The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1884-05-01
Flow the Maidens 81 Sicily Get;
g5s 81 si; Husbands.

How the Maidens of Sicily Get
Husbands.
The following is q description 81 q
scene which goes on every Sunday
morning IL the hospital at Palermo: 5
The long dormitories we're clean and
orderly but the curious and peculiar
feature Of this establishment was the
pGarrlatorio, or receptio room. Picture
large, long room the greater portion
Of which is divided off from the. sides
and further end by an iron grating which
forms q cage, entered only BY awIessll
barred street door, through which yis-
itors from the outer world are admitted.
Here they sit on benches to converse
with those On the other side Of the iron
grating. Once q week, however, Sun
day mornings from 10 to 70, this place
is the scene Of the most novel and
ludicrous courtships ever described.
One Of the objects Of this motherly es-
tablishmentis to find &c and proper
husbands for the girls under its charge.
The fit and proper here is much like
the ft.and proper Of society -the one re-
quisite being that the young man is
bound to show himself in possession Of
sufficient means to maintain O wife In
comfort before he is allowed to aspire
TO the hand Of one Of those precious
damsels. "a II: /, is -
8 Having given in his credentials Of TT
ness to the guardian, he receives q card
which admits him next Sunday morning
to an inspection Of the candidate for
natimony There, sitting on q bench,
il his curiosity and ardor will allow him
to remain sitting, he awaits the arrival
on the other side Of the grating, Of the
Lady Superior acc mpanied BY girl.
She had been selected by order. 81
seniority and capacity for house hold
work from the hundred or more between
s17 and p waiting for q youth to deliver
them from their prison. ss;;35.
y! The two young people, both no doubt
breathless with agitation OF the impor-
lance of the ceremony, have to take one
long, fixed look Of each other. No
word is spoken, no sign is made. These
good sisters believe SO fully. in the Ian
guage of the eye that, in their minds,
any addition is futile, and might but
serve to mystify the pure and perfect
effect Of love at first sight. 55s.s$s
The look over, the Lady Superior
asks the man if he will accept the mai
den as his bride. Should he answer in
the affirmative, the same question IS put
tf 7,a,. n,,3 IL .
trothal has taken place, and they part
til the Sunday following The young
lover again makes his appearance before
the tribunal of guard ians, and there
the contract is signed the day Of mar
riage fixed, and he is granted leave to
bring the ring, earrings and wedding
dress and present them through the
gridiron of course to his betrothed |. Is
Everything has to pass the scrutiny
Of the sisters, for fear Of q letter or
some tender word being slipped in with
the gifts. During the few Sundays that
intervene between the first loye-scene
and the marriage an hours conversation
within hearing of the Lady Superior is
allowed but not aitouch is exchanged.
The empty talk interspe with gig
Cling, consists Of inquiries as to the we'd
ding. dress, and the occupation and
place Of abode Of the sutton. "A Should
the young man refuse the first damsel
presented to him, he is favored with
the sight Of three or four more; but
should he still appear dificile he is dis
missed. The girl also has the power Of
refusal. 81 :i53;:s
| The marriage over, the task of the
| sisters is done. Here falls. q veil they
never lift 1T and whether happiness or.
faithfulness are the result Of this rite
they never inquire.
@ Our readers must before now have
wondered what inducement there can
be to make the youths who have the
world to choose from come here lin
search Of a wife. Two hundred and
fifty francs are the attraction. That
sum is given in dowry with each Of these
girls, and for that sum, it seems; q
sicilian is willing to sell himself for
life. ss