The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-08-25
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The following is a d, scription Of
scene which goes on every Sunda.
morning in the hospital at Palermo
The long jormitorics we're clean ant
orderly. but the curious aud pcculia
feature of this establishment was tn
parlatoria, or reception room. Pictur
large, long room, the entire porto,
" which Is divided oa from the side
and further end by iron grating whicl
forms cage, entered only by vel
barred street door, through which Wis
i,ors from the outer worh are admit
ted.
Herr they sit ON benches to convcrs'
with tho-c IN the other side " III,
iron grating. Once week, however
on Sunday mornings from ten ID
twelve, this place is the scene of ih,
mos, novel and ludicrous courtst;o,
ever descriheS. One Of tie objects o.
th,.ss mothcrly establishment is to find
81 aud proper husbands for girls under
their charge. The Ct and proper her,
are much like the fit and proper Of so
ciety; 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
those precious damsel..
Having given in his credentials Of
fitness to the guardian, he receives a
card which admits him next Sunday
morning to an inspection Of the candi.
date for matrimony. There, sitting
on a bench, il hit curiosity and ardor
will allow him TO remain sitting, he
awaits the arrival on the other side Of
the grating Of the lady superior accom-.
panied by girl. She had been Sc
lcctcd by order Of seniority aud capa-
city fjr household work from the hun
drci or more between IL and 2l wait
ing for n youth to deliver them from
their prison.
The two young people, both no
,loub, brea,hless 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 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 asks
Ihe man If lac will accept the maiden
rs his bride. Should he answer in the
Affirmative, the same question is put
10 her, and If she bows assent the be
Irothal has taken place, and they part
ill the Sunday following. The young
over again makes his appearance be-
Tore the tribunal OF guardian, and
here the contract is signed, the day Of
fixed, and he is granted leave
10 bring the ring, earrings, and we'd
ling dress, aud present them-through
he gridiron of course-to his be-
.rothed.
Everything ha, to pass the scrutiny
If the sisters, for fear Of letter or
iome tender words being slipped in
With the gifts. During the few Sun
lays that intervene between the first
owe scene and the marriage, an hours
within hearing Of the lady
uperior is allowed, but not a touch is
Exchanged. The empty talk, inter
perscd with gigeiing. consists of Ell
luiries as to the wedding dress, and
he occupation and place Of abode Of
he suiior. Should the young man
efuse the first damsel presented to
lin, he i. favored with the sight of
hree OF four more but should he still
Ippear digiciie, he is dismissed. The
,irl also has the power Of refusal.
The marriage over, the task of the
listers is done ; here falls vail they
iever lift and whether happiness or
is the result of this heath
,nish rite they never inquire; that
would be an impure region into which
hey could not enter without sullying
heir own purity.
Our readers must beiore now have
wondered what inducement there can
10 To induce the youths who have the
world to choose from to come here in
,earch Of wife. Two hundred aud
iity francs is the great attraction.
That sum is given in dowry with each
If these girls, and for that sum il
Gems, Sicilian is willing to sell HIM
elf for life, Those girls for whom the
institution ellis to find husbands, are
allowed at Il 10 face temptations alone
IL .;,ualinn. nra fnnnd for them.