BRIDE PICKED OUT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1939, Page 9

BRIDE PICKED OUT

GAME OF BLIND MAN’S BUFF. STRANGE ROMANCE BRINGS HAPPINESS. Six women in the room were blindfolded. With a bandage across his eyes also he had to pick his bride by chance. This strangest romance in history has been disclosed by the death of ex-Colonel Bastien, of the French Army who for more than 40 years enjoyed perfect married happiness with Maureen Ryan, of County Kildare. The Colonel’s father, noted for his eccentricity, stipulated in his will that his fortune would pass to his son if he married one of six women whose names had been placed in a sealed enevelope and left with his lawyer. Otherwise he would be cut off without a penny. The strange condition was laid down that the son and the six eligibles were to be blindfolded, and that the son was to pick out one of the six by touching her as he walked along the line. Not one of the six was known to the son, and he was a stranger to them, but apparently they had been induced to accept the strange conditions. * In the presence of the family lawyer and the executors of the will, the love game of Blind Man’s Buff was played. M. Bastien picked out Miss. Ryan, and when the faces were uncovered it was recognised by all that he had instinctively selected the “best looker” of the six. The marriage was celebrated shortly afterwards. and the couple settled down in the “love nest” at Varengueville. close to Pourville, provided by M. Bastien. Sen. Neighbours agree that it was an ideal home. Quarrels were never known, and recently the French equivalent to the Dunmow Flitch was awarded them. The sudden death of ex-Colonel Bastien as the sequel to war wounds ended the long association. The Blindfold Lovers had eight children, 23 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.