Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1874-10-04
THE LYON COUNTY TIMES
Ceurting I'm . Founding Hospital.

Counting i'm q Founding Hospital.
The following description of how
the girls in a ioundling hospital at
Palermo, Italy, are married off, is
given in an article by the late Lady
Amberly, on " Founding Hospitals
in Italy," published in Macmillan s
Magazine: 1.-THE long dormitories
were clean and orderly, but the Gu
rious and peculiar feature of this
establishment was the parlatorio, or
reception-room. Picture a large,
long room, the centre portion OF
which is divided off from the sides
and further end by an iron grating
which forms cage; entered only by
a we'll barred street door, through
which visitors from the outer world
are admitted. Here they sit on
benches to converse with those on
the other side of the iron grating.
Friends of the sisters or employees
of the place, and 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 we ever heard described.
One of the objects of this motherly
establishment is to find fit and
proper husbands for the girls under
their charge. The fit and proper
here is much like the fit and proper
of society; the one requisite being
that the young man is bound to show
himself in possession of sufficient
means to maintain 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 card which admits him
next Sunday morning to an mspec-
ton of the candidates for matrimony.
There, sitting on bench, if his Curl
osity and ardor will allow him to
remain sitting, he awaits the arrival
on the other side of the lady supe-
rior, accompanied by girl. She
has been selected by order of sem
iority and capacity for household
work from the hundred or more be-
tween II and 81 waiting for youth
to deliver them from their prison.
The two young people, both no
doubt breathless with agitation at
the importance of the ceremony,
have to take one long, fixed look at
each other. No word is spoken, no
sign made. These good sisters be-
lieve so fully in the language of the
eye that to their minds any addi-
+ina 10 futile, and might but sorvo TO
mystify the pure and perfect effect
of love at first sight.
The look over, the lady superior
asks the man if he will accept the
maiden as his bride. Should he an
swer in the affirmative, the same
question is put to her, and if she
bows 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 mar
risge fixed, and he is granted leave
to bring the ring, earrings, a we'd
ding dress and confetti, and present
them-through the grid, of course
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 Sundays that inter-
vene between the first love scene
and the marriage an hours CONVEX
sation within hearing of the lady
superior is allowed, but not touch
is exchanged. The empty talk, in
terspersed with giggling, consists of
inquiries as to the wedding dress,
the sort Of confetti most liked, and
the occupation and place OF abode
of the sutton. Should the young
man refuse the first damsel present
ed him he is favored with the sight
of three or four more; but should
he still appear di6icile he is dismiss
ed. The giri also has the power of
refusal. .--..
The marriage over, the task of the
sisters is done; here falls veil they
never lift--and whether happiness
and faithfulness are the result of
this heathenish rite they never in
quire; that would be an impure
region into which they could not
enter without sullying their own