The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-05-06
MARRIAGE Of FRENCH GIRLS.
Their Life from the Time of
Leaving School to Marriage.


Their Life from the Time of
Leaving School to Marriage.
The average American regards
the French idea of marriage with
horror, without exactly knowing
why. A young girl is educated
under the careful eye OF her mother
or governess, who accompanies her
to all her classes, and considers it as
only a matter of course to sit
patiently with needlework or book
during the music or singing lesson.
The girl is taught from her earliest
childhood that it is the destiny of
woman to become wife and mother.
When she is about eighteen years
old she makes her appearance in
society. The walls of a French ball
room are always lined with chairs.
The mother and daughter take their
places side by side, and two chairs
are theirs for the evening. When a
man requests girl to dance he
writes his name on card and does
not appear again until the dance
begins. Then he puts his "claque"
Opera hat) on the girls chair, and
her fan, and with a bow to her
mother leads her off. Sometimes
during the whole dance not a word
is exchanged between the two.
Such a thing as dividing a waltz or
sitting it through while the music
plays is unheard of, though pro-
menading is permissible. When
the dance Is finished the girl is led
back to her place, and with Thank
YOU, mademoiselle," and THANK
you. monsieur" the couple part.
To the American girl the idea of
thanking a man for dancing with her
is preposterous, but her French
sister is more philosophical.
"Why shouldn't thank hime" she
asks. Has not the dance given me
as much pleasure as it has given
him, and is it not compliment to
be chosen from so many girls? Then,
why not be politeP'
After a season or two in society
madame decides that it is time her
daughter should be married. At
present It is the fashion for wealthy
people to spend the summer in their
own cottages by the seaside, and
there young people meet and are
allowed a certain degree of freedom,
though always under the eye Of a
chaperon. After the French girl is
fairly we'll acquainted with her future
finance (though this is not always
the case), some relative OF the young
man is charged with the delicate
commission of presenting his case to
the mother of the young lady. The
education, social position, disposi-
ton, health, wealth and prospects of
each are discussed with the greatest
frankness. Then, if the two are not
already acquainted, the girl is taken
to the theatre and the men call on
her in the box, or the two are
invited to dine at the house OF a
common friend. II either does not
like the other, the matter is ended,
tor it is a very unusual thing for a
parent to force child into marriage,
If, however, the liking is reciprocal,
other meetings take place, the two are
allowed few moments of privacy, a
walk in the garden, or a converse
ton at one end of the room. If the
result is satisfactory, the marriage Is
decided on and takes place three
months afterward. The question o
"dot" (money) is serious one.
1t is absurd to say that French
women are married only for their
money. 1t is almost an impossibility
for man in ordinary circumstances
to marry poor girl. The educa
ton of the average man is far more
complete in France than in America
Every family tries to send the boy:
to school until they are at leas
eighteen years old. Then come:
the military service, and mar
begins business when he is abou
twenty one. If his family are II
moderate circumstances, it is prob
} able that the son accepts govern
ment position, with salary of $50
month. At thirty years OF age,
he is steady and industrious, HI
may make $40 month. How is /
possible to support family on 81
small sum? The only solution i
to marry a girl about the sam
income. 1t is not necessary for he
to have large capital if she has an,
means OF supporting herself. Thi
also applies to cultivated people. I
marriage in France is not the cas-,
thing it is in America. The consen
of the parent of both parties mus
be furnished, or if that is not pos
sible and they are of age, then tn
refusal must be obtained, togethe
# with their birth certificates of tn
e parents. If the latter are dead
g their death certificates must be pre-
' cured before the bans are pu 1lishec
A religious marriage is not recog
nized by law, and it is usual for tn
civil marriage to take place at th