Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-03-10
FRENCH MARRIAGES.
MATRiMONY THE GREAT OBJECT TO
ALL GIRLS OF FRANCE.

ALL GlKLS Vi FHANCE.
Customs In This Particular Have Changed
Radically-At the Present Time the Per-
sonal Inclinations 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 governess in
the household of Napoleon III and re.
sided in the Tuileries. For The Century
Miss Bicknell has written an article or
French Wives and Mothers" Miss
Bicknell says:
The old marriage de CONVEYANCE, which
caused SO much sorrow and consequent
evil in former days, when a girl was
taken out Of q 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, ard girl is no longer
forced to marry man whom she posi-
lively dislikes. I could quote instances
in the very highest (historicaD aristoc-
racy where, at the last moment, after
the trousseau had been sent in (marked,
according to custom, with the united
: 81 Let Of tho nIa ho-
rately embroidered) and all the social
preparations made, the marriage was
broken off because the bride had de-
clared that she could not ''get accus-
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 were really
amusing. Fortunately a substitute was
soon found whose name, like that Of the
| rejected sutton, began with an <, ano
the complications were thus happily
settled
The great object of the French girls
life is marriage. From the time of hel
birth her parents have prepared for this
event, and i'll many cases they have con.
siderably straitened their income and
| curtailed their enjoyments to make VI
! her dot. Every girl in every class is ex
pected to have something Those whC
! 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 theil
brothers are forgotten in these days
| when, while 60 child can on any pre-
| tense be deprived of a share in the IA
| TIERS inheritance, monastic 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 relative!
| 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 rlajeure when the banns
are published. The principal considera
lions are equality Of birth, of position
| of fortune, aid in the last particular
the scale is usually expected to weigh
| rather mo1e Gu the side Of the youns
lady. especially if the young man, il
| addition to sufficient present advantages
can bring forward a number of relatives
not likely to live long. This is called
having hopes (des esperances-beaucouI
d'esperances). II the young lady with {
substantial dot can also show a satisfac
tory background Of invalid uncles ani
aunts, then eyerythirg is as it should
ba, and the young people are brough
together with every prospect Of a favor
able conclusion. It happens, however
too ofsen that they do not know eacf
other sufficiently, and that they are per
suaGssl to belicve that the mutual liking
is greater than it really is. Sometimes
this sort Of undeEned attraction ripens
into a deep ard devoted love. Whel
this occurs, there are 30 more affection
ato vigcs 81 more faithful widows thar
frelsc omen.
Moc2 frequently. especially in the
higher q 2=ses, Il SORT Of cool friendliness
| springs u;l, where they see but little Of
each other. ani freedom is enjoyed On
both sides The authority OF the hus-
bard is les Eui5 than il an English
hcuael.2lil There is a sort Of under
standing ti,;,t ii Eer homo the wife is
queen az. se;s les matters Is she pleases
Eut sl]c;r lest and warmest feelings
are awakened by al that concerns theil
children trench parents are perhaps
the most ;.f7f; ct;onate ii 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 SOILS aud daughters by the most
| worldly men and women. These are
taken as a matter Of course; no one
| thinks Of doing otherwise or Of seeing
any merit in such acts
| The mothers especially are unequal
ed. Nothing will stand III the way of 6
| Frenchwoman where her children S in
terests are concerned. This love is sc
engrossing that it swallows up every
other. They are more mothers thar
| wives, and if called upon to choose be-
tween allowing a husband to so alone
Oh foreign mission or leaving theil
| children they would not hesitate "Mes
| enfants avant tout.