The Marriage Market.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 297, 9 October 1873, Page 7

The Marriage Market.

Ifc is very doubtful, notwithstanding all our modern contrivances for tie '■annihilation of time and space." whether lovers are " made happy," or, in other words, succeed in gettipg married, more easily than in the age before railroads. Our habit of centralisation brings all our youth to the metropolis, or to the great centres of industry, and leaves large tracts of country quite denuded of eligible young men. Again, if a young woman comes to our great towns to seek employment, she is altogether isolated as respects society. Hermit never was half so lone As he who hath f allows, hat friends not one, is especially true of the young governess who lives in the drawing-room on sufferance,, and to whom it is next to impossible (and very perilous in the search,) to find a partner for lifa The following sentence, moreover, may be accepted as having at least some truth in it: "Civilisation, combined with the cold formalities of society, and the rules of etiquette, imposes such restriction on the sexes, that there are thousands of marriageable men and women of all ages, capable of making each other happy., who have never a chance of meeting either in town or country." These last words are culled from a newspaper entitled the "Matrimonial News," which has been started as an "organ through which ladies and gentlemen aspiring to marriage can be honorably brought into communication," and which has now been in existence more than two years. It contains nothing but advertisements from " persons about to marry, if they can" and of these the specimen before us numbers no -less than three hundred and fifty ! On the first blush of the thing (and no doubt some would even blush at it), the whole publication would appear to be a joke ; but a joke must be a very good one indeed to last two years, and to bring in its originator twenty pounds a week during that period — which is the very least that he must make by it by advertisements independent of the paper; but, in pomt 1 of fact, the " Matrimonial News " is evidently no joke at all, but as serious as any organ of nfines or railways. In its 'first beginnings, we have no doubt, indeed, that it was made the vehicle of practical j_sts, but such fun must have worn out by this time, and must have been always expensive; while, on looking through the present long list of aspirers to the state of wedded life, there appears to be one only who is not in oona-jide earnest, notwithstanding that many express themselves absurdly, and some are too evidently representing their affairs as being much more prosperous than they really are. The aspirants are indicated by a number only, but are bound to send their real names and addresses (with carte also, if they please to venture on that experiment) to the editor, as a guarantee of honorable intentions and good faith ; and all introductions are given on the under-,] standing that the lady and gentleman i shall pay a fee to the said editor within a month of their marriage. This limit j seems liberal enough, since it takes the happy pair to the honeymoon, after which but too many of us repent our partnership, even though it has not been brought about per advertisement in a newspaper. Moreover, the editor may be consulted personally — we suppose by reason of his great experience in bringing young people together — upon this important step in life, for the very reasonable sum of five shillings. He will answer questions and give advice " on any point relating to courtship or marriage, or any other difficult suhject" by post, in return for a dozen postage-stamps. One would have imagined that these very econmonical terms would have especially found acceptance among the humbler classes, but this is by no means the case, Among the whole three hundred and fifty advertisements, there is only one which purports to be from a person, in domestic service : , 6872 A K6BK 68 ? 60 **^ servant girl, aged 27, J\. nice appearance, very respectable family, and who has saved up about LIOO. would like to correspond with a steady respectable man about 35, with a view to marriage. Address and carte with Editor. Even this individual, it will be remarked, is a sort of capitalist ; while as to- the others, " gentleman -farmer " is the very lowest in the social scale who advertises as being in want of a helpmate. Nay, there is even one British nobleman, but that is the personage to whose son« fides we took exception: — 7(VW A -^ English nobleman between 50 and /v il. 60 years of age, with fine landed estates, wishes to marry, and desires to enter •into, correspondence with a lady of position "with a view to marriage. Ladies replying to this advertisement may depend on strict honor. Address with Editor. We don't believe that any "English nobleman between 50 and 60," no, nor between 150 and 160, would find such a difficulty in securing for his bride "a lady of position " that ha must needs apply, to .the editor of the "Matrimonial News." But there are many more almost as eligible and glittering ; offers. A gentleman of landed' estate, aged forty, tiring in one of the choicest counties in England, and with an income of about £8000 a-year," wants another ♦'lady of position;" and there are other country gentlemen, with incomes from £3000 to £4000 a year, who, it appears, cannot get into society, or, having got there, feel too old

