Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-02-18
MARRYING IN FRANCE
Official Obstacles That Bar the
Way to the Ceremony.
THE WORRIES OF A FlANCE,

He Has to Brave the lnsoience and the
Indifference of the Civil Officers In
HE Efforts to Accomplish the Neces.
sary Preliminary Formalties.
Marrying in France il not an easy
matter On the contrary, the civil Of
fcers seem to employ ingenuity in put
ting as many obstacles as possible II
the way of those who contemplate
Take the case of French citizen
who until recently resided In the
Eighth reimbursement Of Paris, but
who removed 10 the Ninth and then
began to accomplish the formalities
necessary for his marriage.
Smiling and happy, us a man about
to wed should be, he presented himself
at the marie Of the Ninth ward with
the following documents, which he
had previously obtained at the Marie
of the Eighth reimbursement: His
birth certificate, his discharge from the
army, the death certificate of his par
ents and the certificate Of his first
marriage, for he had been married
once already.
On q Saturday afternoon at o'clock
he called upon the functionary whose
business it Is to attend to matters af-
fecting the "etat civil" Eying the Wis
itor coldly, the functionary asked:
what do you want"
ITO get married." replied the other,
smiling.
ITS closed"
BEG pardonT
81 said it was closed-for marriages.
Come back on Monday or Thursday"
why Monday or Thursday instead
of Tuesday or Friday? What reason"
How should know! And do you
think | care? It's like that-that's all
know"
On the Monday the tiance returned.
He had recovered bis good humor and
his smile. and the first document he
handed to the employee at the marie
was his birth certificate, which had
cost him originally . francs.
whats thatY exclaimed the func-
tionary, with an air Of surprise. ITS
too old"
What do you mean-toO old:
~ mean what | say. Your certid-
cate was made out eight years ago.
and II has been used already. | don't
want that. | must have one that Is
not older than three months"
But my birthday does not change,
and it is clearly indicated Oh this doc
ument. which is official. Why do yoi
want one that is not more than three
months old:'
why? You are too inquisltiye.'
The fance was still smiling. but in a
rather faint hearted fashion.
Where is your military memoran-
dunn book?" asked the employee.
Il haven't got one
What. You haven't got one? And
you come here and expect to get mar
ried without 'llyret militaire" No;
you're Joking. You can't be serious.
Yes. am. I'm an officer on the
reserve list
SHOW me your mobilization order.
That's secret order which | have
not the right to show you. The army
regulations are opposed to It, Here Is
my discharge. That Is all l can show
you"
"All right: we'll see"
Then the iance interpolated:
.Why must you have a military doc
ument?"
TO show that You are really q
Frenchman."
Isn't my birth certificate sufficient:
81 have no time for discussion
Where is the document showing that
your first union was dissolved:
"Voiciw
THAT'S not what ] want. m:N'
have a copy Of the act of TRANSCRIPT
ton"
"The document I've just given y"'
cost me 9 francs at the m"ir!e nj Helih
". Where must apply for the ot!'"r
At Neuilly?'
mo. Go to the registrar OF the III
bunai Of the Seine.
The fiance made for the door. rai
downstairs and jumped into Il taXI
motor In a few minutes ne vas Ii
the registrars office.
Monsieur" replied the assistan
registrar, 1.-The registers from Ne'liil!
have not come back yet. But y0uli d.
sure TO find them there, and they'll 81
able to give you all the information
you want
Another taximOtOr cab. and ten mill
utes later the distracted tiance was n
| the marie Of Neuilly.
ayes: I understand" replied the OFT
ciaI after the visitor had explaine
the object of his call. But we can
give YOU what you want under forty
eight hours" 4.
Il suppose must wait" said tn
fiance.
Two days later, armed with a con
plete dossier. be returned to the mar
of the Eighth ACCOMPLISHMENT. IL
smile had come back, he'felt that VIZ
tory was nigh.
"At last" he exclaimed triumphan
" as the functionary came forwar'
"I've got them all now"
"Quite right" replied the other a1t'
a glance at the various document
But did I understand you to say ye
wanted to be married on the 18TH:
eyes, that's the date"
"In that case I'm very sorry mo
s,eur but that does not leave us u
legal time in which TO publish q I,