THE PROFESSIONAL MATCHMAKER.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 361, 9 April 1912, Page 7

THE PROFESSIONAL MATCHMAKER.

Amongst the Bas-Bretons the Plougastels have stuck the longest to their old costumes and old customs (says the Paris correspondent of the ' Standard '), and a small volume might be filled with a description of all the traditions relating to marriage, which are still observed m a large degree. Not the least curious of these is the office bf the " Bazvalan," or intermediary, who m ancient times was indispensable all over Brittany, but now survives only m Plougastel. Formerly the Bazvalans were recruited exclusively from amongst the guild of tailors, who then enjoyed great and peculiar privileges, tliough their refutation for morality was not of the highest. Sixty years ago a violent sermon was delivered from the pulpit against the tailors, and nowadays it is the liquor sellers who act as Bazvalans.

J When charged with a marriage offer a couple of Bazvalans must repair towards midnight to the houso of the lady and wake up tlie inmates, who, by a polite fiction, are supposed to be asleep, although m reality waiting for the event. It is the mother who has to open the door, and if she answers evasively the wink is taken for a nod, and the Bazvalans wish her good-night. If, on the contrary, she asks them m, and lights a fire, it is a good sign ; and if she places a tripod on the hearth it is a better still. After talking about the weather and other such subjects of mediocre interest, the Bazvalans begin a marvellous account of the riches and good qualities of the other party, not being over careful to' adhere to the truth, if Aye are to judge by the current expression m these parts of " lying like a Bazvalan." They then, foi* form's sake, refuse, m the name of their client, the girl's mother and grandmother, who are offered to them as substitutes, and finally, when the damsel herself is forthcoming, the business is settled— or at least well begun. There is still the ceremony of the betrothal, and the great day of " Veladan" before the actual marriage, m all of which the Bazvalan has to platan important role.

It is probably the Bazvalans who have suffered the most by the small January record of marriages, but if their reputation is not overdone, they will probably manage to make up for lost time ere next January comes round. From what the emissary of the French newspaper tells us it seems that Plougastel is still a mine of wealth for the student of folk-lore, and a veritable museum and shrine of the ancient manners and customs of the picturesque and interesting people of Lowe;* Brittany.