Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-01-29
FRENCH MARRIAGES.
MATRlMoNY THE GREAT OBJECT &c
ALL GIRLS or FRANCE.

Radlcally--At the Present Time the Rer-
sonaI IncIinations of Young women Are
Considered.
Miss Anna L. Bicknell is an English
lady who has had most unusual oppor-
tunities for studying French life. For a
number of years she was n goyerness in
the household of Napoleon III and re-
sided in the Tuileries For The Century
Miss Bieknell has written an article ON
french Wives and Mothers. Miss
Bicknell says
The old marriage de convenience, which
caused SO much sorrow and consequent
evil iii former days, when girl was
taken out of a convent to be shown the
man to whom she was about to be mar
ried, is now thing of the past. 1t must
be acknowledged, however, that mar
riages are still made up, often too has
tily and specifically, by nicely balanced
family arrangements and by the inter
vention of friends. Nevertheless, attrac-
ton and repulsion are now taken into
consideration, and a girl is no longer
/ forced to marry man whom she posi-
lively dislikes | could quote instances
in the very highest (historical) aristoc-
racy where, at the last moment, after
/ the trousseau had been sent in marked,
according to custom, with the united
4 initial letters of the two names eiabo-
rately embroidered) and all the social
! preparations made, the marriage WAS
broken off because the bride had de-
olared that she could not get accus-
4 toned to the bridegroom nor endure
the idea of seeing his face in her home
/ during her natural life. In one of these
instances the family lamentations over
/ the initials of the rousseau We're really
amusing. Fortunately substitute was
soon found whose name like that of the
rejected sutton, began with an X, and
the complications were thus happily
settled.
| The great object of the French girls
life is marriage From the time of her
birth her parents have prepared for this
event, and in many cases they have con-
siderably straitened their income and
curtailed their enjoyments TO make up
| her dot. Every girl in every class is ex-
pected to have something Those who
have nothing are exceptions and consti-
/ tute minority of old maids. The girls
who from choice do not marry generally
become nuns, usually much against the
wishes of their parents. The old tales
| of young women being forced into con-
vents to improve the position of their
brothers are forgotten III these days,
! when, while no child can on any pre-
tense be deprived of share in the ia
| theirs inheritance, monastio vows are
not recognized by law. Nuns and spin
sters are exceptions; marriage is the
rule
When girl is of age to be introduced
! into society, her friends and relatives
Immediately look out for a suitable hus-
band, whom it is considered highly de-
sirable to obtain before she has reached
the age of 81, that she may not be pro-
claimed file majeure when the banns
are published. The principal considera-
tions are equality of birth, of position,
of fortune, and in the last particular
rather more ON the side of the young
lady, especially if the young man, in
addition to sufficient present advantages,
can bring forward number of relatives
not likely to live long. This is called
having hopes (des esperances-beauco
d'esperances). Ii the young lady with
| substantial dot can also show a satisfac-
tory background of invalid uncles and
aunts, then everything is as it should
be, and the young people are brought
| together with every prospect OF favor
able conclusion. 1t happens, however,
too often that they do not know each
other sufficiently, and that they are per-
suaded to believe that the mutual liking
is greater than it really is Sometimes
this sort of underlined attraction ripens
into deep and devoted love When
this occurs, there are no more affection
ate wives or more faithful widows than
Frenchwomen.
More frequently, especially in the
higher classes a sort of cool friendliness
springs up. where they see but little of
each other, and freedom is enjoyed ON
both sides. The authority Of the hus-
band is less felt than in an English
household There is sort of under
standing that in her home the wife is
queen and settles matters as she pleases.
But their best and warmest feelings
are awakened by all that concerns their
children French parents are perhaps
the most atfectionate in the world. The
interests and welfare of their children
are their first consideration, and won
derful sacrifices of their own pleasure
and enjoyment are made in favor OF
their sons and daughters by the most
worldly men and women. These are
taken as matter Of course; no one
thinks " doing otherwise or of seeing
any merit in such acts
The mothers especially are unequal
ed. Nothing will stand in the way Of
| Frenchwoman where her children's in
terests are concerned This love is so
engrossing that it swallows up every
either They are more mothers than
wives, aud if called upon to choose be-