BARMAIDS AND MATRIMONY.

Evening Star, Issue 4109, 28 April 1876, Page 3

BARMAIDS AND MATRIMONY.

The Melbourne correspondent of a contemporary writes Our barmaids are doing a remarkably extensive business in “love’s young dream” just new, much to their constitutional detriment and pecuniary emolument. A prepossessing young lady at a bar in the west end of the city had the misfortune to fall head over heels in love with a Sandhurst lawyer a short time ago, who to every outward visible sign reciprocated the maiden’s genuine affection. An engagement was quickly followed by th wedding day, when all were gaily resplendent in their holiday attire and bridal robes in anticipation of so memorable an event, everything was in readiness, the bride dressed and io the drawing-room, nuniierous gushing bridesmaids thronged, the hall. Time rolled quickly oh, and the hour appointed for the contract! on of

the matrimonial bonds approached, but the light of her hope and affection was most conspicious for his absence. Two hours waiting gave everyone the miserables and destroyed irremediably the once enticing breakfast, for during the excitement consequent upon the unaccountable absence of the bridegroom, sundry hungry spirits entered the apartment where the edibles were displayed and left not a wrack behind. With disappointment and unfeigned disgust the company broke up to seek consolation in the bosoms of their homes, leaving the disconsolate maiden in tears and bridal array. As soon, however, as she had gained sufficient time to enable her to recover her scattered faculties and consider her forlorn position she sought the advice of a leading solicitor, and commenced proceedings for a breach of promise of marriage, demanding as an amelioration the tidy little trifle of L 5,000. The writ is in course of service, and the case will probably come before the next matrimonial jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The erring lawyer arrived in Melbourne, it is stated, the night previous to the uneventful day, but got in lax company to such an extent that shame made him oblivious to all obligations and consequences. This little breach of promise episode was quickly followed by the elopement of a pretty barmaid ensconced in a favorite hostelry in the centre of the city, with a traveller in the soft goods line, who, be it known, meets with a good and worthy partner to share bis pleasures, toils, and troubles. Following these in quick succession another more melancholy fate befel one of Bourke street’s brightest gems behind the bar. Falling in love with a squatter and reputed son of an English earl, she married him, and for three days they lived happily together. Finding occasion to visit his station on the Mutrumbidgee, the gay Lothario took his bride several hundred miles into the country and put up an hotel, where he left her on the pretence of visiting his station to forewarn his partner of her intended visit, and to insure her a reception becoming her station. Three weeks she remained a lonely grass widow in this inhospitable place, when she wrote imploring his immediate return. She received a letter from the high individual telling her to return to Melbourne and await his return at the

hotel, as his partner would not receive her, and consequently he intended selling out and taking her to England; in the meantime he would allow her LI per week. She returned as directed, and after waiting in perturbation another fortnight wrote again. Her husband’s partner answered the letter, stating that Mr a week previously sold out for L 40,000, and had taken his departure in the St. Osyth for Europe. Thunderstruck and amazed she sought consolation in tears, but found none, for the cruel ungrateful blow struck her by this son of iniquity and shame. She is endeavoring to recover tainted honor by legal process.