FRENCH AND BRITISH MARRIAGES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 238, 26 June 1918, Page 2

FRENCH AND BRITISH MARRIAGES

It is often a subject of discussion in Paris society, this ono of international marriage (states the Paris correspondent of "The Queen"). Will Englishmen marry Frenchwomen more than they did before- the war, and if they do will the marriages 'he a success? No people have clung together more than the French, and although, there have been a good many Franco-Ameriia.ii i: arriiiges in high places, Franco-English weddings have been rather rnro than, general.'We have a few beautiful an charming Frenchwomen in our aristocracy, and Franco has a few Englishwomen with as fair a record; but 10-day women and men of many classes are marrying. The latest statistics from Rouen show 700 weddings between English men and French girls, and I. am told that 'until the army of English girls went over to France ''Tommy was inolined to forget "the girl he loft behind him" and to I remember only the. ono ao met every I clay. Fro'ichwomen are ail inclined.to say that such marriages are likely to be very successful, but they none of them over say that they think art alliance between an Englishwoman and a Frenchman is likely to succeed. They are inclined to- believo that an American woman marrying a. Frenchman is much more hopeful. .It is an interesting psychological study, and is explained in various ways by Frenchwomen. Somo say that llio ineradic.iM<; vein of idealism in the Englishwoman where her husband is concerned uialto it impossible for her to bo happy with A Frcnchniun, as the Frenchman is used to women who "understand 'life." Others are lees flattering, and deckre that tho 'ack rf 6avnir vivro in iho Englishwoman, as far as her intercourse with men goes, makes marriage- between Englishwomen and Frouchmon a fore-ordained -failure, and Englishwomen tke.'iiselves, unless they happen, to be in lovo with a Frenchman al the time, are very much of the sanio opinion,. although they do not account themselves the drawback, naturally. The oxcoptions may be said to prove this rule, but it is doubtful whether the Frenchwoman has grasped the fact that many of the meu v jio have been lighting on the French front will have seen Eng. lishwomen at work among the poilus, and will have learned to appreciate that fino courage and unselfishness which has allowed] them to work for so long and under such dreadful conditions for ihe men of another race when their own husbands,- sons, snd brothers wore giving their lives in the same cause. The delicacy of soul in the Englishwoman is what few recognise until they know her; but tho privilege to know this has been given lo many Frenchmen in this war, as our women worked with" and for them in the houi' of their needs. And not a few have paid tribute to it already.