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Show Allowed to Choose,' Mates. ;j Privilege That Is Accorded to French Female Convicts. French female convicts have one privilege that female convicts of other countries do not enjoy they are allowed al-lowed to get rnarrled. But the husbands hus-bands must also be convicts, Every six months a notice is circulated In the female penitentiaries calling upon all women who feel minded to go out to New Caledonia, In tho South Taclflc and be married to make application to that effect through the governor. Elderly women nro said to be prompt In making such applications, but they are not entertained, as the candidates must-bo oung nnd exempt from physical Infirmities. The selected candidate's can-didate's have to sign engagements promising to marry convicts nnd settle set-tle in New Caledonia for the remainder remain-der of their lives. On these conditions the government transports tl.om and gives them an outfit and n tlcket-of-leavo when they land nt Noumea. Their marriages are arranged for them by the governor of tho colony, wno has a selection of well-behaved convicts for them to cliooso from, and each girl may consult her own fancy within certain limits, for the proportion pro-portion of marriageable men to women wom-en Is about three to ono. Sometimes wardens or free settlers have wooed a pretty female convict, but before being permitted to marry her must place themselves In the position of a tlcket-oMeavo man and undertake never to leave the colony. The Pathfinder. |