The independent-reporter., 1910-07-28
CONWCTS SENT To
NEW CALEDONIA
Must Each Marry Wife
Also From Prison
Marriages That Are Said Not To Be
Failures.

place at New Caledonia among the
convict settlers, at the rate of 80
year. The last decade was a witness
to an even 600 couples who were
joined together by Cupid's yoke. The
French Republic has, SO it appears,
experimental to considerable de-
gree in the joining together of man
and woman in the holy bonds of ma
trimony And, legally speaking, the
cause of justice, so it seems, upholds
and encourages this sort of match
making says the Philadelphia Record.
SO long ago as before the great
Revolution, the French colonies used
to be recruited with convicts. Their
release, however, was subject to a
well-formulated proviso. Whoever be-
came a citizen of the colony had to
fetch a bride with him. Furthermore,
she must be taken from prison, too,
thus making the marriage of both
parties alike in station.
MATRIMoNY NOT A FAILURE.
These marriages turned out fairly
we'll. AS we'll as the average run of
marriages do. it was concluded, after
investigating the marriage records
and making due inquiries into statis-
tics in general. And 1t is doubtless
the good results accruing from the
experiments of this era that suggest
ed the scheme which is attracting
such wide notice at the present time.
Twice every year the marriage no.
tices are posted up in all the work
shops of the woman's prison at Cler-
mont. And this is the forerunner of
a great and romantic event for those
who wish to avail themselves of the
opportunity offered, and which any
woman under 80 years of age may
take advantage of, providing she al
ready has shortened her stay here by
two years.
Having considered the matter we'll
that they may understand the impor-
tance of what they are doing, a peti-
ton is banded to each one who has
made up her mind to leave Clermont.
She is required to fill out this peti-
ton in her own handwriting. And by
doing this she virtually consents to
go to New Caledonia, and marry
convict upon her arrival there, or as
soon after as proprieties will admit.
For there is the period of courtship
to be observed, after which a regular
engagement is made, when the mar
riage takes place.
1t is not always love at first in New
Caledonia, either. Nor is the love
making allowed to go on in any hap
hazard way. On the contrary, mar
riages are arranged for in a most
decorous fashion. The marriage
board takes care of that And this
dignified body consists of the Gov
ernor of the colony, two Magistrates,
two priests and the matron of the
woman's prison.
AS far as possible they try to plan
matches between those whose temper
aments would fit them to live togeth-
er, although no one is compelled to
take the partner who has been pick
ed out for her Only the contracting
parties themselves have the say of
that
BRIDES ARE ATTRACTIVE.
And the women, almost without ex-
ception, are pretty and attractive, too,
notwithstanding the fate that has be-
fallen them. French women have
ever been noted for their beauty of
face and figure, as well as for easy
grace and charm of manner. And the
representatives of the French Repub
lie who find their way into New Gale
donia by this matrimonial route are
not altogether lacking in grace and
charm, either.
Notwithstanding the rules and con-
ditions, the first to fall in love with
convict girl is not always a convict
man. Among the officials there are
warders, army sergeants, dockyard
inspectors; and there are as well
others higher up in Office. More than
once have the authorities been thrown
into great perpleXity by some of the
colonial officials falling in love with
the attractive girls they had brought
from Clermont,
Marrying free man, however,
means restoring the young woman to
her full liberty And that is not the
object of her coming here.
There have been a score or more
of such cases as this to deal with
since New laleuOUla DeBdn UeROlldl-
ing for marriages between the women
of Clermont and the conViCts at the
the colony. And to obviate what at
first appeared to be nothing less than
an unsurmountable difficulty, every
suitor has stood ready to carry his
point by signing an agreement to live
subject to all the rules imposed
upon ticket leave" men. And he
never can leave the colony
Marriage at New Caledonia makes
the convict couple free colonists, but
subjected to certain conditions, which
they may free themselves from in a
few years. For one thing their dress
must be of the prescribed brown. And
they must not leave their cottage af-
ter nightfall without a written per-
mission. At no time, within a period
of two years, are they allowed to en-
ter any establishment where intoxi-
eating liquors are sold. By that time
man Is expected to have regained
his strength of character, II he ever
had any, and therefore be able to
withstand temptations of every kind.
A cottage every man must have to
bring his bride to, as we'll as a plot
OF land to cultivate. For until he is
in position to support wife and
family no wife will be provided for
him This ho non do oifhar hy onlfi-