or too shy to ask young persons of the opposite sex to share their very considerable property, even though, iv some cases, they be " assured of a handsome jointure," in the event of their husband's death. As might be expected — when we have got over the surprise of anybody advertising for a wife at all — officers about to embark for India are very numerous on the lists of our editor. They find a difficulty in persuading young ladies to take the voyage and dwell in the East with them among tigers and " natives." One "officer on the India staff" has £600 a year, "which before long will be £750," and is ready to marry at once and take his bride with him ; another writes from Bombay, and promises to wed any suitable bride whom the editor will assign to him, " immediately on her arrival." The clergymen also, strange to say, are very numerous; not only curates, as one would imagine, but rectors, "with good livings and ample means." These, however, are not so plentiful as the unbeneficed. 70 oo A Clergyman, aged 35, a bachelor, tall, tvaoj^ dark, and well connected, with an income from property and profession of about £200 a year, and the prospect of preferment, wishes to hear from a lady of suitable age, with a view to marriage. It is probable by " suitable age " that this divine does not mean a lady of his own age ; for. as a rule, it seems youth has the preference with *' the cloth," as it has with other professions. " A young lady of good family under 30 " is what is wanted by more than one pastor; though some, indeed, add, " calculated for a clergyman's wife." Nor is it only the ministers of j the Church of England who make use of this remarkable channal for supplying themselves with a partner. j 67V7 A f re9 byterian clergyman of the Scotch | -Q. Church wishes to get married on or before the Ist of May 1873, if possible ; heis 40 years of age, is active, energetic, and healthy, holds a large farm, and is fond of riding or driving a good horse ; his income is £120 per annum ; he wishes to get married to a sensible, intelligent, kind-hearted, goodlooking lady, not more than 25 to 30 years of age, with a fortune of £500 or £1000, or £50 per annum. He is reckoned good-look-ing, is 5 feet 10 inches in height, and his female friends all say that if he got married, he will make one of the kindest and best of husbands. This divine has evidently the "gude conceit of himself" sometimes attributed to his fellow-countrymen ; but it is remarkable that none of his admiring " female friends " should have married him themselves. Why, in the Hymen, should hebe so particularly desirous to wed before tbe Ist of May ! If his calling was not a sacred, oue, we should almost suspect him of having made a bet about it, and of taking this desperate means of winning the money. This is the first gentleman, it will be observed, who has given any detailed account of his personal appearance — on which the ladies, as will presently be seen, place their chief reliance — nor (though " fond of driving ") does even he offer to send bis carte. No. 6896, however, condescends so far to particulars as even to mention his weight : fiSQfi A Surgeon Ia practice, is desirous of \ Jj. meeting with a suitable partner. .He te fair, 47 years of age, a bachelor fond of domestic and farming pursuits, good tempered, and likes children. Height sft. 4iu. , weight 8 stone, would like an educated (fairly), domesticated, kind wife, good manager, Protestant, with some property. Would like to hear from Nos. 6731, 6732, 6693, 6685, 6602, 6686, 6682, 6679, 6693, 6649, 6651, 6725, 6502, 6553, 6507, 6436. Address with Editor. "Protestant, with some property," is a very pretty touch. Female advertisers, we conclude, are incapable of jealousy. There is probably a " safety in numbers," which would certainly not exist in the case of names ; else what must be the feelings of 6731 (for instance) on perceiving that this medical suitor " would like to hear " from no less than fifteen young ladies beside herself! Of course, love at first sight is out of the question,, between anonymous advertisers ; but surely the" gilt must be very, much j rubbed off the romance of courtship i when it has to e-be carried on under I these impersonal circumstances. On the other hand, this practical and com-mon-sense method of disposing of matters of the heart seems to have its own ; attractions, and especially to our Scotch friends : poQo A Merchant in Lancashire (bachelor), os<M^_ aged* 38, fair complexion, 6 feet, plain and simple in tastes and habits,' of a religious cast of mind, though by no means ascetic, income from £500 to £600, wishes to correspond with an English county lady over 23, one with similar means preferred ; must be warm hearted and a loving disposition, have head as well as hands in domestic affairs, and above all ' piety ' is indispensably requisite. Editor has carte and address, We have calculated the expenses of | this advertisement with accuracy, and ! have come to the conclusion "that tbe allusion to " piety being indispensably requisite " is perfectly genuine, for it must have cost an extra shilling. Interesting as these offers are, proceeding, as they do, from every rank of society, and each having about it some distinctive and characteristic sign, we will content ourselves with quoting one more gentleman suitor, before proceeding tt to join tbe ladies," who, as may be expected, are, far more eloquent and gushing, and have, therefore, been reserved by us as a bonne louche. <woa A Widower, 45, has two nice boys and b7i *A one girl, aged 13, 15, and 17, well educated, still at school, and amplyprovided for, independent of their father, who has, by his own industry, made a nice little independency, and is still doing trade in the drapery. Middle size, considered good-looking, and a business man, would be glad to meet with a view to marriage, a sensible, kind, affectionate, educated lady, similarly situated as regards business or money something like

