HUN MARRIAGE MARKETS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 178, 23 April 1919, Page 7

HUN MARRIAGE MARKETS

(By Henry de Halsalle, Author of "Degenerate Germany.") Marriage in tho land of Kultiir has ever been a sordid alfair of barter. In all large German towns there are certain places ami certain days where and when numbers of the middle and woll-to-do classes assemble for the purpose of arranging betrothals. Army officers heavily in debt, roues whoso health has been ruined by de-' bauchery, manufacturers threatened with bankruptcy, merchants, and-officials in monetary difficulties—all these seek matrimonial partners suitable for their particular requirements. Such assemblies are aptly known as "marriage markets." Germany it is absolutely necessary that a woman desiring ». husband should possess a dot, and the larger- the dot the bettor chanco 6he lias of finding the man. Money will always compensate tho German i'or any defect of physique or character; and the unsatisfactory stato of affairs arising put of these ill-assorted and sordid unions is indicated in statistics. For tho period 1897-1907 the number of divorco petitions in the Fatherland was 20,340, against 965 in England for tho period 1900-1910. But not all German marriages are arranged in tho "markets." The advertisement columns of tho Press also afford useful media. Frequently these njntrimoniol advertisements are tho only i tenia of humour appearing in tho Berlin principal news sheets; but no German deems them humorous. The Teuton father, too, hoe often a graceful touoli in advertising an un-need-ed'daughter. Thus a notification from tho "Berliner Tageblatt": I have an excellent daughter to marry, who refused many good-off era when young. She Is now 29, and I" would give a good dowry to a suitable husband, a tradesman if possible, or woll-10-do artisan if pious and averse from alcohol. What, oiio wonders, would an Englishwoman (confessing to 29) have to say if she- found that her nurcnt had advertised tlio fact that slio was no longer young; and what sort of a reception would await the pious, teetotal workimui when ho presented hiuiselff—"Daily Mail." ________