MARRIAGE IN FRANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1288, 27 January 1883, Page 2

MARRIAGE IN FRANCE.

M.'Elisee Rectus, who endeavored te restore to the marriage contract the charm of primeval simplicity by marrying his two daughters the -other day in anti-social fashion, is well known in thia country to those interested in education and science. The son of a French Protestant pastor, at an early'stage iil his career, he drew trouble upon himself by his ultra-Radical views. _At the time of the Coup d'Etat ho was obliged to leave France; but, having permission to return a few yearslator, ha J found 'an outlet ; fur 1 ' his ' political 11f euthuaiam, by espousing the muse of the Northern States of America iu their struggle with South. His articles.on this, subjeot in the Revue des Deux Monde's were of extraordinary interest,' and the American Minister in Paris was instructed to propose ta the writer pecuniary recognition oi his services, The offer was refused, During the siege M, Reolus, al-' ' though he had a family dependent upon him, joined the bathillons de marohe and afterwards became identified with the Commune— an indiscretion for which he , had to pay the penalty of exportation, The sentence caused adeep impression on the scientific world, to whose literature. M. Reolus had long been a contributor; and a petition from England, signed by Mr Darwin, Lord Ainberley, and others, . was presented to the Frenoh Government' praying for his pardon. The effort was: fruitless, and M. Reolus remained in the "Island of Pines" until the Amnesty Bill was passed. That a man' of such attainments conld have been oapable of the folly of "marrying" his daughters under conditions which will place them socially among the most forlorn viotims ever sacrificed to a crochet is a puzzle that remains to be explained.