Choosing a Wife.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7923, 3 October 1904, Page 7

Choosing a Wife.

Mr Edgor Wall__ee, the well-known correspondent of the Daily Mail, has succeeded in complying with the request of the young colonist fa British Columbia, who asked'for a w3Fe to be chosen for him from among the* homeless girls of England. The young ealouial promised a "Robinson Crusoe sort of life," and there were 637 replies io Mr Wallace's appeal, all of the writer., whose ages ranged from 17 t045, being prepared to undertake the adventure. Mr Wallace spent a week in reading through the correspondence and interviewing candidates, and finally selected a country girl from Littlehampton, Susses. whom he described aa ."•'a good cook, fairly pretty, and a neat little body." He thinks that tbe girl, who is homeless, will mako a good wife, "lam at present deeply immersed in the mysteries of a trousseau," added Mr 'Wallace ; " when the matter is settled, off 3he goes." Some of the letters Mr Wallace received;; .re amusing. "I am known as tbe bWle of Claoton," said one applicant. Another young woman was cure the Robinson Crusoe life would suit her, as she had often thought she would like to "go a bit wild." Another, who said she was a domestic servant anxious to try her luck, doubted whether British Columbia could be any " deader" than Ampthill Square. One girl asked what time the shop 3 closed in British Columbia. Some of the writers fancied that it was Mr Wallace who was in search of a wife,. and one asked him to send a certificate of character from the . local clergyman ! Another, confusing Mr Wallace with the illustrious author of "BanHur," said she liked his book, and would like to marry him. On the other hand, some of the stories told were pathetic. " I am penniless,', wrote one, "•and I have a weak chest. My doctor says that if I could get away to the Rocky Mountains my life would be saved." Thie 5 however, could not be done, for it was imperative that the girl should at least be in perfect health.