COURTSHIP IN A FOUNDLING HOSPITAL.

Evening Star, Issue 3665, 20 November 1874, Page 3

COURTSHIP IN A FOUNDLING HOSPITAL.

The new number of ‘ Macmillan’s Magazine’ contains an article by the late Lady Amber]y on “ Foundling Hospitals in Italy,” in which occurs the following description of a scene which goes on every Sunday morning in the hospital at Palermo ;—The long dormitories were clean and orderly, but the curious and peculiar feature of this establishment was the parlatorio or reception room. Picture a large, long room, the centre portion of which is divided oft from the sides and further end by an iron grating which forms a cage entered only by a well-barred street door, through which visitors from the outer world are admitted. Here they sit on benches to converse with those on the other side of the iron grating. Friends of the sisters or employes of the place and the foster parents are the usual visitors. Once a week, however, on Sunday morning from ten to twelve, this place is the scene of the most novel and ludicrous courtships we ever heard described. One of the objects of this motherly establishment is to find fit and proper husbands for the girls under their charge. The fit and proper here is much like the fit and proper of society ; the one requisite being that the young man is bound to show himself in possession of sufficient means to main tain a wife in comfort, before he is allowed to aspire to the hand of one of these precious damsels. Having given in his credentials of fitness to the guardians, he receives a card which admits him next Sunday morning to an inspection of the candidates for matrimony. There, sitting on a bench, if his curiosity and ardor will allow him to remain sitting, he awaits the arrival on the other side of the.grating of the ladv superior accompanied by a girl. She has been selected by order of seniority aud capacity for household work from the one hundred or more between seventeen and twenty-one awaiting for a youth to deliver them from their prison. The" two young people, both no doubt breathless with agitation at the importance of the yeremony, have to. take one long fixed look at each other. Ho word is spoken, no sign made. These good sisters believe so fully in the language of the eye that to their minds any addition is futile, and might but serve to mystify the pure and perfect effect of love at first sight. The look over, the lady superior asks the man if he will accept the maiden as his bride. Should he answer in the affirmative, the same question is put to her, .and if she bows her assent the betrothal has taken place, and they part till the Sunday following. The young lover again makes his appearance before the tribunal of guardians, and there the contract is signed, the day of marriage fixed, and he granted leave to bring the ring, earrings, wedding dress and confetti, and present them, through, the gild of course, to his betrothed. Everyth ing has to pass the scrutiny of the sisters, for fear of a letter or some tender word being slipped in with the gifts. During the few Sundays that intervene between the first love scene and the marriage, an hour’s convsrsation within hearing of the lady superior is allowed, but not a touch is exchanged. The empty talk, interspersed with giggling, consists of inquiries as to the wedding dress, the sort of confetti most liked, and the occupation and place of abode of the suitor. Should the young man refuse the first damsel presented to him, he is favored with the sight of three or four more ; but should he still appear to be difficile he is dismissed. The girl also has the power of refusal. The marriage ovei, the task of the sisters is done ; here falls a veil they never lift—and whether happiness or faithfulness are the result of this heathenish rite they never inquire; that would be an impure region into which they could not enter without sullying their own purity. We do not wonder at the holy sisters doing their best for the girl till the moment of marriage and cherishing a vague hope that all will then bo right; but we do wonder at the men of the world who manage the institution acquiescing in such a barbarous traffic in human flesh and blood as this sale of women. Our readers must before now Jiavte voaflevfca wfcat mflutfejaeat

can be to make the youths who have the world to choose from come here in search of a wife. Two hundred and fifty francs is the great attraction. That sum is given in dowry with each of these girls; and for that sum, it seems a Sicilian is willing to sell himself for life. Those girls for whom the institution fails to find husbands are allowed at twenty-one to lace temptations alone; and situations are found for them.