Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-25

MATRIMoNY IN MADRAs.-The Madras
Times explains the manner in which soldiers
in the army of that presidency select their
brides:
''There are two excellent institutions, for
orphan girls of European and mixed descent,
who are tended and trained up to become
helpmates for our soldiers. Besides the in
despensable three RS they are taught to sew,
and to wash, and to bake, and to cook and
that most rare of feminine accomplishments
how to nurse. There is always, we believe
a select stock of girls on hand qualified and
willing to take on them vows of matrimony at
the shortest notice. Suddenly the hour of
proposal comes, and also the man. John
Smith, a stalwart gunner, or Corporal Brown,
of the Dragons obtains permission from his
commanding officer to marry, and with testi-
monials of good conduct in his hand lie pre-
sents himself before the superintendent of the
asylum, and intimates his connubial purpose.
The arrangements now adopted to pair off the
gunner or dragoon are not quite the same as
in days OF yore. The manageable maidehs
are no longer trotted round the compound, or
drawn up in line before the perplexed eyes of
the husband elect The process Of inspection
and selection is conducted with little more
of the privacy cOnventionally due to ante
nuptal negotiations. Smith or Brown is seat
ed in a room with the superintendent, who
sends a summons for Martha. With wise
commercial reserve, the superintendent keep
back the most tempting articles until an en-
deavor has first been made to get off the oldest
and least saleable part of her stock. Martha
very likely is a lank damsel, something like
Kelly's monument in consumption, and unless
the customer be mot at all particular, an OBJ
lection is made-the reverse OF the objections
urged by Mantiini to the two countesses,
who had no outline at all;' Marcia has too
much outline, is all outline III fact The dra-
COON would like the outline better filled in, so
Jane obeys the next call, who is plump but
squab. The military sense of correct dress
ing IS offended by the idea of wife who
reaches only to the hips of her husband, so a
desire is family murmured to see another A
third appears who hits the juSte mitteu of pro-
portions, and Smith smiles gratified assent
communicating his approval to the superin:
tendent in the unromantic phrase, that one
will do THAT one Is next consulted, who
seldom If ever, has any objection to offer.
The approved maiden whispers consent, and
the bargain is ratified on the spot, not in the
customary pleasant manner-tor amorous
Establishments the superintendent could on no
account permit-but possibly by Smith offer
ing his extemporary fancee a rupee 'to get
summit to please herself The only other
form necessary is to obtain the sanction OF the
directors and to publish the banns." We I'M
derstand that the same system prevailed al
Kidderpore lower asylum, with this difference,
that the candidate for matrimony being seated
by the side of the matron, the young ladies
came into the room, singly, at the door, ant
unless then and there chosen by the wife hun,
ter, they Immediately retired by the opposite
door, and once out of the room, 1t was con
trary to rule to call any lady back on the plea
that she was preferred to those who followed
The old story of picking up crooked stick il
the forest will occur to the intelligent reade
as conveying the same moral.