The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-01-18


way 10 prott-and profits thereby. For
tune, or "a title. that is her aim She
keeps 1t in view, even in the most touch
ins moments. Between two kisses she
viii perhaps ask her lover: Are YOU
ricliE' II is the pinch Of rhuharb be-
tween two layers cf Jam.
The constant aspiration ~ these Young
republicans Is 70 bc one day countess,
marChiuncss or duchess
The number of European coats Of arms
which have been taken out Of pawn, or
rcgilt, with American dollars, is enor-
nous.
Not long ago a writer on the staff Of
The Paris Figaro counted among tho
guests in one Of che most select drawing
rooms Of the Faubourg Saint Germain,
thirty-scvcn American ladies bearing
thirty-sevcn names of the most authen-
tic French nobility.
Every one knows how many American
women the English aristocracy counts in
its bosom.
That passion for rich marriages, which
burns in the heart of so many Young
American women, often leads them 10
disastrous results.
If one may trust ones eyes, American
law allows young girls to marry their
grandfathcrs, or at least the Contenpo-
rarieS of these worthless
1t is not rare to see girls Of IS and 90
married to men of 20 and over.
As a Ercnchman, know il scarcely
becomes me to throw the first stone at my
neiShbor for this Franco is admittedly
country where marriages de conven-
ance are common. Still | must say
that the difference is enormous. In
France, it is the parents who are 10
blame and not the girls, whilst in Amer
ica 1t is the young girl herself who
chooses her husband, she alone is respon-
sible for this crime against Cupid's laws
She has not either the French girls ex-
cuse, ignorance OF the world; she knows
botter what awaits her on leaving the
church. 4 French girl sometimes passes
straight from the convent to the mar
riase altar, without her consent having
been asked, or even her opinion consult
ed. And again, | must add that II
French parents often cause girl OF
20 10 marry man twice her age, they
would shudder at the idea Of giving her
into the arms of an old man.
The young American, ildulged and
petted by her father, counts that an old
husband will DO more likely to put uI
with her caprices, and crafty al heI
whims, than young man would whose
fortune was not made. "A young hus.
band" she says to herself, lis all very
fine; but there is my father who does
just as please; am pretty and have
hosts OF men who tell ne 30 every day;
am free to go where l like and receive
whom | like; | spend as much as
like; shall | exchange all this for a
husband who will hamper me with
household and perhaps a large family
who will talk OF stocks and perhaps
preach economy; who will bore me with
the prices OF grain or cotton seed oil
and give me the headache with listening
to his politics and heaven knows what!
No, no, | will take husband who will
think Of nothing but satisfying my ca.
prices" And perhaps she adds in her
wisdom: "a man OF 20 or 50 shall not
have to put up with very long"
This kind OF marriage is the well worn
theme OF many American comedies.
An American told me that he once
went long journey in the same railway
car with an infirm, hoary old man of 80,
who was accompanied by girl of scarce
more than 20, My friend admitted to
me that the sight Of her lovely face had
the effect Of making him fall quite In
love with her before their five days jour.
ney was over. IN did not have an op-
portunity Of conf fsing with her; but on
arriving at their destination, he resolved
to put up at the same hotel as the old man,
SO rs to perhaps have chance Of max.
ing more ample acquaintance with bis
fair charge. To find out the name OF
the young girl and her venerable grand
father, he waited to sign his name i'm the
hotel register, until the patriarch had
inscribed his own. Imagine his feeling
when he read:
MIR K and Wife"
Here is a joke that | culled from ;
Washington paper Is it "A joke?
"A bachelor lately advertised for z
wife. A typographical error changed
his age from 81 to 81. but it made M
difference, for he received over $50 appli
cations from ladies ranging in age from
l6 to 60. and all promising love and de
votion to the rest of his existence"
Here is another, which | extract from
q comic paper. The author seems to be
| lieve the American mother does not lool
on such marriages with displeasure:
"MOther-So you have engaged your
self to Mr.. Jones. You must be goose
He has neither fortune nor position.
| know he may one day be well off; hi
grandfather may leave him part of hi
fortune, perhaps.
"'But. mamma, it is his grandfather
am engaged to.
Mother kiss me, my child; you ar
an angel"
Whatever may be said on the subject
these marriages are but the exception
but the exception ID too frequent TO b
possible to pass it by in silence.
The American girl is past mistress in tn
/
OF beauty, youth and virtue. She know
how to employ all loves artillery, and
the object of her desire is recaicitrant sh
can fire red hot balls.
The late Alfred Assollant told how n
American girl once succeeded in maxim
a young English lord marry her. Incel
tain states of the Urion it is sufficient
pass the night with a woman to be d.
clared her husband by law in the morn
ing. This dsmsel. il appears, invited th
young lord to sup in her own room. Tn
is done, or was done, in certain parts c
America, and morals perhaps were non
the worse for it. The bait took, and 6
supper the scion of lordly house gc
tipsy and went to sleep in the maiden
room, all ignorant of the law.
At daybreak there is a knockingat tt
door. Tableau! The fair one, all tearfl
and disheveled, unbolts it and ushers
the minister. who comes followed by I'll
CONTINUED On FOURTH PAGE.