The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-11
FRENCH WEDDINGS.
Queer Features of the Festival Among the
Less Fashionable.

Queer Features of the Festival Among the
Less Fashionable.
Among the less fashionable classes
in this city marriage festivities are
conducted very much in accordance
with fixed rule. After the usual
and necessary ceremony the we'd
ding party betakes itself to some reg
taurant, often in the suburbs, where
dejeuner has been ordered. and
when ample justice has been done
to the repast long drive, varied
with frequent stoppages at rural
cafes, is enjoyed, the programme
terminating with good dinner and
dance at some other place Of re-
freshment. Thursdays and Satur-
days are generally selected as the
best days for the tying of the nup-
tial knot and the concomitant diver
sions, and it is particularly on the
last afternoon of the week that
crowds of char-a- -bancs are to be
seen threading their way through
leafy avenues to st. Cloud and other
popular suburban resorts, filled with
gay parties, which cause the air to
resound with songs and jests. Not
seldom indeed is dance improvised
before the evening hour, and the
space in front of some cafes in the
neighborhood of Paris is paved with
asphalt for the express purpose OF
allowing the votaries of Terpsichore
to disport themselves to their hearts
content while halt has been made
for refreshment and also for well
rome rest to the weary steeds. 1t is
no uncommon thing to behold, while
the fun is at it's height, a dozen
brides and bridegrooms, each with
their troops of lively guests, bob
bing up and down to gay polka
tuno or sliding along in the mazy
waltz.
AS rule, the utmost good humor
prevails, but now and then the har-
mony is disturbed by some unlucky
incident, as, for instance, sudden
and inexplicable outburst of jealousy
on the part of the bridegroom, who
resents the little attentions which
the male guests deem it de rigueur
to offer to the heroine of the day.
Only recently every halt made by
a brake conveying wedding party
was tho signal for the happy man
who had just appeared before M.
le Marie with bewitching crea-
ture at his side to enter into single
combat with an erstwhile close
friend whom he accused of having
cast too admiring glances in the di-
rection of the lady. Thus there was
a suggestion of exciting pugilistic
encounters in spite of the desperate
efforts of the company to restore
peace, and the war only ended when
the bride, having valiantly endeav-
orcd to interpose herself, came in
tor a storm of blows from her irate
} nd and master and was conducted
1ck to the security of the parental
nof by her indignant mother.
But the latest peculiar adventure
has been that of a lively BRIDE
groom who, having treated his rel
atives and friends to the wonted
banquet on his wedding day, can
didly confessed when the bill was
presented that he had not a sou in
the world to pay for it, Here was
an awkward predicament. The sum
amounted to 1875 francs, and what
was to be done7 The guests very
politely put AZ francs into plate
which was handed around, but, nat
urally enough, the landlord was not
satisfied, and he had the entire
noce-bride, bridegroom, relatives
and friends-marched off, amid a
gaping and jeering crowd, to the
Office of the local police commissary,
where an exciting scene ensued be-
tween the father of the young wo-
man and his son-in-law.
At last the matter was settled by
the father in law Of the thoughtless
and impecunious bridegroom con-
senting to pay the remainder of the
bill, but he declined to give any
thing to the walters, deeming the
sacrifice which he was making
heavy enough. Here is poor be-
ginning to a married life; yet, in
point of fact, all the available ready
cash is often squandered on the nup-
tial festivities, and to the gayety of
the wedding succeeds the stern real
lty of the morrow. Paris Lettor in
London Telegraph.