Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-01-13
AT A FRENCH WEDDING.
Greer Features of the Festival Among
the Bourgeoisie.

Greer Features of the Festival Among
the Bourgeoisie,
When marriages occur among the
hourgeoisie of Paris the participants,
relatives and guests resort to methods
d!stinctively French to celebrate the
event. After the usual and necessary
ceremony the wedding party hetakes
itself to some restaurant. often In the
suburbs, where dejeuner has been
ordered, and when ample justice has
been done to the repast a long drive,
varied with frequent stoppages at rural
cafes, is enjoyed, the programme term
mating with a good dinner and u dance
at some place OF refreshment. Not sell
dom, indeed, is a dance improvised be-
fore the evening hour, and the space
in front OF some cafes in the neighbor-
hood Of Paris is paved with asphalt
for the express purpose of allowing
the Notaries of Terpsichore to disport
themselves to their hearts content
while u halt has been made for re-
fleShments and also for n welcome
rest to the weary steeds. II is no UNI
common Ching to behold, while the
thing is at its height, q dozen brides
and bridegmoms. each with their
troops Of lively guests, hohhing up
and down to u gay polka tune or slid
ing along IN the Macy waltz.
AS rule the utmost good humor
prevails, but now and then the har-
mony is disturbed by some unlucky iu-
cident, rs. for instance, n sudden and
iteNplicable outhurst OF jealousy on
the part OF the bridegroom, who re-
sents the little attentions which the
male guests deem It dc rigueur to OFFER
to the heroine of the day. Only re-
Gently every halt made by brake
conveying wedding party was n sig
nal for the happy man who had just
appeared before MIR lie Marie" with
u bowitching creature at his side 70
enter into single combat with an erst.
while close friend, whom he accused
OF having cast too many admirinr
glances In the direction OF the lady
Thus there was II suggestion of oNcit'
ing pugilistic encounters, In spite OF
the desperate efforts OF the company
to restore peace, and the war only end.
cd when the bride. having valiantly
endeayored to tnterpose herself, came
In for II storm of blows from her irato
lord and master and was conducted
back to the security OF the parental
roof by her indignant mother
The latest peculiar adventure has
been that of a lively bridegroom, who
having treated his relatives and
| friends to the wonted banquet ON his
wedding day. candidly confessed wher
! the bill was presented that he had not
sou in the world to pay for 1t. Hero
was an awkward predicament, Tho
sim amounted to 125 francs What
, was to be done? The guests very
| politely put AZ francs into plate
! which was handed around, but, natur
/ ally enough, the landlord was not sat
isfled. and he had the entire "noco,
I tride. bridegroom, relatives anc
friends marched off amid gaping
and jeerng crowd to the office Of The
| local police commissary, where an OK
citing scene ensned between tho father
of the young woman and his son-ln
law. At last the matter was settled
! by the father-in-law OF tho thoughtlcsi
and impecunious bridegroom consent
ing to pay the remainder Of the bill
but he declined to give anything to tn,
walters, deeming the sacrifice which
h was making heavy enough already
| Mny bridegrooms squnnder all thu
cash they have saved by years OF econ
omy and industry on the nuptlal fes
tlvities and start life on the morrow
without SOU.
Thursdays and Saturdays are general
ly selected for the tying OF the nuptia
knot and the concomitant diversions
and It Ia particularly on the Inst after
noon Of the week that crowds Of char
a banes and to be seen threading thei
way through leafy avenues to st. CLOUD
and other popular suburban resorts
filed with gay parties. which cause thu
air to resound with songs and Jests.