| equal to it. Age not so much an object if under forty. "We wonder whether the " two nice boys," and especially the one girl (who does not appear to be so " nice""), are aware that their widowed father is adopting the advertisement system, so useful in " the drapery line," as a means for once more reassuming the matrimonial noose ! We take leave of him and them with our best wishes ; a likewise of the "tradesman, rather dark and tall, and with very warm affections," who wishes for " an agreoable young lady — one with a little money preferable — who is, like himself, confiding, and with a strong desire to exchange hearts ; " and soar to more elevated regions. Place attic dames, and let the pas be given, as is meet, to the only one who begins with a poetic quotation : Oh, woman, in oar hoars of ease, Uncertain, cqjr, and hard to please ; When pain or sickness rend the brow, A ministering angel thou. 6543 A oun 8 Widow, highly connected, Xjl dark hair and eyes, considered good figure, clever, and amusing, possessing a small income, desires to marry. She does not deny that she might at times realise the two first lines of the couplet quoted above, but she can assure any gentleman willing to make the experiment .that she is as certain to be true to the conclusion. This is rather a lively portrait of herself for a .widow, the ladies who have been already married drawing, for the most part, a staid and matronly pictare of their attractions. It is quite I exceptional when they describe them- [ selves, as No. 6838 does, " of a jolly disposition " — that adjective being so favorite a one with the young ladies as almost to suggest its being copyright. Widows have in general " private proI perfcy," " agreeable manners," "education and accomplishments," and sometimes " high* connections ;" but they lay claim to no more glowing charms than are included in the term " finelooking." They put forth the negative advantage of "no incumbrance ' very prominently, just as the widowers we observe are " not fat." They " feel lonely," and possess " warm and sympathetic dispositions." Their ambition is satisfied with a mate of " suitable age," and in many cases they mention that "a widower would not be objected to." Some of them would be happy to receive " two or three cartes de visite in exchange for their own," in order that a selection may be made. They are " capital housekeepers," but, curiously enough, never apply to themselves the term " domesticated," which is in very common use with their less experienced sisters. 7022TT ATB ' an or P llan ' a S e 2*» height 5 JY feet, very domesticated, and of business-like habits, would make a very loving and affectionate wife, would like to hear from 6758. 6808, 25th Jan. Carte and address with Editor. v Lena " would be glad to hear from' no less than twelve advertisers. "True Affection " offers herself to any gentleman of respectability who will know j how to value " a young and pretty wife." Only one out of these charmers confesses to bring " not pretty," and she is careful to add, " but considered very ladylike, and withfasftinaling manners." Most of them have " warm and loving hearts," but "inconsiderable fortunes." On the other hand, we have *• the daughter of a wealthy manufacturer, from whom she will receive a good fortune " (even if she marries by advertisement 1) ; and " a lady with £2000 a year in her own right ;" and another who will have "£2OOO at marriage, and £7000 more to come." It certainly seems most extraordinary that these eligible young persons should take to advertising in the " M. N." for fear of " withering on the virgin ihorn." It is nevertheless noteworthy, and adds to the air of genuineness in this matter, that almost all these unmarried female advertisers, with money, are "about thirty years of age." When they confess to being " about forty," they have never less than £7000, and generally "look much younger." In these cases they don't send their cartes. Besides the ordinary columns of this delightful print, there is a special space set apart in it, for which five times the rate of advertisement is charged, for those who give their private addresses, and who are addressed " under cover to the editor." . Their tender effusions do not come under his practical and uncongenial eye, but appeal directly to the beloved — number. This class includes some very high and dignified personages, of both sexes, to whom '" money is not essential," although they are good enough to add, " not, of course, a disqualification" One of these advertises herself as " an orphan lady aged forty," and is the only advertiser throughout the paper who professes to prefer " a widower with children." Altogether this weekly periodical, "devoted to* conjugal felicity," seems to us to be a very remarkable production indeed. We were not aware of the part it played in our social system till we saw it stated in one of those American newspapers which knows so very much more about us than we know about ourselves, that "in England the habit of contracting marriage by advertisement is growing more and more, so that, besides numberless notices to that "effect in the ordinary prints, a special periodical is published, which has no other object than that of bringing man and wife to the altar." The apophthegm that half the world does not know how the other half lives, may certainly be extended to marriage, since, to the majority of our.readers, the veryexistence of the " Matrimonial News. " will probably be news indeed.