New-York tribune., 1907-04-15
MARRIAGES in PARIS
Saturday the Peoples Wedding Do,,
-MGyors Kept Bussg.
Parts A.,

IA
the honeymoon that the WORKING eIas.a. az
NIT themselves. On Saturday, therefore 49,
| fuSsy officials. girt with the irnpfessl,,. - -
white and blue sash Of authority, taxa -
seats IN their "bureaux de marriage az an 49,.
hour Of the morning and await the srr,,,a1 :.
numerous democratic bridal parties
There is nothing at all festive about tha
pearance OF a Paris Marie, or Navor,z 80
A dingy tricOlOr flag 1utters over the grss. 49,
way, but without that state emblem ona -
recognize the building by its specially Aus.S
dated appearance. The state provides a c,.,s.
paint once in ten years. but that Is all. r.
! same roof covers a police station the n,-,.s
free lending library. the Offices OF an nar,.s
charitable organizations and. to right ana -
Of the main entrance. the two principal dsu.,,'
ments. those OF marriage and burial
If you wander by mistake into the burial o..
first. you will be confronted by two clerk, cT.s
in black. and you will notice that a oa,r "a
black kid gloves lies on the desk-a perDs.u,T
and unchanging badge Of mourning. Ths s,aT.
/ do marriages" or marriage Office, Is la-ys, ava
lighter. II is. however. perfectly bare aac IN.
adorned
Any Saturday morning. between Ten an,
twelve you may see small. hon1eIy look,og
groups passing into the Mairies for the wese,n,
ceremony. and you will be struck by tbs way
they compors themselves. The French havs an
/ innate sense Of decorum which enables than
to turn any simple occasion into well orasrss
| pageant. They require master OF tho cara.
monies to teach them where to stand OF IN whas
order to walk; they fall into their places win
one accord. If the couple are in comparatively
easy circumstances they will go to their wedding
| in coach with a pair OF horses driven by a
coachman with a white flower in his butt0nhos
I fo6 To vvbf
father tumbles out Of the coach first. He wears
a black broadcloth. long skirted coat OF ancisu.
cut-probably his own wedding garment-show-
ing a vast expanse Of shirt front. and pair %
tight white gloves. Then he assists the brias
to aIight She will probably be n a simpls
white frock, with veil and orange blossoms Ihs
train OF her skirt viii be tightly gripDed By the
| "deInoiseIle d'honneur," also in white. who IN
her determination TO keep the precious charge
| from all contact with the worn red CARPET laid
over the steps in their honor VIII hold IL high
| enough to show the spectators exactly what ths
| lining OF the gown is composed Of. With enyia-
BILE composure the bride lays her hand under
the arm OF the bridegroom. the little group Of
| witnesses and friends fall in, two and two. and
| the procession makes its way to the Mayors
/ office with immense dignity.
The ceremony is brief. The worthy Official
/ rnarries them according to the code. makes
short speech, presents a booklet setting forth
the duties OF mothers. signs certihcats. and
the rite is over
Now begins the fun OF the day. A vincennes
! bride invariably chooses NeuiIly for her wedding
| luncheon, and a Neuilly bride chooses Vincennes
/ for the same reason. Every bride likes TO drive
all across Paris on her wedding day in the
/ coach. displaying her orange flowers and veil.
ff1v-- Haf0v and
the tables bespoken for the wedding feast There
IS one particular restaurant on the edge OF the
Hofs de Boulogne. on the wide NeuiIIy avenue.
which is in great favor with brides. and any
Saturday one will find few wedding parties
/ there Every waiter has the airs Of a "bsst
man; the very beggars trade on the popularity
OF the place and solicit aims with unctuOus
/ blessings calculated 70 touch any newly married
/ heart One wooden legged man has for years
/ past driven a thriving trade IN penny button
holes of imitation orange blossoms. with which
he ca joIes coppers from the pockets Of wedding
/ guests In summer. bridal parties drive for an
I hour or more in the Bots before luncheon; in
; March days the parties are content to drive
/ across the city and lunch long and well IN the
restaurant.
To lunch near such wedding party Is highly
entertaining The whole OF the company are
perfectly at their ease. and the conversation
flows freely Beginning with red wine. they viii
end the feast with champagne at a dollar or
more a bottle. There will be two or three
/ speeches. filled with graceful phrases Of comph-
ment and congratuIation, and perhaps some few
broad jokes at which all viii laugh readily and
heartily. After the modest dessert. Il the res
I taurant provides little music. there viii be an
I tmpromptu dance. The bride draws her vel
over her shoulder to prevent IL from tying itsef
In knots round her partners neck and her high
hecIed. white shoes tap the floor with infectious
sprightliness
But democratic brides do not always drive in
coaches TO the Mayors office. Often the whole
party-bride. bridegroom and witnesses-gceS
together In a private omnibus. In summer the
omnibus is open: that is. without sides; IN WIZ
ter it has glass Sides so that in either case the
I whole of the party is well in view OF the pubic
The bride. in either white or gray, carries
little white pOsey in her hand which marks her
( out as the central figure Of the occasion sas
the bridegroom enjoys the privilege OF piacihs
his arm round her waist as they drive oTisAI
along. which lends delightfully."- intimate air to
| the proceedings. These omnibus parties are
the gayest of the gay: they sing choruses al
| the length of the journey. and the day IS 0H'
/ long carouse. After the luncheon in the res
l taurant there is the drive home. and then inc
/ dinner. in a second restaurant, and the eVelns
| is filled up with singing and dancing Ihefs .
no wedding cake in France for the bride 70 cut
/ the champagne toasts take its place. ana RiO-
\ mote gayety even more surely.
/ All bridal parties. rich or poor musp u
France. pass before the Mayor. Comparatively
/ few add the religious ceremony TO the obligatory
/ civil formality.
Some strangely assorted couples pass before
/ Paris MAYORS. and then the Official address Is