Evening star., 1902-03-22


solace is the thought that If he and his
wife come to need they can. in turn, compel
her parents to support them In the same
way"
The marriage contract may include many
other stipulatiOns, some very curious-such
as that the groom will never force the bride
to cross the sea, that he will ever cherish
her crippled sister. or that the bride shall
never be forced to sit at a table where
there is cheese. (There is a case concern
Ing cheese. recorded only because Of a SUBJ
sequent circumstance: the husband broke
his contract. wherefor a family council, a
restitution OF the dot and legal separa-
tion)
At this party of the signing Of the con-
tract the groom in good taste should
pay no attention to its reading. He
And he can make it up to the notary for
this impertinence by showing the good
man particular attentions at the break
fast following
The Contract Day.
The notary stands up among the guests.
He reads the marriage contract in tones
OF mingled gravity, enthusiasm, respect
and playful gayety. He finishes The
mother Of the bride should turn to the
oblivious lovers with a tender and in
dulgent smile. The groom should then
Jump up. kiss his hancee, sign the paper
and pass on the pen to her. She signs and
hands the pen to the mother Of the groom;
who signs and hands it to the mother
of the girl; and then the fathers sign and
all the family, after whom the guests, and
last the notary. They are engaged
Some ten days pass, and then two mar
riages take place-for here in France they
always marry twice!
The first wedding, a curt and colorless
affair before the mayor of the ward in
which the parents of the bride reside is
MADE essential by the law, which does not
recognize religious marriages. On the other
hand, respectableness will not recognize the
mayors marriage sufficient. Even folks
who have no more religion than q sheep
find it more seemlY>1to Sc through the
solemn cerepohy OF the church!
=. Is ceremony long drawn out with
carpets, candles, flowers and Swiss in uni
form. Roll On, music! The ceremony is
over and the bride and her mother are
weeping in the sacristy!
Off to the Bois.
And now there lack two functions only
the drive through the Bots in hired car
riages, a dozen of them fifty of them, TAX
ing all the guests-and the great wedding
breakfast which Immediately follows 1t.
The table has a, joyous aspect. The we'd
ding guests are loud in their expressions
of merriment because the morning has
been spent in an eXhilarating drive with
champagne in the middle of it, and there
is more champagne now to keep up their
spirits. Conversation sparhles. Jokes that
We would consider strange are uproariously
applaUded The poet Of the family reads
his verses. Everyone must make a speech
or sing song or tell a story, even to the
bride, who, like girl of spirit, lifts her
glass and triiis out bravely.
A pandemonium of happiness unchains
itself as the corks pop! What noise, what
wit! Until a little boy. instructed to the
office, crawls beneath the table and attacks
the brides left leg.
The boy is hunting for her garter a very
special garter, made of many ribbons The
bride squeals and wriggles. When the lit
tie boy has got it he displays 1t, it is cut
into many pieces as there are male
guests. and each pins his piece to his but
tonhOle, as if 1t We're the ribbon of a
knghuy order. STERLING HEILIG