COURTSHIPS AT THE BAR.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1453, 31 March 1873, Page 4

COURTSHIPS AT THE BAR.

[the graphic. J • A very piquant story of the marriage of a wealthy member of Parliament with a barmrid has been spoiled — as many piquant stories have been spoiled before it — by a contradiction in the matter of fact. But it appears from a statement made by a weekly contemporary that the restaurant-counter is really becoming a matrimonial market of a most advantageous kind. The 'writer referred to states that Jon the 2nd of last month no less than six young ladies in different parts of the country,- belonging to a well-known firm connected with the railways, eft their establishments in order to be married. And the secessions from the same cause, we are assured, are very frequent; i Without- reference to any general statistics on the Bubject— tthich we would reconitnend to Social Science people to investigate— there seems good ground to suppose that in no other occupation would the same class of girls find equal opportunities. Governesses are of many classes ; but even when they happen to be refined and accomplished ladies they seldom seem to marry, except in novels.

Their situation is worse indeed than that ■of governesses of inferior grades, their I reqtiirenieri^ boing more difficult to supply. There is^a aort : of/sentimental interest attaching J tb milliners and dressmakers; but these may work half their lives without the chance of meeting the 'very man who may be wetting for them, ,and if they resort to suTai public places as are^ at their command for the sake of society they are exposed to dangers ;which are apt to defeat matrimonial ends. Young women behind counters have a better chance ; but in most places where they^are. so employed the customers are generally of thg wrong sex.. 0h the sfcage^the. opportunities for making irespectable matches are rare, aa we all know, except in the ease of bright particular stars. Nor have the female employees of the Government a good chance of making acquaintances, the work being regular and the discipline strict. The telegraph to be sure is conducted very much in public ; but it would be rather costly courtiug for a constant admirer to prolong his interviews by sending continual messages at Iwenty words for a shilling. • It is evident that, consipered in the light of an advertisement, " the bar," with its constant flow of fresh visitors, affords unusual facilities for a settlement in life, to say nothing of presumable amiability induced by^effeshmentis. A cynical writer, referring the.other day to counter; flirtation, observed that it yvas difficult to understand the attraction of talking to an uneducated girl with fluffy hair. But the authority whom we have already cited ossures us that the young persons to whom he refers are frequently of excellent social position, and have not only education, but accomplishments; The consequence is that they not bnlyroake matches but good matches. Indeed, we have heard of a Russian nobleman a few years ago finding a bride at an English, bar. ;