Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-09-19
A MATRIMONIAL MARTIN ITALY.

a MATRIMONIAL MARTIN ITALY.
y paper OF the late Lady Amberly
in MacMiliaa's Wagasine describes
II visit she paid to novel inslitu.
ton IN Palermo:
Picture u large, long room, the
centre portion of which is divided
of from the sides and further end
by an iron grating which forms u
cage, entered only by well,barred
street door, through which visitors
from the outer world were admitted.
Here they sit OH benches, to CON
verse 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. Oncea week, however, on
Sunday mornings, from 10 to II.
this place is the scene of the most
novel and ludicrous courtships.-
One Of the objects of this mOtherly
establishment is to find fit and prop
er husbands for the girls under their
I charge, the only requisite being that
the young man is bound to show
himself in possession Of sufficient
means to maintain Il wife in comfort
before he is allowed to aspire to the
hand of one of these precious dam.
sells. Having given in his creden
tails Of fitness to the guardians, he
receives II card which admits him
next Sunday morning to an inspec-
tiGn of the candidates for matrimO-
ny.
There, sitting on the bench, if his
curiosity and ardOr will allow him
to remain sitting, he waits the ar
rival Oh the other side the grating
of the Lady Superior, accompanied
by girl. She has been selected by
the order of seniority and capacity
for household work from the hun
dred or more between seventeen and
twcnty-one awaiting for youth to
deliver them from their prison. The
two young people, both, no doubt,
breathless 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 language of the eye that
to their minds any addition is futile,
and might but serve to mystify the
pure and perfect effect of love at
first sight. The look over, the Lady
Superior ask the young man if he
will accept the maiden as his bride,
Should he answerin the affirmative
the same question is put to her, and
if she bows her assent the betrothal
has taken place, and they part till
the Sunday following.
The young lover again makes his
appearance before the tribunal of
guardians, and there the contract is
signed, the day of marriage fixed,
and he is granted leave to bring the
ring, ear rings, "a wedding dress, aud
confetti, and present tn em-thrOugh
the girl of conrse-tO his betrothed.
Everything has to pass the scrutiny
of the Sisters, for fear of a letter or
some tender word~ being slipped in
with the gifts. During the few Sun
days that intervene between the
first love scene and the marriage an
hours conversation within hearing
of the Lady Superior is allowed, but
not touch is exchanged. The emp.
ty talk, intcrspcrsed with giggling,
consists of inquiries as TO the we'd
ding dress, the sort of confetti must
liked, and the occupation and place
of abode OF the suitor. Should the
young man refuse the first damsel
presented to him, he is favored with
the sight of three more; but should
he still appear diGcile, he is dismiss
ed. The girl also has power of re-
fural.
The marriage over the task of the
Sisters is done, and whether happi-
ness or taithfulness are the result Of
this heathenish rite they never in
luire. Visitors have wondered
what induce ment there can be to
make the youths, who have world
70 chose from, come here in search
Of IL wife. Two hundred and fifty
francs is the great attraction. That
sum is given in dowery with each Of
5hese girls, and for that sum, il
seems, a Sicilian is wishing TO sell
himself for life. Those girls for
whom the institution fails to find
husbands are allowed at twent y-one
o face temptation alone, and stu
lti0ns are found for them.