Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-02-03
FRENCH MARRIAGES.

FRENCH MARRIAGES..
MATRIMoNY THE GREAT OBJECT TO
ALL GIRLS OF FRANCE.
Customs In This Particular Have Changed
Radica1ly-At the Present Time the Per-
.ona1 Incliuations 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 III
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 girl was
taken out Of a 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, and a girl is no longer
forced to marry man whom she posi-
lively dislikes. I could quote instances
in the very highest (historical) aristoc-
raoy where, at the last moment, AFTER
the trousseau had been sent in (marked,
according to custom, with the united
| initial letters of the two names elabo-
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 trousseau were really
amusing. Fortunately substitute was
soon found whose name, like that OF the
rejected sutton, began with an K, and
| 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 in many cases they have con
siderably straitened their income ano
curtailed their enjoyments to make VI
her dot. Every girl in every class is ex
pected to have something. Those whit
have nothing are exceptions and consti
tute a minority of old maids. The girl
who from choice do not marry generally
become nuns, usually much against thu
wishes of their parents. The old tale
of young women being forced into con
vents to improve the position of thei
brothers are forgotten in these days
when, while no child can on any pre-
tense be deprived of share in the ia
theirs inheritance, monastic VOWS ar
not recognized by law. Nuns and spin
sters are exceptions; marriage is tn
rule.
ii When girl is of age to be introduce
into society, her friends and relative
Immediately look out for suitable hus
band, whom it is considered highly de
sirable to obtain before she has reache
the age of 81, that she may not be pre-
claimed file majeure when the bann
are published. The principal considera
lions are equality of birth, of position
of fortune, and in the last particula
the scale is usually expected to weig
rather more on the side Of the youn
lady, especially if the young man. i
addition to sufficient present advantages
can bring forward number Of relative
not likely to live long. This is Gale
having hopes (des esperances-beauco
d'esperances). If the young lady with
, substantial dot can also show a satisfat
tory background of invalid uncles an
aunts, then everything is as it shout
be, and the young people are brougt
together with every prospect OF favol
able conclusion. 1t happens, however
too often that they do not know eac
other sufficiently, and that they are PEI
suaded to believe that the mutual ikin
is greater than it really is. Sometime
this sort of underlined attraction ripper
into deep and devoted love. Whe
this occurs, there are no more affection
ate wives or more faithful widows tina
Frenchwomen.
More frequently, especially in tt
higher classes, sort OF cool frlendllne'
springs up, where they see but little I
i. each other, and freedom is enjoyed o
both sides. The authority Of the hui
band is less felt than in an Englis
household There is sort of unde
standing that in her home the wife
queen and settles matters as she please
But their best and warmest feelln,
are awakened by all that concerns the
- children. French parents are perhal
= the most affectionate in the world. III
4 interests and welfare of their childrt
are their first consideration, and wol
derful sacrifices of their own pleasu
and enjoyment are made in favor
their sons and daughters by the mo
worldly men and women. These a
taken as matter Of course; no Of
thinks Of doing otherwise or of seeil
any merit in such acts.
The mothers especially are unequa
ed. Nothing will stand in the way OF
Frenchwoman where her children's /
terests are concerned. This love is
engrossing that it swallows up eve
other. They are more mothers thu
wives and if called upon to choose
tween allowing husband to go alo
on foreign mission or leaving the
children they would not hesitate. "M
: enfants avant tout.
More Proof.
Hoolahan-Countin the two m