Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-01-20
FRENCH MARRIAGES.
hATRlMoNY THE GREAT OBJECT TO
AL GIRLS OF FRANCE.

Radicaiiy--At tho Present Time the Per-
scnai Inelina,lens OF Young Women AFRO
Considered.
Miss Anna L. Bioknoll is an English
lady who has had most unusual oppor-
tuni,ios for studying French life. For .
number of years she was u governess in
the household OF Napoleon III and re-
sided in the Tuileries, Fer Tho Century
Miss Boknoll has written an article on
"Ercnoh Wives and Mothers" Miss
Bioknell says:
The old marriage do convenience, which
caused so much sorrow and consequent
evil III former days, whom girl was
taken out of u convent TO be shown tho
man to whom sho was about to be mar
riod, is nova thing of the past II must
DO acknowledged, however, that mar
riagos are still maao up, often too has
tily and specifically by nicely balanced
family arrangements and hy tho inter-
vention of friends, Nevertheless, attrac.
ton and ropulSion arc now taken into
consideration, and girl is no longer
forced To marry n man whom she posi-
lively dislkes could quote instances
in the worry highest (hiStericaD aristoc.
racy whore, MT tho last moment, after
the trousSeau had boon sent in (markoa,
according To custom, with tho united
| initial letters Of tho two names olaho.
ratoly oMbrotdorodl and all tho social
preparations mndo, the marriage WAS
broken on because the bride had de-
| olarod that she could not get acous.
toned" to the bridegroom NOR endure
tho idea of seeing his face in her homo
| during her natural life, In enc OF these
instances tho family lamentations over
| the initials of the trousspAu were really
amusing, Fortunately Il substitute was
soon found whose namc, like that ut tho
rejected Suitor, began With an X, and
tho complications were thus happily
settled,
Tho great object Of tho French girls
llfo il marriage From tho timo of her
birth her parents hayo prepared for this
event and in many eases they havo con-
sidorahly straitrned thoir income and
ourtalod thoir onioyments TO mako up
her dot, Every girl in every class ia OK.
| lbNNNNA u itiNN SbiiiNNAlibNt ilttfN' Nht
have nothing arc exceptions and consti.
tuto minority of old maids. Tho girls
who from choice do not marry generally
become nuns usually much against the
wishes ut their parents. Tho old tales
of young women being forced into con.
vents 90 improve tho position of their
brothers mo forgotten III these days,
whon, whiln no child can ON any pre-.
tense be deprived of u share i'll the fl.
theirs inheritance, monastiu vows aro
not recognized by law, Nuns aud spin.
stcrs ire EXCEPTIONS; mnrriagc ~ tho
rule
When girl isof ago 90 be introduced
into society, her friends and relatives
| Immediately look out for u suitable hus.
band, whom il IL considered highly lie.
sirahlu to obtain before sho has reached
the age or FL that eho may not bo pro.
claimed illo maicuro when the hanus
are published The principal considcra'
tiuus IRE equality of birth, Of position,
If fortune, and III the Inst particular
tho scalo il usually expected 60 weigh
rather moro on the side Of the young
Indy, especially il the Young man, in
addition toEuRiciant present advantages,
cnn blti.{ forward nunmhcc9f relatives
not lih n 20 live long This II called
having hopes lleaeap1rancos-- bearcoup
d'capauauga1, II the young lady with II,
substantial Diet canalso show entisIac.
tory background uf invalid uHcleB and
annts, then everything iaas 1t should
be, ana tho yuung people af9 brought
together with every prospect " q favor.
able conclusion, l. happens, however,
too often that they do not know each
other sufficiently, and that they uro per.
auudcd 10 believe that thonutual liking
H. greater than it rgally b. 3on.otmes
this sort ~ Ggd0ined attraction ripfn8
iniou dtrp ana devoted love- When
this oeaura taasn gro 40 iaufe affection.
ate vi. cry laithfVl widows thau
areachaala.u
HJr9 lrpqQoaJG esraci1lly ii tho
| hi8bwclaaa +, ablff of cool flndlineea
apfing4 Up whore they aa but littlo Of
each other aad freedom ia enjoyed Oh
b1tl gilef Tho aathJriy bf tho h,iag
bgud Is igsb lelt tlan ia az English
| t'hftt#t .tstAhit 4hhAh AH ~ IVA VI hAAtlh'
standing that ia her home hG wife ii
queen 0ud @ttlad mattera as she pleasea,
Bot thar brI aad waruesl feelings
are a%ahened ~ nil that concerns their
children french parents are perhaps
tho most aGCetionuc III tho waeld. Tho
interests and welfare OF their children
arc their illst consideration, aud won
dcrful faerihee8 oR their own pleasure
and enjoyment ara made IN favor of
their aahs and daughters by tho most
worldly men and women These aro
taken as u matter Of course, no ono
thinks Of doing otherwise or OF seeing
any merit IN aneh acts.
Tho mothers especially are unequal
cd, Nothing will stand in tho way u u
Ironchwoman whore her chiIdren's in.
toresta are concerned. This love is so
engrossing that 1t swallows up every
other. They aro more mothers than
wives, and II called upon to choose be-
tween allowing q husband to 30 alone