St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1898-04-23
FRENCH MARRIAGES.
nlatpimony the Great Object OK Al
French Girls.

M&atR1mNmy 1AG GRG&G UD9ecx Ok AA
French Girls.
The old marriage de convenance,
which caused SO much sorrow and con-
sequent evil In former days, when
girl was taken out OF convent to be
shown to the man to whom she was
about TO be married, Is now thing Of
the past. H must be acknowledged
however, that marriages are still made
up, often too hastily and specifically,
by nicely balanced family arrange
ments and by the Intervention of
friends. Nevertheless attraction and
repuision are now taken into consider
alton, and girl is no longer forced to
marry man whom she positively dis
likes. could quote instances in the
very highest (historicaD aristocracy
where, at the last moment, after the
trosseau had been sent Id (marked, ac-
eording to custom. with the initial let
tcrs Of the two names elaborately em-
broideredl, and all the social prepara-
tions made, the marriage was broken
of because the bride had declared that
she could not "get accustomed" to the
ing his face In her home during her
natural life. In one of these instances
the family lamentations over the in
ttials OF the trousseau were really anus
ing. Fortunately, substitute was
soon found, whose name like that OF
the rejected suitor began with am x,
and the complications were thus happi~
| " settled.
The great object OF the French girls
life is marriage. From the time OF her
birth her parents have prepared for
| this event, aud In many cases they have
considerably straitened their income
and curtailed their enjoyments TO
make up her dot. Every girl In every
class is expected to have something;
those who have nothing are exceptions,
and constitute minority of old maids.
The girls who from choice do not mar
ry generally become nuns, usually much
against the wishes of their parents. The
old tales of young women being forced
into converts to improve the position Of
their brothers are forgotten In these
/ days when, while no child can ON any
pretense be deprived Of share in the
4 fathers inheritance, monastic vows are
not recognized by law. Nuns and spin
sters are exceptions; marriage Is the
rule.
| When girl Is OF am age to be intro
duced into society, her friends and rel
atives Immediately look ont for suit
able husband, whom 1t is considered
L sr~H, III 10 {afv CT,
has reached the age of 81, that she may
not be proclaimed file majeure when
the banns are published. The principal
considerations are equality Of birth, Of
position. OF fortune; and in the last par
ticular the scale is usually expected TO
weigh rather more ON the side OF the
! young lady, especially If the young
man, in addition to sufficient present
advantages. can bring forward q num-
| Der of relatives not likely to live long.
4 This Is called having hopes (des esper-
anees--beaueoup d'esperances). II
the young lady with a substantial dot
can also show a satisfactory back
| ground of invalid uncles and aunts,
then every thing is rs 1t should be, and
the young people are brought together
with every prospect of satisfactory
conclusion. 1t happens, however, too
often that they do not know each other
sufficiently, and they are persuaded to
/ believe that the mutual liking is greater
than 1t really Is. Sometimes this sort
Of underlined attraction ripens into a
deep and devoted love; when this oc-
ours there are no more affectionate
wives or more faithful widows than
French women.
More frequently, especially In the
higher Glasses, sort Of cool friendli-
ness springs up, where they see but lit
tie of each other, and freedom Is enjoyed
on both sides. The authority OF the
husband is less felt than in an English
household. There Is sort Of under
standing that In her home the wife Ia
i queen, and settles matters as she
i pleases.
4 But the best and warmest feelings are
awakened by all that concerns their
children. French parents are perhaps
the most affec ctionate in the world. The
interests and welfare OF their children
4 are their frst 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 aa matter OF course; no one
thinks Of doing otherwise. or Of seeing
any merit In such acts. q
The mothers, especially, are UNI
3 sequaled: nothing win stand in the way
OF q French woman where her chill.
drenss interests are concerned. This
love is SO engrossing that II swallows
/ up every other; they are more mothers
than wives, and IL called upon TO choose
between allowing husband to go alone
ON foreign mission, or leaving then
children, they would not hesitate. '.Me,
enfants avant ton. t..--Anna E. Bicknell
In Century.
A Sly Scheme.
You behave," said one statesman, aas
s, IL you wanted TO make people thinl
this country Is afraid Of war"
do I?' was the rejoinder. sDo yot
think will succeed r.
IF You aren't careful
IF I'm not CAREFUL Why that's pre-
ciseiy what desire. To tell you tht
truth, I'm one OF these people wht
like trouble. I'd rather have the dir
OF battle ringing In my ears than heal
q street piano play. I've studied hu
man nature and know that the quick
i est way to get a fight Is TO stand of
o,,ya ~ or ~ ruo xSse-o freId ~ IN a ~