AN OLD-TIME FIANCEE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 122, 15 February 1908, Page 11

AN OLD-TIME FIANCEE.

Americans of to-day aro so notably free and easy, in their matrimonial, . formalities that an account of the way they managed these things in the early part of last century sounds as if it'"referred, to anothPr rape,' as well .as .to another age. In an American magazine I-lately came across an article'on girl'"life' in' the beginning of last contury, where a quite heartrending account is given of;the trials-of-'an engaged girl. '.At that, time,says tho writer, "betrothal ..was as sacred as marriage itself, and' much moro restrictive ot privileges.' That is, tho freedom of girlhood was lost,' and that of the matron bad not .come. If the lover were present, of;.course those restrictipns were not felt, .but,in his abseneo tho poor girl'had little, more 1 liberty, than, a Hindu widow'. Slid' 'must not, accept oven the most ordinary attentions, from any .man, must , dance with no one except her father or brother, and, sho- must, .always wear, conspicuously displayed hanging from her'neck, faco outward; the riiiniaturo of her future, husband. These miniatures wcro often skilfully painted 611 ivory, and were usually oval in shape and about three and a half inches by:two and a half in -sizo, without counting, the gold frames, which were sometimes quite heavy. ... - 1. '

"Tho remarks'which it was considered in order for even chalice acquaintances. to address to thp fianceo upon siyht of this badgo of appropriation were .intolerable to Helen, and rather;, than_, subject herself to them she rcsplutcjy refrained' frorii accepting an invitation even to her relation's. during tho fow months of her engagement. On one occasion, when a large and most interesting company of American and foreign guests was expected at a- cousin's, homo, Helen vainly sought'her mother's permission to attend without wearing the tclltalo portrait. Finding that this would not be allowed, and realising that her sister's disappointment would be .great, a .vouriger sister, only fifteen, but already tall-arid stately, heroically volunteered to, wear tho obnoxious picture, personating its rightful owner. But the innocent fraud' was not permitted, and as Helen would not 'go if obliged to wear the miniature, she was compelled to relinquish the coveted pleasure."