Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1867-04-17

tentions of gentlemen would, if she sue
ceeded in keeping her character, never
win a husband. German men are not
easily caught by appearances.
There are some sad stories connected
with German engagements, owing to the
excessive poverty of the men, and the
necessity for almost every one to work
his way from the bottom of the ladder.
Frau DR.. S. told me, with tears in his
eyes, of an elderly lady living near here,
who had been engaged fifty years. At
no time has her lover earned money
enough to marry upon, and now both
are gray haired and approaching the
grave, and though their hopes of mar
riage in this life are now over, they keep
their VOWS sacred for another world
There are many such cases, doubtless,
where a whole life time is one continued
struggle betWeenl hope and despair, a
struggle only ended with death. The
struggle is not always on the part of the
bridegrooms, for there is a custom here
appalling to a man With several daugh-
ters and a small income. In America,
if lady consents to deliver up her own
precious self, the sacrifice is considered
by the enraptured lover quite sufficient;
but here, the lady must bring, as a dow
~, all the furniture, linen and house
hold utensils-in fact, everything neces-
sary to housekeeping. The absolute
dismay of an honest German, with eight
charming daughters and FIVE hundred
thalers income, can easily be conceived
where such a custom is in vogue.
German girls are not so anxious to
get married as ladies are popularity sup
posed to be- While they live at home
they have comparatively an easy life,
and, except in matters of cookery, do
little work, But let them once marry,
and na0usecU0us change com cela The
couple take two small rooms, the lady
does all the work, and the probabilities
are that a large increase of family comes
before any increase of the income.
You have doubtless heard that young
lady must not takea gentleman's arm or
pass any more time than is absolutely
necessary, and can imagine that such
constraints and awkardness on both
sides that, when the two sexes are brought
together, as at a ball, the effect is abso-
lutely ludicrOus. I never passed such
miserable evening in my life, as at my
first and last ball in this country. There
seemed to be a dumb show Of battle 60
ing on, in which the youthful maidens
were surrounded by a body guard of old
maids and aunts, who stood ready to re-
pei the attack Of the sterner sex. The
sterner sex, however, seemed by no
means inclined to commence an attack,
but kept together solemn and stately in
an opposite corner. When the music
began, there was a feeble rush toward
the female phalanx, and a few of the
boldest penetrated the lines and bore off
the prizes.
But even this seeming success only |
added to my amusement, for they would |
come forth one by one, at arms length |
from each other, and just touching with
the tips of the fingers, as if one was
mortally afraid of catching the measles
by contact with his companion. The
instant the dance IS over, the Iduy must
be led back to her mamma, and depos-
tied there like pair of gloves or piece
Of furniture. The inconvenience which
have herein described are applicable
chiefly to a man in love. To one who
S not, they become merely national i'd
osyncracies which are soon got over
The ladies of Germany I like exceed
ngly. Theyare always so ladylike and
modest, so full of strong, deep feeling,
10 soundly educated, and intimately kind
md considerate In fact, these last ,
qualities are common, so far as I know,
o all ladies Of this land, young or old,
ich or poor. Politeness of a peculiar
lind and genial nature is an instinct,
nd not a formal CEREMONY real sen
iment and not merely an outward orna-
nent. They actually labor to promote
mes happiness, 60 out of their way to !
10 you a favor, and pay you such con- ,
inual and delicate attentions that (such :
S mans depravity) you begin to be an /;
.oyed, and wish they would allow you,
ven if you suffer thereby, to rest in
eace.