The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-06-06
From the New York Mercury.
ADVERTISING FOR A WIFE
BY FLORA AUSTIN

Ef-1
- Not long ago, as I was looking over the pa
per, I read under the head of matrimonial"
the following advertisement:
t"A young man, % years of age, of good
habits, progressing appearance, and possess;
ing an income of $500 a year, wishes to cor
respond with some intelligent young lady, not
s-oyer 20 wears of age, with a view to matrimo-
nv. She must be very handsome, and well
educated, fond of music and SO forth"
I need quote no more, as this Is sufficient te
answer my purpose. Now / hear people rail-
ing against those who write such advertise
ments, calling them ~scoundrels, etc. No doubt
they are, but tell me, ye praters, would hey
continue to write such, if they were not en-
couraged by the answers they receive to them.
Remember, every advertisement costs Gty
cents, and these worthy gents are not so fond
of expanding that sum, every little while,
when they obtain nc equivalent
Now for my part, I think these who answer
tkem are the worst, and those who rate the
advertisers, might well keep a esharp eye or
their daughters. The latter offer the excuse,
1Oh, it was in fun" But have they not had
experience enough, from the exposures of eve
ryday life, to warn them against such a
course.
Oh. mol the dear creatures must. have some
funi Yes, 40 one will ever find it out; but
what does it lead tor Why, the fellow gets a
clue to their identity, and assiduously pursues
them; especially if their parents are wealthy,
until serious consequences ensue-perhaps an
ilEassorted marriage, and in six months, bro
ken-hearted and deceived, the victim of her
own folly is laid In a premature grave. They
pay dearly for their fun.
These fine locking, wealthy, loving DISPOSE
toned puppies, who write such advertisements,
of course, making money nc object of theirs
1zIs-- Co. -1oI -.co o3a
are generally gamblers, blacklegs, and the like.
Does apy one presume to believe that an homo
rable man cannot End in society a girl whom
hc can respect, love, and honor sufficiently to
make her his wife, that he must advertise for
one? Preposterogsl Why, I could laugh in
their faces, without thinking it at alls impu-
dent, at such an assertion. 20
All, no, my fine gentleman Sensible pee
ME believe no such thing; a few moon struck
Teung damsols may credit it, but these are all.
AS for females, Who can so degrade them
solves as to advertise for a husband, they must
be lost to all sense Of femenine delicacy and
reserve. Why girls I would sooner be an old
maid all my life, than to marry one who adj
vertised for a wife, or than to advertise for a
husband. You may all squirm, and twist un-
der these remarks, but you will find them true,
every word. Life is too often viewed clothed
In the romance, which tina brain chooses to as
~sociate with it, but when viewed Invested of
It's fine ~colors, how sad the contrast. Matri-
monial advertisements sometimes read very
nicely, to romantic young girls, but could they
see the writer's Invested of the poetry and elo-
ouence they succeed in associating with them.
selves. in the minds of foolish girls, they would
be as hideous as they were charming before
AS if a true gentleman would wish to marry
one ready to answer every advertisement she
might chance to read, especially when the per.
SON writes that he is wealthy. All, no, girls
Very little danger Of any money being atstake,
ON the advertisers. side. Not a bit of i'll
Woman should never so bemean herself as. to
have it said, that she can be obtained alta word.
Before T conclude, I must tell you of a lit
lie incident, which occurred not long since. A
young lady residing in the city, happening to
read a matrimonial advertisement, and thlnk
insi IL would be fun to answer it, concluded to
dose, without betraying herself to any one.
This fair one had o sister, who fortunately, was
possessed of more sense than she, and by acct
dent she got a clue to the others design. That
night, whenlall had retired, she stole to her
pecket, as she had seen her write the letter,
and. deposit it there. She found the letter,
andsit was.sealsd, so she carefully unsealed it
and; drew forth the note-and read it. 1tcon-
fainedsa request, that the advertiser would
meet her at an. appointed place, two days,fol-
1pming. and. describing the signalsh would
give so.be known
The sister pondered long over the missive;
xj,e had heard much concerning the 'conse.
ouences resulting from affairs of this kind, so
sks caucludedi toethwart the plan, and thus
perhaus rescue.thel other from error. -
She hastily penned,another note, similar IN
lie and appearance to the one MIlslen' ana
e.iJ;nc Il placed it in the envelope retaining
Io'uan6 y, contained 0