Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-11

pears with two books, green and white
and three feet square, and seats HIM
self at a little table below the mayoral
throne and very near the salyer for
the poor." that he may see how much
you contribute. The hands of the
clock drag heavily around toward H. \
French bridal party in wells and dress
suits enter the outer room. whisper ex-
citedly, shake out silken gowns and
adjust lace scarfs and finally march
in and take chairs behind your party,
bissfully self-conscious tall but the
bride as ever,. but far more interested
/ in the Americans than in their own
future state.
Eleven o'clock strikes and passes. Al
ten minutes after a hopeful fiunky in a
uniform without a chain opens a side
door looks quickly at the bridegroom,
as though to estimate his possibilities
in tips, and announces in a voice
scarcely audible:
His excellency the mayor"
The mayor 4 dear old gentleman well
stopped over and with a tricotor rib
bon as wide as his shirt front draping
that portion of his correct evening at
tire hurries in. He glances not at the
waiting party. only waving his hand
to indicate that they be seated. ohlisi-
Gus of the fact that they dlu not get
up. He takes the complete collection of
documents, some fifteen IN number,
cone up with 4 large red seal anu var:-
Gus revenue stamps; eyes each one.
calmly pronouncing the names In per
feet French, and therefore quite unin-
Ial ,.as
over his spectacles The witnesses on
either side nudge the bride and bride
groom and they nudge each other and
then whisper in chorus.
"Oui, monsieur
The mayor returns to his books, read;
carefully through the entry in the large
green volume, and finding it satisfae-
tory turns to a we'll worn prayer book
Cor so it appears to be-. He begins to
murmur, a process which continues
for five minutes. Then he chances up at
the bride who. nudged by the bride
groom and witness, says:
'.Oui monsieur"
Another half minutes of reading and
the mayor looks at the bridegroom.
Nudses from bride and another wit
ness.
"Oui. monsieur" says the bridegroom.
Rising the mayor dips a needle pcint
rem in a white china inkwell, looks at
the bride again. She starts to say.
"Oui, monsieur" but catches herself in
time to accept the pen instead. /
Sign here
For the poor monsieur" says the
mayor enthusiastically The bridegroom
l.. % .,,a
Thanks, for the poor sing the
mayor and the gentleman at the small
table in chorus. The bride puts down
five franc piece.
"Merci pour les pauvres,' sings the
chorus again.
Each witness in turn does his part,
to a similar chorus while the lackey
in the uniform with the chain around
his neck cries (stage whisper).-
LET the past cit here, the future en-
tering by the other side For which
FIVE francs from the bridegroom.
The bridegroom follows, then a wo-
man Witness o "mademciselle, who is
told to sign her initials; the married ,
woman witness signs her fun given
name. The men sign as best they can
with the needle provided. Then every
body signs the white book, in reverse
order: the bride gets booklet assuring
her she is married and with room to
register a whole Roosevelt family in,
and the ceremony is over All but; rs
this for the poor" inquiries the bride
groom, indicating the silver plated sal
ger.'
The lackey who announced the may I
,r receives his five francs before the
bride is kissed. and after that cere- $
nony is finished the party goes out in {
o the entrance hall, where four other '
.ntlemen in dress suits and uniforms
lave sprung up, busily engaged in en-
,ressing tasks. Five francs each.
A friendly wedding guest opens a +
packet of rice and IN attempting to