The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-11

before she gives her word. 1t is arranged
that she shall meet him then, as often as
is possible, but not intimately. Good
taste demands, on his side that the pre-
tender ought to pay her no par icular at
tention at these meetings. He must 90
through his paces-social, intellectual and
physical-as if he did not dream of her
inspection.
The next step is the proposal.
The father of the aspirant or his elder
brother does it for him The father of
the girl, or other legal guardian, should
give him an immediate response. AT this
interview questions of fortune and the
like are discussed with more detail. and
notes are made of them for the final mar
riage contract" Immediately he has been
accepted the young man must put on his
dress suit-though it be 10 a. m.-and make
a formal visit-to his future mother-in-
law.
He ought to thank her warmly. but
without exaggeration. Then he may ASK
to see his girl.
The next step is the betrothal, a very
private family party, to which mere
friends are not invited. You do not ex.
pose the artless happiness and blushing
joys of young girl to the indifference of
the merely curious.
Up to this period the position of the two
young people may seem to the indiffe~-
ence of curious Americans to bear a clos,
analogy to that of the fond parent vino
bought his boy a boat. Now, johnny"
ne said, do not touch it tonight, and to-
morrow l will teach you how to sail it,.
But the young man brings the ring him
sell to the botrothal party, and he waits
in patience, knowing that in the end they
cannot get along without him.
Inc young man brings the ring himself
which he has bought himself, after hav-
ing diScreety learned the special kind or
stone desired 10 oh
Tor some girls are afraid of pearls be-
cause they foretell tears, and everybody
knows the beryl is unlucky. The young
man slips the ring upon the finger of his
lahcee Ii IS the first time he has ever
touched her fingers without gloves.
AT the betrothal dinner they sit side by
slde, directly at the middle of the table.
The girl must wear a gay dress, tender
rose, celestial blue, or white with highly
eolored ribbons all about In the evening
that follows the young people must be al
lowed to talk together without being over
ilearu. sometimes the young man may
nave the happiness to be permitted to ask
the girl to marry him, Immediately after
he has been accepted by her parents.
sometimes, by extraordinary favor
where full confidence exists, there have
been other moments, fugitive precarious.
but all arranged beforehand notwith-
standing. But they have never been alone
A-OA WI NC I'll llAtlT marriage. In the
new, Americanized society, of which YOU
VIII read much in Gyp, a change is creep
ang Ger the scene, but it is only true Of
small portion of the Paris world. the
fast and rich. The children of the very
poor also arrange their matches for them
selves, and in the country districts there
viii be some counting. But the rule for
the great mass of the middle class is
marry first and court her after
1t is thought best that the girl should
never go out in public with her fiance:
but If she does, there is no doubt to whom
the youth should give his arm. Good
taste demands that he should invariably
escort her mother. But in a garden the
young couple may walk arm-in-arm.
From this time on he must send her
the girl this time, and not her mother
white bouquet each morning. 1t is quite
essential He generally arranges with n
florist, and so has II off his mind.
everybody is extremely busy now. The
mother and girl are engaged on the trous-
seau; the girl and young man are talking
over the "corbeille" IN whispers in n corr
ner Of the salon, and the young man him
self Is putting all his bachelor things IN
order. AS for the trousseau, the mornings
are reserved for 1t. The afternoons are for
the groom. and 1t is unbecoming that he
should near the trousseau mentioned The
"corbeille" is the set of gifts presented bv
the bridegroom. Its essential part consists
OF jewels; and Of the jewels the first and
greatest parure always is of diamonds
The second may be Of strung pearls or
colors. Thus the "corbeille" often repre-
sents a little fortune, which the Young
man puts at the feet of his girl TO match
the dot she brings in cash to him. Maj
urally he does not choose lightly-and n
Is the girls right TO talk the subject over
with him. A single pearl or tiny dia.
mond is the modest "corbeille" OF the poor
man.
These gifts come dnto evidence only on
the morning OF the signing Of the con-
tractF II is a ceremonious affair to
winch friends Of the families are invited
IN good numbers
The notary stands up among the guests.