The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1910-02-04
MARRYING IN FRANCE
Official Obstacles That Bar the
b. Way to the Ceremony.
THE WORRIES or A FIANcE.

Indifference of the Civil Officers |,
His Efforts to Accomplish the Neces
sary Preliminary FormaIities.
Marrying in France is not an easy
matter On the contrary. the civil of
ficers seem to employ ingenuity in put
ting as many obstacles as possible ir
the way of those who contemplate
matrimony.
Take the case of a French citizen
who until recently resided in the
Eighth reimbursement of Paris, but
who removed to the Ninth and then
began to accomplish the formalities
necessary for his marriage.
Smiling and happy, as q man about
to wed should be, he presented himself
at the marie Of the Ninth ward with
the following documents. which be
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.
4 On 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 pardonY
II said 1t 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 fiance returned.
He had recovered his 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 2 francs.
What's thatp exclaimed the func-
tionary, with an air OF surprise. tits
too old"
What do you mean-too oldT
Il mean what say. Your certif-
cate was made out eight years ago,
and 1T has been used already. l don't
want that must have one that is
not older than three months"
But my birthday does not change,
and 1t is clearly indicated ,on this doc
ument, which is official Why do you
want one that is not more than three
months oldT'
'Why? You are too inquisitive."
The fiance was still smiling. but in
rather faint hearted fashion.
where is your military memoran-
dunn bookw 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 'livret 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 1t. Here is
my discharge. That is all I can show
you"
..All right; we'll see."
Then the fiance ipterpolated:
why must you have military doc
umentT
'To show that you are really a
Trenchmsnn
Isn't my birth certificate sufiicientT'
II have no time for discussion.
Where Is the document showing that
your first union was dissolved"
"Voiciw
"Thats not what want. must
have copy Of the act of transcript
tion."
'srhe document I've just given you
cost me francs at the Marie at Neuil-
ly. Where must apply for the other?
At Neuilly?'
'No. Go to the registrar of the tri-
bunal Of the Seine"
The flance made for the door, ran
downstairs and jumped into taxi
motor. In a few minutes he was at
the registrars office,
Monsieur replied the assistant
registrar, 'the registers from Neuilly
have not come back yet. But you'll be
sure to flnd them there, and they'll be
able to give you all the information
You want"
Another taximotor cab, and ten min
utes later the distracted fiance was at
the marie of Neuilly.
.sYes; understand" replied the off,
cial after the visitor had explained
the object of his call, "But we can't
give you what you want under forty
eight hours"
81 suppose l must wait" said the
fiance.
Two days later, armed with a CON-
plete dossier. he returned to the marie
of the Eighth reimbursement. His
smile had come back; he felt that vic
tory was nigh.
"At lastw he exclaimed triumphant
iy as the functionary came forward.
ssI've got them all now"
"Quite right" replied the other after
a glance at the various documents.
sRut did understand you to say you
wanted to be married on the 15th?
sYes. that's the date"