Morning journal and courier., 1881-10-24
Th. wff. ,u.ine.. In I,alv.

ing lost two wives and taken a third, hand
 some and young, asked him how it happen
 ed. ''Well D he replied, sI did not intend
 to marry again, but my friends kept recom-
 mending so warmly my present wife that
 was induced to make inquiries myself regard
 ing her qualities, and, finding a discreet
 analysis, q use his own phrase,) married
 her" Externally, and1 believe internally,
 she does credit to his "discreet analysis,
 and it is pity that in marriages in general
 the same mental, apart from the atfectional,
 exercise is not oftener practiced before the
 concluding steps are taken. Foreigners are
 too apt to conclude that the emphatic street
 compliments or attentions that ladies some-
 times receive from Italian gentlemen in the
 gallant expression of their admiration are
 equivocal in intention if not downright in
 sulting. This is too nasty and general
 conclusion. The social rules being such that
 introductions and intercourse are not readily
 to be had as in Anglo-Saxon countries, the
 susceptible Italian in the search for wife
 looks about in public to discover some one
 that may captivate his fancy. The very re-
 strictions placed by society on the easy access
 to the unmarried ladies only serve to augment
 his passions and warm his imagination, thus
 casting halo of charms over young per-
 son, seen by chance and under difficulties,
 which he might never have perceived had he
 han the same unrestricted freedom of social
 intercourse as exists in America between the
 youth of both sexes At all events the at
 traction would have come slower and perhaps
 surer in it's results. Here it takes the form
 of immediate passion and action. will l-
 lustrate the cause and effect by 8 little histo-
 " as narrated to me by the heroine herself
 not an Italian, but shall not disclose her
 nationality.
 Some years ago she was travelling in Italy
 with large family party. In one of the
 chief cities they were sightseeing in the usu-
 al fashion, when they noticed in the gallery
 with them young man of distinguished ap- pearance who seemed to regard their circle
 more than the pictures. Returning to their
 hotel they thought no more of such conn pretty girls. They had, however, made the chance acquaintance of a priest of their na- tion who had become regular visitor. One day he took the father aside and said he had communication of much importance to make to him. A young Italian nobleman of distinguished family, large wealth, sound health and an excellent person every way, had seen his daughters, fallen at sight deeply in love with one of them, whose name he did not know, had followed the party to their lodgings ascertained who they were and now begged permission to be allowed to visit them with the view of paying his addresses in person to the lady of his choice. The na- tural Anglo Saxon instinct was to decline the honor promptly. and decidedly. But the priest represented that the young man was serious and honorable, as well as titled and rich, and it would be but fair to the young ladies, as the particular one was unknown to them, to give both parties an opportunity of acquaint- ance, to see what might come of it, especial ly as besides his four daughters there were four other young and attractive ladies in his party, one of whom might be the lady he was smitten with. At all events, they ought to have the chance to answer for themselves. Convinced of the honorable intentions of the candidate for one of the young ladies' hand, and the girls themselves thinking it 8 good joke rather than taking the matter seriously, the father consented that the priest should
 bring his friend to make their acquaintance. But on the evening designated, in order to mystify him somewhat, they decided among themselves each to wear the same costume, a
 black silk, with only the difference of color ed bows and neck ribbons, and to come into the room separately after he arrived. They carried out their programme perfectly. The elegant lover came punctually, was presented
 to the parents, and immediately after, giving time for the, separate presentations and
 words of ceremony, each young lady, not knowing but she was the object of his affec- tions entered the room at regular intervals,
 underwent the formal introduction, and took her seat. It was procession that must have
 seemed endless to him. and almost 8 repro
 duction each time of the preceding lady. To an Anglo-Saxon's masculine nerves and heart 1t would have been very trying orS deal, well calculated to bewilder a youthful lover and make him doubt the evidence of his eyes But not so our Italian With the easy grace of manner of his race and breeding, he preserved his self-possession. Faultlessly
 polite and closely scrutinizing all, notwith-
 standing the wearisome ordeal of gennfiec- tions and polite speeches he had to undergo,
 he remained master of the position. When the last and youngest entered his eyes
 frightened. He placed his chair beside hers and immediately began converslng, thus quietly intimating he had at last discovered
 the being the distant view of whom few
 days before had captured his affections. It was smooth sailing for him now, and in a short time he made himself, by his manly elegance and intelligence, a welcome visitor and attendant of the family, doing the hon. ors of his city, and, in fact, becoming one of
 them with the perfect tact such as accom- plished Italian gentlemen thoroughly possess. In brief time with the consent of the par ents he offered himself to the youngest, pleading his intense love from first sight, and declaring that he asked for no dowry, his own property was sufficient, and that if she was reluctant to leave her mother while so young he would agree to give her 8 house, to settle 8 large income on her, and live half the year in her own country and half in his own Furthermore, as he was somewhat of radical in politics and republican in princi-
 ple and had dropped his legitimate title, he would resume it, and as his wife she would
 be Duchess, with the arms on her cards and carriages and all the other paraphernalia and social consideration which belong to ar- istocratic rank of long descent in Italy. This certainly was tempting proposition, besides the youth, sincerity and nexceptionableness of the supplicant, to a young lady, but her
 heart was untouched, and she respectfully de-
 clined him after1a r1a long and passionate pleading
 of his case, not unfavored by her own fani- ly. They parted excellent friends, and years afterward he married a princess of his own race.
 have related this not on account of it's special interest as story, but as an i1ustra- tion of the heimpulsive, impromptu Italian man. ner of falling in love on no acquaintance at all, and their eagerness and honorable sinceri- ty of pursuit. It also shows that money is not always a consideration with the Italians in seeking foreign wives, as other instances I know of also prove, any more than that the blandishments of title always decide the American or English maiden to accept lov- CT because he has one. There is no denying it does carry. great weight with my fair young countrywomen in their decisions in these
 cases, and not altogether without reason. Where the individual character is irreproach- able, tide does to very considerable de-
 gree symbolize social position the acc1mu- lated training of centuries of refined civiliza-
 
 inherited self assertion which makes material
 existence pleasanter, easier and more con-
 spicuously important to the individual. It
 lifts him or her from the common masses
 into the ranks of 8 favorite caste, with social
 pass words wherever titled aristocracy is acknowledged. It carries with it presumptive evidence of gentle manners, fine breeding and particular consideration in society. In one form or other humanity, whether of demo-
 cratic or aristocratic birth, covets titles of some sort, not for what they actually are,
 which is often vanity and vexation of spirit, but for what they imply. Our American young ladies, with their extreme sensitveness to externals, have a keen sense of their i'm
 portance in their visions of worldly life. Hence, we need not be surprise at, and it is
 useless to preach against their acceptance so frequently of foreign titles simply because of the social importance they bestow. Only re-
 gently was listening to 8 furious diatripe against such marriages on the part of an l American batter familias of the most demo- md 1,S