Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-05
HOW the ,.oidcns of Sicily Set Hus-
bands,


The following is description of n scene which
goes on every Sunday morning in the hospital at
Palermo:
The long dormitories were clean and orderly,
but the curious and peculiar feature of this es-
Enlistment was the harla,erio. or reception
room. Picture large, long room the greater
portion OF which is divided off from the sides
AMI further end by an iron grating which forms
cage, entered only by aswell 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
once q week, however, SUNDAY mornings, from
10 to l2, this place is the scene of the most novel
and iudicr0us cOurtsh;ps ever described. One
OF the objects OF this motherly establishment is
to find ut and proper husbands for the girls I'M
ger its charge. The lit and proper here is much
IKE the mt and proper of society-the one requi-
site being that the young man is bound to show
himself in possession of sufficient means to main
tain wife in comfort before he is allowed to as
pire to the hand of one of those precious dam
sells.
Having given in his credentials of fitness to
the guardian. he receives a card which admits
MIN next Sunday morning to an inspection of
the candidate for matrmony. There, sitting on
bench. If his curiosity and ardOr will allow him
to remain sitting. he awaits the arrival on the
accompanied by girl. She had been selected
by order of seniority and capacity for household
work from the hundred or more between II and
II waiting for youth to deliver them from
their prison.
The two young people, both no doubt breath
less with agitation at the Importance of the GER
emOny have to take one long, fixed look at
each other. No word is spoken, no sign is made.
These good Sisters believe so fully in the Ian
guagc of the eye that in their minds any addi-
NtsrEf h,,f To v-cf fu
the pure and perfect effect of love at first sight.
The look over, the Lady Superior asks the man
II ne will accept the maiden as his bride. Should
he answer in the affirmative, the same question
Is put to her, and if she bows assent the be-
trothal 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 earrings, and wedding dress and
present them-throush the grdiron OF course
to his betrOthed.
Everything has to pass the scrutiny of the
Sisters, for fear of letter or some tender word
being slipped in with the gifts. Daring the few
sundays that intervene between the first love-
scene and the marriage an hours conversation
within hearing of the Lady Superior is allowed,
put not a touch is exchanged. The empty talk,
lnterspersed with gigging, consists of inquiries
as to the weddngdress, and the occupation
and place OF abode of the sutton Should the
souh- Ahih lSluSe tHc HTSl 10
him. he is favored with the sight ofthree or four
more; but should he still appear ditictte he is dis
missed. The girl 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 faithfnlness are the re-
suit 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 in search of 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, a Sicilian is willing to sell
himself for lite