The Monticellonian., 1904-06-23
MANY CONVICT WEDDINGS.
Leap Year Has Brought to Pass an Epidemic of Handcuff AL dances in Europe

Whether or not 1904 has brought much comfort to the leap year young woman, 1t has certainly produced in Europe ali epidemic of convict weddings-indeed. since the year dawned it has been scarce ly possible to take up continental paper without reading of some dramatic pil- grimage from the prison to the altar and of the progress of the bridegroom, after a too brief honeymoon, back to jail
 A typical case was reported few weeks ago from Buda-Pesth, says Lon don paper. A man named C. had been sentenced to years imprisonment and pretty girl Etelka S, who had known the prisoner for some years, vowed that she would commit suicide forthwith if she were not allowed to marry him. In vain her father tried to dissu1se her from her project, All his pleading was useless; and at last. through his lawyer he made representa- tions to the minister of justice to the ef- feet that his daughters mind would give way unless her wish was granted
 AS the result of this request the con- yiet was granted an hours freedom and with warder for best man and an escort of police. the marriage took place As soon as the ceremony w.s over, however the bridegroom was marched back to prison again, his wife bidding him an al feetionate good-by at the iron barred door
 week or so later Weg2enstein, near Geneva, was the scene of a similar ua- conventional wedding. The bridegroom had been sentenced 10 two years hard la Dor for burglary; but when sentence was passed he begged permission to marry before going to the central prison. On the wedding morning the convict in handcuffs was escorted to the office of the magistrate, where the civil ceremony was performed with couple of uni formed warders as witnesses. After the ceremony the wedding party, warder auG all. adjourned to the house of the newly wedds pair, where a sumptuous break fast awaited them, and the rest of the day was spent in feasting and song.
 More romantic was the recent union
 
 Brazilian Nobleman. So attached was the young woman to her lover that, in order to be near him. she spent the weeks between his arrest and sentence as dO- nestle servant When at last he was sentenced to transportation to Cayenne. she obtained permission to marry him. so that in time she may join him as his wife in the penal colony.
 On the wedding morning the bride groom drove from the central prison at Riom, in Auyergne. to the town hall, with his bride and four warders, in carriage and pair. The bride was soberly attired in black and carried bunch of violets. The ceremony was performed by the deputy mayor, with a few local officials and municipal councillors as spectators and at it's conclusion the strange we'd ding party drove back to the prison. The bride had provided some dainties and a smell wedding cake for the occa- sion. but the governor of the prison was obdurate. and the utmost concession he would make was to allow the bridegroom to eat slice of the cake. The bride at once returned to domestic service in or der to earn the money necessary to take her out to Cayenne to join her husband
 An interesting case of proposal in pris- on Is reported from Paris. A young Par isian dressmaker, who had been abau- doned by her lover under cruel circum- stances, was charged with throwing vit- rol at him. The circumstances of the case aroused wide sympathy, and led to an immediate offer of marriage.
 The offer was accepted, but the mar riage thus strangely brought about can not take place until the young dress maker has served her sentence Of ? months imprisonment