The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-10-06
LOVE AND WOMEN
DESPISED THERE
CONTINUED From Third Page.)

Other Good and Bad omens.
Or II his hostess puts frying pan
upon the fire and makes an omelet
which she straightway throws away
he takes the hint and departs without
having hazarded refusal of the SUIT
that he has come to represent. On
the other hand, II he receives cor
dial welcome at the threshold, II he
is invited in and honored in every
way with rustic courtesy, IL the best
white cloth is spread for him and an
omeiet is made for his special deiecta.
ton. he knows already that his cause
is prospecting and proceeds at once to
business.
Should II be discovered after long
discussion that the couple for whom
the marriage is proposed are suitable
for each ether-and material consid-
erations have greater weight In deter.
mining this than either sentimental or
temperamental ones-Breton conven.
tion demands that the father of the
sutton shall visit the young girls faith.
er and shall make an offer something
like this: I'll give your daughter so
much year for certain number of
years." with the understanding, how
ever, that though his generous offer
be accepted the bread that he thus
casts upon the waters will be return.
ed to him after the expiration OF the
period stated, either by the girls par.
ents or by her husband,
When affairs have reached this
stage a day is set when both families
shall meet at the cafe and arrange
preliminaries. AS the company sit
about the friendly board, the lover
on the opposite side of the table from
his intended bride, the latter must be
careful whenever her sutton happens
to catch her eyes to look away at
once and hang her head.
There is good reason why she
should simulate coyness and not ap.
pear too eager, projected matches are
broken Off for trivial reasons-for In.
stance, as in one case on record. be.
cause the father OF the girl refused to
give two francs year to keep the
young man in wooden shoes. When,
finally. arrangements have reached
what appears to be satisfactory col.
ciusion the two families, to make as.
surance doubly sure, make alternate
visits to each others houses, accom-
panied by the Intermediary, to take
note of each others goods and chat.
els and to make inventories, which
number carefully every single article
of property.
The "fete de larmoire," the occa.
sion when the BRIDES dowry chest is
carried to the bridegroom's house,
takes place usually about fortnight
before the day fixed for the wedding.
This custom varies In the different
cantons, but there are two rites
which are generally observed, in one
OF which the sutton assumes his ma.
ional masculine arrogance, while in
the other the bride is allowed mo.
mentary triumph of being eagerly
sought and unwillingly won.
They Enter With Presents.
In the former case the brides
friends find, upon reaching their des.
tination with the dowry chest, that
the brfdegroom's door Is shut against
them. Meekly they they inquire at
his window how the piece of furniture
is to be brought in. The bazvalan,
who Is spokesman for the bridegroom,
replies superciliousiy that probably 1t
is better for him to let 1t enter quiet.
~, as otherwise 1, may be carried In
by force. Then the guests who at.
tend it are permitted to enter with 1t
and their wedding presents.
The other custom which obtains In
the more primitive provinces, DEGREES
that the wedding press shall be car
ried to the bridegrooms house on
the third day of the marriage festfv.
tiles amid general rejoicing, and to
the tune of genuine love song,
where for once the lover shows an ap.
propriate humility.
The wedding party takes place at
the home of either bride or bride
groom, whichever happens to be
more pretentious. A firing OF pis-
tol announces the commencement of
the ceremony, which begins with the
| formal asking in marriage through
the bazvalan, who, with wordy elo-
quence, proclaims the praises of his
client. There ensues lengthy alter
cation between him and the breutaer,
a functionary who has been appoint
ed to represent the bride. whose duty
it is to scott at the bridegroom's pre-
i tensions dacla ring that tha r,nst nj