The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-09-28
A MATRIMONIAL MART IN ITALY.
A Place where wife and a Little Bank
Account Is always Found for the Ask
ing.

A Place where a wife and Little Bank
Account Is always Found for the Ask
ing.
A paper Of the late Lady Amberley,
in MacRlilldH's Magazine describes o
visit she paid to novel institution in
Palermo. Picture a large, long room,
the center portion OF which is divided
of from the sides and further end by
an IRON grating which forms cage,
entered only by q vell.barred street
door, through which visitors from the
outer world are admitted. Here they
sit on benches to converse with those
on the outside Of the iron grating.
Friends OF the sisters, or employees Of
the place, and the foster parents are the
usual visitors. Once week, however,
on Sunday mornings, from ten to
twelve, this place is the scene Of the
most novel and ludicrous courtships,
One OF the objects OF this motherly in.
stitution, is to find tit and proper hus.
bands for the girls under their charge,
the one requisite being, that the young
man is bound 10 show himself in pos.
session OF sufficient means to maintain
wife in comiott before he is allowed
to aspire 10 the hand OF ono Of these
precious damsels. Having given his
credentials OF fitness TO the guardians,
he receives q card, which admits him
next Sunday morning to m inspection
OF the candidates for matrimony.
There, sitting on a bench, il his curl.
osity and Rrdor will allow him 10 re.
main sitting, he waits the arrival on the
other side Of the grating OF the Lady
Superior, accompanied by agirl. She
has been selected by the order Of SEMI
ority and capacity for household work,
from the hundred or more between
seventeen and twenty.one awaiting for
q youth to deliver them from their pris-
on. The two young people, no doubt
breathlcss, with agitation at the i'm.
,portance OF the ceremony, have To take
one long, fixed look at each other. No
word is spoken, no sign made. These
good Sisters believe SO fully in the lam
guage OF the eye, that 10 their minds,
any addition Is futile, and might but
serve to mystiiy the pure and perfect
effect of love ut frat sight, The look
over, the Lady Superior, asks the man
II he will accept the maiden Us his
bride. Should he answer in the afllrma-
tive, the same question is put TO her,
and II she bows her assent, the betroth.
al has taken place, end they part till
the Sunday following.
The young lover again makes his up.
pearance before the tribunal OF guar.
dams, and there the contract is signed,
the day OF marriage fixed, and lie is
granted leave to bring the ring, ear.
rings, wedding dress and confetti,
and present them through the grille OF
course TO his betrothed. Everything
has to pass tho scrutiny Of the Sisters,
for fear OF some tender word being
slipped in with the gifts. During the
few Sundays that intervene between
the first love scene aud the marriage,
an hours conversation, within hearing
Of the Lady Superior, is allowed, but
not touch is exchanged. The empty
talk, interspersed with giggling, con-
sists Of inquiries rs TO the wedding
dress, the, sort OF confetti most liked,
aud the occupation and place Of abode
OF the suitor. Should the young man
refuse the frat damsel presented TO
him, he is favored with the sight OF
three or more, but should he still up.
pear di6lcile he is dismissed. The girl
also has power OF refusal.
The marriage over, tho task Of the
Sisters is done, and whether happiness
and faithfulness are the result Of this
heathenish rite, they never inquire.
Visitors have wondered what induce
ment there can be TO make the youths,
who have the world to choose from,
come hero in search OF q wife. Two
hundred and fifty francs is the great
attraction. That STUNTS given in dowry
with each Of these girls, and for that
sum IL seems, q Sicilian is willing TO
sell himself for life. Those girls for
whom the institution fails to find hus.
bands, are allowed OF twenty.one, to
face temptation alone, and situations
are found for them.