WILL ANYONE MARRY ME.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1056, 14 July 1882, Page 3

WILL ANYONE MARRY ME.

Glasgow Herald. The increasi g difficult s of married li e in a civilized community are usually understood, and no doubt, vvii.i truth, to have a restraining influence upon many who in a simpler state of society would unhesitatingly take the fatal matrimonial plunge. There must, however, bo a very' large class who, though eager to wed, are either restrained by their inherent modesty or are prevented by the circumstances in which an untoward fate has placed them, from meet ng with their heirt’s desire. These are the penp'e who in despair unbosom themselves in the journals devoted to match-making. There are a considerable number of such papers ; but there is at least one —the Matrimonial Record— whose sole reason for existence is matrimony, and which is circulated fortnightly through the post like aqimck mediei ie. The editor points out that “lln-re are hundreds who are exactly suited to each other but who have no means of becoming acquainted.” His mission is to bring these eligible panics together, and he finds his reward in the sale of his paper, the charge for advertisements, a small introduction fee, and last, though probably not least, “ it is expected that after marriage a further fee will be paid to the editor for his services." A recent number of this interesting sheet shows a curious balance between the sexes. Seventy men and seventy-one women sigh for some one to love them. Unfortu a e'y their wants are so’ varied that there is little likelihood of their pain g and leaving the seventy-first lady out in the cold. Some of those in the one section might easily find partners in the other ; but even the most eligible lady has little chance of satisfying the aspirations of the “ Retired officer, an undergraduate, studying for the Baa aged 43,” who “ desires to correspond with the daughter of a Beer. The wants of “ A gentleman, good-looking, well connected, moving in first-class

society, and having an income of £9OOO a year,” nmv lie supplied with little difficulty, for the lady is only required "to be ‘‘educated and not over 30.” Compared with £9OOO a- yi ar, £2OOO seems genteel indigence, but the possessor of that income is a “■ man of title and position,” and therefore hj s a right to be somewhat fastitious. He wishes to meet with a lady of good birth, educated and accomplished pretty and with a suitable income.” These are the chief plums on the male side, but there are many more atlrac tive articles in stock For instance, there is a physician, 33. good lookh g. with a thousand a year, who “has no desire fov money, giving preference to birth;” there is an Irishman, with £4OO per annum, “not derived from land f there is a ship-owner, 42, tall and dark, a widower, having, an income of and there is an English gentleman. “ residing on his own estate." There are, moreover, several men with incomes from £IOO to £4OO and several working men. who wish to meet with, respectable d une-tic servants or other suitable persons

The qualifies requir d iua wife, are. of course, extremely varied. A retired colonel is prepared to marry a lady between 30 and 40, “able to pay Lmown expenses, and with good teeth.” A man ot 24. who describes himself as “active and energetic, a total abstainer, no frequenter of theatres,” wishes to correspond with a “ nice looking young lady, religiously disposed, an abstainer, and with private means.”. An Anglo-Indian, though he has only L2OO a year, is extremely exacting. The voting lady must be “ dark and good-looking, sweet tempereu, affectionate, a good pianist, able to read music at sight and one who could hold her own in refined society.” On the other hand, a. cle gyman will place in a good position, and lavish “every affection” on a lady whose only apparent qualifications are that she shall be from 20 to 30 years of age, and possessed of TriOO to LOGO. Another clergyman “decidedly objects to a widow,” and still another puts Christian principles in the front. A tall and fair gentleman engaged in tuition, looks for a “ young lady of education, refinement, fond of home, and ‘ not of a roving disposition.' “An accountant’s wife must be educated and fond of children, the latter juality being very important, as the advertiser is a widower with “ four little girls.” Two gentlemen, seemingly with no present income, are very interesting persons. One of these is a middle-aged Christian widower with no children, and with good expectations. He would like “to correspond with an amiable, kind lady, possessing some means with a view of an early marriage,” and naturally enough he would give the preference to “ one who would assist him in starting a business by which he could easily make £IOOO a year net profit in London.” The other impecunious gentlemen saVs he is “shortly alient to become a clergyman.” fie is of good family and expectations, athletic, musical,” and would throw himself away on a “ lady of property.” P resides these, there are a tradesman of “ good birth;” a professional man— “a gentleman, he trust , in the truest

sense of the word two bachelors, one of whom “d’shkes a tall or stout woman,’ and the other “ has no desire for money, giving the preference to youth and beauty; and “exceedingly good-looking young gentleman who wishes i-100 a

year with his wife ; a young builder who yearns for the society of a “ tall and handsome young governess," and in uy other eligible jiei sous ; but none tf them is so ingeniously candid as the “ El erly Party” who has been “on the shelf tor some vears," and who udmts being “ dreadfully dull.” Pie has a good income and no debts, and only a mature comfort r will satistv him, as he adds peremptorily, “No chit of a girl need apply.” We have little space lo r t to speak of the ladies department of the paper. Many of the female candidates for matiimoi.ial honors are, it must be admitted. somewhat past their prime, but they have all of them qualities more lasting than merely physical charms. Surely the “ lady, 40 years of age, but looking much younger, cheerful, educated, and domestic, with an income of £1 60 a year,” will not seek in vain for “a gentleman of good character.” The “Elderly Party” we have mentioned might fare worse than with the “f-pinster Lady, a trifle younger than the Queen, with good means, but no company,” who wishes to meet w;fh a quiet o'd fellow not under 55,” and who intimates with extreme, though seemingly unnecessary considerateness that “ no children are required ” Another middle-aged ladv is “ tall and fair, fully accomplished, nice lookingaiid domesticated ” “ She has i afire,sent fortune, but would do all in hj r power to supply the deficiency in other ways ” A very interesting lady of 2d —“ not exactly pretty, but considered good looking”—should have no difficulty in finding a pirtnei in adjoining column. vSUe has a private fortune of L 350 a year which must be settled on herself.” The gentleman wishes to many a lady “with a present income of L 350 •* yen-, winch must lie settled on herself ” We trust they may all 1 e able to satisfy their aspirations and fulfil the destiny they seem so eager to enter upon.