The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-04-23
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

rcnlNmlnR Nv lomc ON VI " lHNillJ VI
four girls. The other sisters had mar
rled well and in due season, while the
iraulein was getting little outof date.
She was twenty-five at least, and "they
suyr that in Austria, every year after
eighteen decreases young lady's mar
ket value--that Is, she will need more
money to "buy herself u huband," ~ u
witty young friend expressed 1t, after
eighteen than before; so IL is to the
pocunlary advantage of the parents 10
"huy u husband" for their daughters
"a early rs possible. But the frau
mamma said that the fr0ulcin was so
very particular and they, unlikr most
continental parents, allowed her to
have "a say in the matter, and the
consequence was that she had sighted
good chances and still remained upon
her fathers hands TO he disposed Of.
She did not seem to be ut all uneasy,
but lived quiet, uucventlul and SEEM
ingly happy life, She had resources of
enjoyment in herself being not only
well educated, but accomplished, and
il therefore mattered little to her that
she saw so little SO society.
BY the customs of the country, young
men do not call in friendly way upon
young ladies, SO she never saw unmar-
ried gentlemen except upon some party
occasion, and there We're no young
lady friends running in for II title Cos.
sip, or TO plan some amusement. Her
mornings We're spent in domestic en-
ploymeuts, and in the afternoon she
went to see some of he's married sisters.
During five months we occupied rooms
belonging to the herr papa, and so !
was thrown into daily intercourse with
the fraulein. We spent several hours
daily together, exchanging lessons III
French and English, or playing duets
upon the piano. One Friday morning
the fraulein came to excuse herself
from our usual reading hour, saying
they were to have company in the
evening and she should be busy in
making preparations. BY chance |
saw the guest as he arrived. He was II
young man, the first who, during four
months, had entered the house. IL was
suspicious, Saturday WAS but repet-
ton of Frlday--the morning excuse,
the busy day, the evening guest. Sum
day he came 10 dinner, and we looked
knowingly at each other and whis-
pered, "a wedding in prospect
On Monday morning the fraulein
came into our room, and, blushing as
she made her apology for neglect of les
sons, said: 81 do not know that | can
go on with our readings any more. l
have been conducting some important
business--l engaged elfyesterday.n
OF course, offered my hearty congrat-
ulations, and could not refrain from
making some inquiries as to the happy
man. In answer 60 the question as to
the length of time she had known him,
she answered, " little evasively: 80,
our parents have been acquainted
many years. Our mothers went to
school togethel.n Americans may
think that | was impudent in asking
such questions, but it does not seem so
to Viennese. They seem to fancy it
only manifesting polite interest in
your welfare to inquire infinitely into
all your private afiairs-how old
you are, how much you are worth,
where you buy your clothes ana
what you pay for them, and they
have no reserve in answering such
questions. The idea that one may de-
sire to keep his affairs to himself is be-
You'd their comprehension. Talk about
Yankees! I'd like to see
one matched with n genuine Niennese.
] am sure the poor Yankee would soon
find himself nowhere
l therefore had no unnecessary feeling
of reserve or delicacy in questioning
the frau mamma as to how the affair
had been conducted. The statement
was that "certain person. had come
to them, and told them of this young
man, who wanted to marry. He had
seen the fraulein in company with her
sister on the street, and disappearance
had pleased him, and knowing how
well the worthy frau had brought up
her daughters, hearing how we'll edu-
Gated, accomplished and domestic they
were, and many more iiattering things,
he desired permission to call upon them.
AS The interest of their daughter was
At stake, they naturally inquired into
he young mans antecedents, as to his |
wealth, etc., but when they
heard to what family he belonged, the
rau mamma said at once, tive need
make no further inquiry. If he be-
ongs to that family he is all right. |
His mother and We're schoolmates.
True, we have not seen each other but
few times since we were married,
out l know the family. He can
'ome." And so he came on Friday
svening. GAS he left, "continued the
good lady, ~ invited him to come
lgain, and so he came Saturday even
n.y." "But," said !, "if he had not
'leased you or the fraulein, you would
rot have asked him TO come again p,
No." she answered; "and then he
would have understood that we desired