The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-09
M[ atripoDy the Great Object
Y y to All NoderD Fre1tb Girls.

Miss Anna Ia Bickneii Is ar English la
dy who has bad most unusual opportunf-
ties fer studying French life Fur . num-
Der CT years she was = goyerness in the
household o. Napoleon III. and resided
In the Tuiae-ies. For the January Cen
sury Miss Bickneu has written an arsscie
on French wives and Mothers" which
Is accompanied by a number of character
istic Illustrations by the eminent French
artist, the great GeIineatGr CT childhood.
Bouiet de Mcnyei. Miss Rlckneli says:
The old marriage de CONVEYANCE"
which caused so much sorrow and conse-
auent evil IN former days. when a girl
was taken out Of ornvcrt to be shown
the man 10 whom she was about TO Re
married, Is now a thing Of the past II
must be Acknowledged. however. that
marriages are still made up often 100
hastily ard specifically. by nicely bal
ancad family arrangements and by the in
PREVENTION OF friends. Nevertheless. at
traction and repuisinn are now taken in
IA consideration. and a girl IS no longer
forced TO marry a man whom she pos
ftiveiy dislikes. could quote instances
IN the very highest thistoricaO aristocra-
cy where az the last moment. after the
tronsSeau had been sent In marked. ac-
corGiEg 10 custom, with ,ne initial letters
OF the TWO names deliberately emhroi-
deredl. and all the social prepare tons
made. the marriage was broken of be-
cause the bride had declared that she
could not "get accustomed ID the bride
groom. nor endure the idea OF seeing his
face in her hcme during her natural life.
In one OF these instances the family Ia
rlsnJations over the initials Of the
trousseau were really amusing. Fortu
nateiy substitute was soon found.
whose name and that OF the rejected suit
or began with an Y, and the complica-
har
The great object OF the French girrs
life is marriage. From tire time. OF her
birth her parents have prepared fer this
event. and in many cases they have con-
siderahly strsitened their income and cur
tailed their enjoyments 10 make up her
dot Every girl In every class is eN-
pected 10 have something: those who have
nothing are exceptions. and constitute a
minority OF old maids The girls who
from choice do not marry generally be-
come nuns. usually much against the
wishes of their parents. The old tales Of
young women being forced into converts
to improve the condition Of their brothers
are forgotten in these days. when, while
no child can on any pretense be deprived
OF share In the fathers inheritance,
monastic vows are not recognized by law.
Nuns and spInsters are exceptions. mar
rage is the rule.
When a girl Is Of an age to be intro
duced into society, her friends and rela-
tives Immediately look out for a suita-
Bile husband, whom II Is considered highly
desirable TO obtain before she has reached
the age OF 81 that she may not be pro-
claimed "filie maieure" when the hanns
are published. The principal considera-
sions are equality of birth of position, of
fortune: and in the last particular the
scale Is usually expected 10 weigh rather
more on the side of the young lady. es-
pec;ally IL the young man, in addition "a
sufficient present advantages. can bring
forward a number of relatives not likely
Ia live long. This Is called having hopes
("des esperances-beaucoup d'esper-
ances'o. If the young lady with sub
stantiaf dot can also show a satisfactory
background of invalid uncles and aunis
then everything Is as Il should he, and
the young people are brought together
with every prospect of a favorable con
clusion. It happens. however. TOO often
that they do not know each other suf-
ficientIy and shat they are persuaded tC
believe that the mutual liking is greater
than II really IS Sometimes this sort oi
underlined attraction "opens into a deer
and devoted love; when this occurs there
are no more affectonate wives or more
faithful widows than the French women
More frequently. especially In tho high
er classes. ii sort of cool frtendlnes.
springs UP, where they see but little Of
each other, and freedom is enjoyed ot
both sides. The authority OF the husband
is less felt than in an English household
There Is sort OF understanding that IL
her home the wife is queen. and settle.
matters AS she pleases.
But their best and warmest feelings ar,
awakened by all that concerns their chill
dren. French parents are perhaps tn