Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-11

finances; but the girls adornment was an
other matter. The old gentleman went out
and bought 5000 worth of diamonds for
his son to give her q month before mar
riage. Every one spoke of 1t as thing
quite natural and nothing extra for their
situation, which was not rich.
Strong on Gifts. .
Gifts The family gives enormously;
friends give very solidly. The institution of
the parrain and the marraine-the god
father and god-mother-is a fine thing for
French couples: each has one OF each-and
all four come out strong with gifts that
run into building lots and gilt-edged Sc
curities and silver services and costly furs
The two families unite to buy the furni-
ture. but 1t Is the peculiar province Of the
girl to bring the linen.
! say liEen with intention-these folks
despise cotton in their hearts. And the
quantity of sheets, counterpanes. pillow
cases, tableclcths, towels. handkerchiefs
and apkins all French girls bring to
their husbands is astounding. 1t is not
that she goes out and buys it in lump;
especially in families of moderate circum-
stances the girls begin to get their mar
rlage linen into shape before they are en-
gagged They work on 1t themselves-n
deadest secret, naturally.
AS for her own lingerie. here is a curious
fact. Even when she has not gone in heav-
lily for sheets, she surely has, during the
several years before her wedding. been ac-
cumulating costly articles of wearing ap-
parel.
On the contrary, as long as she is a young
girl, she wears coarse linen without decora-
t!on-just as she ought not wash too often,
or use perfumes. Some girls, as sign OF
innocence and goodness. even go about
with finger nails in mourning.
If you should ask hundred young
French matrons what was the first favor
they asked of their husbands after mar
riage. eighty-five of them would surely
answer:
81 sent him out to buy a crimplng-iron."
Indeed, most French brides, in the car
rage. coming from the church, have it stop
in front of the hairdresser's and send In
their new-made husband to buy the long-de-
sired article.
Crimping Iron Sign Of Marriage.
1t is the permanent long-standlng grew
ance of the French girl that her mother
will not let her touch hot iron to her hair
When you're married, you will do it-if
your husband lets YOU" is the common
answer-and you bet their husbands let
them. II want my hair pretty now, not
when I'm ,ifty!' pouts the bride; and the
young husband is sure that no. even hot
iron could spoil hair like hers. Therefore,
just as marriage Is a sign of independence,
so the crimping-iron is sign of marriage.
These are a few of the coming details
worked up by French mothers to reconcile
whom, so much the better II he is nice
one Before marriage she Is a poor little
Cinderella. After marriage she is rich in
jewels and lingerie. in furniture and pocket
money, mistress of an establishment, and
gloriously tries to lift her head up and look
round about her.
The ceremony that marks off the great
change is the last of several impressive acts
which dignity the marriage state, fill young
folks with their own Importance, and cast
a glamour over the adventure.
Before the banns can be published the
written consent of both parties parents
makes part of an important dossier for the
mayor Of the ward. Into 1t go certificates
of six months residence, birth certificates.
certificate of the youths performed military
service certificate of a notary that he has
the marriage contract on deposit.
Young French couples of all classes go
IN for these marriage contracts wonderful
ly; and. while In the main they are to regu-
late property and SUGGESTIONS they very
commonly have other stipulations, such as
not to force the bride to quit French ter
ritory, to continually love and cherish the
brides mother and-in a recent case-the
groom conceded a constitutional repug-
nance OF the bride for any kind of cheese
and bound himself not to let 1t appear upon
the table
Helps to Married Life.
Such things help French girls to start
married life courageously. and IL she be
extremely attached to the young man. she
has the pleasure of rejecting that she is
not married once to him. but twice.
This curious fact depends upon French
politics. The republic does not recognize
religious marriages. Therefore, the legal
marriage must be made before the mayor.
Each party has two legal witnesses, Sc
lected among solid friends-who must be
asked to the lunch, and who. in return.
must make a valuable gift of silverware-
or not accept the job.
Few are asked to this civil marriage.
-Four cabs. often, suffice for an important
union to mark aristocratic contempt for
what Is not the religious wedding. So. the
brides dress should not be white; It must
be simple calling costume. but not tailor
made.
The ceremony takes only three minutes
two of which are given to reading articles
Of the code relative to marriage:
1.-THE spouses owe each other mutual fidel-
ity succor and service.
1.-The husband owes the wife protection.
the wife obedience to the husband
''The wife is obliged to live with the hus-
band and to follow him where he judges
proper to reside. The husband Is obliged to
racaiva heY and n furnish her with tho n0c-