The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-03
MARRYING IN FRANCE
Official Obstacles That Bar the
 Way to the Ceremony.
THE WORRIES OF A FlANCE.

He Has to Brave the lnsoIenee and tho Indifference of the Civil Officers In His Efforts to Accomplish the Necss- sary Preliminary FormaIities.
 Marrying in France is not an easy matter. On the contrary. the civil Of hcers seem to employ ingenuity in put ting as many obstacles as possible in the way of those who contemplate matrimony.
 Take the case of a French citizen who until recently resided in the Eighth arrondissement of Paris, but who removed to the Ninth and then began to accomplish the formalities necessary for his marriage. Smiling aud happy, as a man about to wed should be. he presented himself at the mairie of the Ninth ward with the following documents, which he had previously obtained at the marie of the Eighth arrondissement: His birth certificate, his discharge from the army, the death certificate of his par -aRts and -f!ee certificate of his first marriage. for he had been married once already.
 On Saturday afternoon at o'clock he called upon the functionary whose business it is to attend to matters af- fecting the ''etat civil" Flying the vis- itor coldly. the functionary asked:
 ssWhat do you wantT
 ITO get married.' replied the other. smiling e
 .lts closed"
 .sBeg pardon2" a
 s1 said 1t was closed-for marriages. Come back on Monday or Thursday" @Why Monday or Thursday instead of Tuesday or Friday? What reasonY How should l know2 And do you think I care? It's like that--that's all I 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 francs.
 What's thatY' exclaimed the func- tionary. with an air of surprise. Its too old"
 What do you mean-too oldT
 s.1 mean what l say. Your certif1- cate was made out eight years ago. and it has been used already. 1 don't want that. 1 must have one that is not older than three months"
 ''But my birthday does not change. and it is clearly indicated on this doc. ument. which is official. Why do you want one that is not more than three months old:
 Why? You are too inquisitive."
 The fiance was still smiling, but in a rather faint hearted fashion.
 Where is your military memoran- dunn book?' asked the employee.
 aI haven't got one.1
 What! You haven't got one? And you come here and expect to get mar ried without a 'livret militaire" No; you're joking You can't be serious
 ''Yes. 1 am. Pm 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 l can show you"
 "Ali right; we'll see"
 Then the fiance interpolated:
 Way must you have military doc ument?"
 ITO show that you are really Frenchman."
 Isn't my birth certificate sufficient"
 .1 have no time for discussion. Where is the document showing that your first union was dissolvedY'
 'Voicir'
 That's not what I want. I must have copy of the act of transcript tion.''
 '.The document I've just given you cost me francs at the marie at Neuil- ly. Where must apply for the other? At Neuilly?"
 ''Ns. Go to the registrar of the tri- bunal of the Seine"
 The fiance made for the door, ran downstairs and jumped into a taxi motor. In a few minutes he was at the registrars office.
 '.Monsieur.'' replied the assistant registrar. sthe registers from Neuill. have hot come back yet. But you'll bt cfyro fo find them thore and they'll bt