East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-27
THE FINE ART OF ETOPNG IN
.. FRANCE

years will be perhaps considered as
one of the fine arts, who knOws!-is
particularly French
Modern French lovers have kept
the romanesque character OF their an
cestors, and some seem to regret the
golden time when young demoiselles
and young chevaliers escaped on
horseback. under cover of the night,
from the old and picturesque manors,
says writer In the London Mail.
On the other side of the Channel
marriages de ralson.' rs they call
them, are much more numerous than
here. where love Is the chief factor In
arranging unions. When Cupid plays
his pranks In French families he often
disturbes "A carefully built up scheme,
and the long cherished project of
marrying Marguerite to Monsieur
Paul (hecause NJ. Paul has n good
position and Marguerite Il respectable
dowry) falls down like house of
cards. The skillfully darted arrow has
pierced Marguerite's heart, and Paul
may try everything IN order to please
her-his case is hopeless. because I4u-
clene, who is younger, smarter and
less commonplace, haunts the dreams
of the young girl.
Here is a deadlock. How is this to
be overcome? In one way alone
run away Elopement is the only
means to compel papa and mamma
to give their consent. It would be
much simpler to give 1t at once. Bu,
IL men always took the simplest
course. life would be too easy. Two
hundred years ago such an elopement
would be carried out with horses,
| cavalierss and swords; nowadays
motor cars chauffeurs and pints of
petroleum adequately supply their
place. Modern invention invades
every branch of our exlstence-even
elopementS
A few months ago, in Paris, a young
man who passionately loved a certain
young lady, called at her fathers
| house with a friend, in a motor car.
He was disguised as a chauffeur in q
| bearskln overcoat and big blue gog
giles, rendering him completely unrec-
ognlzable. The young lady entered
the car ostensibly for a short run.
| Crossing Versailles, the friend asked
them to stop, as he wanted to buy
some post cards: when he came out
of the shop the motor car had vanish
| ed. The best of the story is that he
| himself did not know of the intended
| escape.
Later on father and son-in-law be-
came such good friends that few
days after the marriage the old gem
tleman got bin from his daughters
husband-who was a humorist, which
ran as follows:
Motor car hire for four days. -. ego
Damages for two dogs injured. -. so
| The same for an old woman 49,. 10
! Picture post cards to friends and
acquaintances ......-....- .-.'...
Eau de-Cologne. violette, hello
| trope. for Suzanne (who could
not bear the. smell of the en-
| gine) .".............
ES7
Ten per cent discount since mar
ried Suzanne.
| Many French girls are educated IN
converts, a custom which, happily. Is
| disappearing, not only because NJ.
Combes turned them out, but also on
account of the narrow minded and
one-sided education received there;
in fact, up-to-date parents don't wis,.
to see their girls reach the age of IS
without having the slightest idea of
real life. But, as you can imagine,
| converts, more than any other places,
are very often the scene of romantic
elopements.
| 1 remember a few years ago an eX-
traordinary elopement happened In
the south of France. somewhere in
the Rivera. A young girl of 19-the
daughter of Russian nobleman--in-
vented fine plot to escape from her
convent prison. One day her lover, u
French artist, former pupil at the
Ecole des Beaux Arts, got letter, In
which she urged him to call at the
convent and to introduce himself as
the doctor of the prefecture on tour
of inspection.
The scheme was rather n daring
one as the young artist did not know
much about medicine; anyhow, ne did
it. a farccal scene was acted, during
which the lover felt the pulses of a
couple Of dozen young girls, prescrlb-
ing harmless embrocaticns for some
sweet sydups or mustard plasters for
others. The worst of II all Is that he
had to examine carefully the old cook
of the convent. All, If it had not been
for his girls sake! He was just leav-
ing the house when cries were over
heard and two nuns rushed on him
and, led him quickly to one of the
pupils rooms. She he'd just tainted
He at once uttered a grave diagnostic
. and said he would call again after
dinner. So he did, and as she was
not doing better he said to the mother
surerioress, who was all in tears:
"This young girl is very III; my car
riage is NJ the door, and TN take her
Immediately to the hospital; my re-
spcnsibility Is at stake, madam"
: Ten minutes later the young painter
and the little Russian gentlewomar
drove along the road to Cannes arm
in arm, overjoyed and mad with love
As matter Of fact young people
who elopc nowadays are almost he
roes; they fight against social preju-
F. dices and vulgar arrangements, where
. money plays the main part, and they
, generally deserve all our sympat "
, The llght-hearted and easily moved
Erapcb nuhIIc ic aIWayg kpenly inter.