of course exceptions to
the rule. Love is not sectional nor is it
always governed by territorial limits
Throughout all time, ever since the Romans
bachelor homes, men have occasionally laid
| their hearts at pretty foreign feet, and girls
have learned to lisp words of love in for
eign tongue. But these cases have been ex-
ceptional. The normal destiny of a man
and woman is to marry among their own
people, and that destiny is as uniform now
as it ever was.
CauOw girls, fresh from boarfing-schoo
do often, when they 90 abroad, nurse visions
OF winning rank and title by their bow and
spear. But little experience OF real life
dispelS the delusion. Englishmen, French
men, Germans, Italians and Spaniards,
whether titled or not, are bred in different
school from Americans. Their views of
life arc different; their code of morals is
not ours; their habits contrast sharply with
our habits; their aims and purposes are
widely apart from ours. 1t is very difficult
1or an American girl to attune her mind
and soul to harmony with theirs. She NAV.
| In me course oil travel or residence abroad
become intimate with them. But she ALWAYS
feels that there is a gulf between them. which
| 1t is given to few to cross. To take passage
with them on the voyage of matrmony in
wolves a wrench which not many girls care
to pro woke Hen e, of the American heir
esseS who go abroad in quest of coroDets,
the great bulk return Spinsters, and finally
find resting place with one of their own
kith-one WHO is of their bone and blood
and fiber.
Its different, of course, with girl who has
never mai an American home or American
associations, and who has been edurated
abroad ami has imbibed foreign notions
from her birth. Such q one is Miss Garner.
she was almost a baby when her father was
drowned in his yacht, the Mohawk, in a
VAIN effort to save his wife's life. She was
taken to Europe while still child, and was
educated there. She never mingled in Amer
lean society, nor became saturated with the
spirit oil American life. All that is of her is
probably French. Her enormous wealth
gathered round her the best society of Paris.
and she had the pick of the choicest parts
of the day. She is gifted, accomplished and
fairly beautiful. That such lady should
marry in high French society is as natural
as that John Scrogss should wed the
daughter of Bill Boggs round the corner.
And there is no reason why one marriage
should not turn GU. as well as the other.
Both are fit. OF the Marquis de BreteniI
little is known outside the set to which he
belongs, but he bears the reputation of be-
ing gentleman, high bred, polished, cul-
tured and by no means fortune-hunter.