The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-12
TITLES.
The Unhappy Fate OF american Girls Who
Are Married to Foreigners.

@S '|Nf(A . ~
al is not gold that ~glitters,7 might have
formed the heading of my letter to-day. As
glance over the lines that | have just written,
there arises before me more than one history of
conlugal unhappiness. Several Of the ladies in
scrlbcd upon my list have been separated from
their noble husbands. One was divorced by her
titled spouse because he desired to contract a
more brilliant alliance. Another was deserted
by her husband soon after her honeymoon. and
he now spends his life in open and fragrant inf
dehtles. One unhappy lady was locked up in a
lunatc asylum by her titled husband, and
was only released through the interven-
ton oil the American consul in the city
where she resided. Another. died after 4
few years of married life, leaving only
one child, a little girl. Her noble husband took
unto himself as a second wife a notorious mem
Der of the Partisan demi-monde and entrusted to
that parsonage the care and education of his
young daughter. In another instance the titled
spouse carried off his wife's diamonds while the
unfortunate lady lay dying. Are you any re
latIon to that charming Countess that | met in
Italy the other dayF once asked a Partisan lady.
OF the veritable Countess-the American wife of
a TITLED scapegrace. mo relation at ALL" was
the calm reply, the Countess, whom the lady
had met in Italy. having been a country-woman
OF the poor wife's own, who, having usTrped her
place, had alse borrowed her name. One titled
gentleman of whom | have heard, being vexed
by his wlfes piety. used to thrash her for going
overmuch to church, although they were of the
same faith.
These alliances are almost invariably distin-
gulshed by a mad and undisguised greed for
money on the bridegroom's part. A projected
marriage of this nature recently came tOnaught,
within my own knowledge, in the followingfash-
Ion. The lady, who is an orphan, possessed an
independent fortune. She fell in love with a
needy nobleman and prepared to pay the price
demanded for his hand, which was the settling
OF his lordships debts-no neonsiderable
amount, by the way. The wedding day was
fixed, the rousseau was completed, the brides
MAIDS and witnesses were engaged, when sud
denly the gentleman made a fresh demand. This
was that what remained of the lady's fortune
after his debts were paid should be divided into
two equal portions, one of which should be set
tied absolutely on himself. This was a little too
much for his betrothed to endure, and the
match was broken off then and there.
AS a rule, despite some fragrant exceptions to
them, the Italian marriages turn out the best of
all the continental alliances formed by American
girls. Recent statistics go to prove that German
noolemen are not particularly suited to marry
Americans. German men of all classes have by
far too low an idea of the station and functions
of a woman to get along well with our h1gh-spir-
tied, independent, petted girls. They look upon
their wives too much as upper servants. French
husbands are about the worst set of the whole
lot. AS to Englishmen, they resemble Ameri-
cans sufficiently in their home and social training
to enable them to get along in most instances
very satisfactorily with their American wives.
But the men Of no European nation with which
| nave ever become acquainted can compare as
husbands with the native-born Americans.