The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-10-06
LOVE And WOMEN
DESPISED THERE
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS IN RURAL
5RlTTANY-vlLLAGE TAlLoRs
ARE STILL THE MATCH.
MAKE RS.

Ho"Here IN tue civilized world
could romance find more picturesque
background than in Brittany, that
land of half mysterious people,
where are preserved unchanged In
the heart of the twentieth century
France the modes and manners of the
sixteenth century. Yet nowhere Is
marriage placed upon basis more
materialistic or womanhood SO much
despised as here, says Julia Joyce, an.
American writer on love topics. who
has been making, during residence
abroad. special study of the love
and marriage customs of European
lands.
Brittany is a lovely country, where
spring comes three weeks early and
summer leaves in regretful burst of
bloom. It is the haunt OF singing
birds and fragrant blossoms. 1t Is.
besides, the home Of handsome wo-
men and brave men, OF primal pas
sions and Of simple life. It is also,
however. place where contempt of
woman is SO pronounced that even a
proverb of the country heralds that
masculine attitude as a national vice.
And thus runs the mournful senti.
ment Of favorlte bridal song for
maidens:
Farewell. farewell, dear friends of
my youth. have thrown myself
away, and exchanged a life OF Joy for
one OF pain. Sorrow and grief await
me. am but a servant now, for am
married. Then hasten, o We who are
free, to Pardqns. and enjoy life while
we may. Farewell, o friends of my
youth, farewell"
The rural villages OF Brittany arc
at least two and half centuries be-
hind the rest of Northern Europe.
What the Breton's forefathers did is
good enough for him. on the high.
roads he still wears proudly his bra
gous bras" and goatskin coat. He
clings tenaciously to the habits, be.
liefs and language OF his ancestors.
And least Of all does he desire any
change in matter SO serious as mat
rimony, in which both property and
family interests are involved. A wife
in Brittany to-day Is. therefore. in the
same position that she was in Brit
tany of yesterdays chattel In her
husbands household.
Tailor Still Matchmaker.
In the secluded villages, moreover,
which constitute the real, the ances-
trail Brittany the wooing and we'd
dings have changed little since the
long ago; the ''Pardons' and fairs
continue to be Cupid's field days. the
village tailor is still the matchmaker,
the wedding festivities are success
sion of Hastings. masses for the dead
are an Indispensable part of the cele.
bration, the brides "armoire" is car
ried to the bridegroom's house with
ceremony. the gavotte and Chants
des noces" are as inevitable as the
traditional feast to the poor.
OF all the national types of Brit
tany the matchmaking tailors are the
most distinctive. These really hold
in affairs matrimonial an official posi-
ton, for. just as in ancient times. it
falls to them to act as Intermediates
between SWANS and maidens, to de-
fend the suitor's interests in the mar
riage settlements, and to act as mas
ter Of ceremonies at the wedding fes-
.tivities. "Bazvalan" is the title that
this functionary goes by in token Of
his carrying, when on sentimental
business. Towering spring OF that
shrub called ..broom,. which Is re-
garded as emblematic of love and
union.
<; His position Is no sinecure. The
young man who has engaged his SER
vices expects that hit shall ascertain