A MATRIMONIAL AGENCY.
That “ Marriage is a lottery ” is a rcry old proverb, but there is a sort of unconscious humor, perhaps latent, in the title which a new matrimonial agency on the Continent has assumed. In the advertisement columns of some of the German newspapers we find a list of persons “ who wish to marry,” and who have entered their names on the books of this new agency which calls itself the “Bureau Fortune.” The office appends its address, which we need not advertise. The advertisement is apparently a transcript from a casual page of its interesting book of confidences, as it begins with “No, 640” and ends with ‘No 670.” The former number is “a beautiful widow, thirty years old, with a fortune of 15,000 f.,” while the latter is “ a a Switzer, living in Italy, with a fortune and an increasing income.” We give a few specimens of other candidates. “ No. 650. An educated daughter of a good family; expectations, 50,000 f.” “No 661. A beautiful educated lady, twentyfive years old, with property.” “No. 669. A miller and baker, forty years old. with property and a fair income.” What these ladies and gentlemen demand in return for the gift of themselves and their property or expectations may be learned in detail by sending one mark or one franc twenty five centimes in postage stamps to the Bureau of “ Fortuna.” We suppose that there are simpletons enough to repay the advertiser for the costfof his advertisements ; but his selection of the most promising specimens of his “ stock” for public announcement is rather invidious to the remaining six hundred and odd prizes or blanks in his matrimonial lottery. One of these Continental marriage agents advertises “ , near London,” as the seat of his bureau. He informs German readers that he has English ladies of high aristocratic circles amongst his clients. The editor of the “ society” journals ought to pay a visit to his bureau, as they might acquire some profitable revelations by turning over his account books.
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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2482, 4 March 1881, Page 4
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337A MATRIMONIAL AGENCY. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2482, 4 March 1881, Page 4
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