Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-09
y,;dens Of Sicily Get Husbands.

u,,, following is q description Of q
li' which goes on every Sunday
sseue no in the hospital at Palermo:
nr ml,a lonp dormitories were clean and
il rI,i Int the curious and peculiar
oraelm Of this establishment was the
feal latorio or reception-room. Picture
pa long room the greater portion
q lalSH'b is divided off from the sides
OF fIrther end by an iron grating
anu nh forms a cage, entered only by a
TlG \, Iorred street door, through which
Visitor, Ssi from the outer world II adj
mi Mere they sit on benches to converse
AN those on the other side of the iron
VIII Wine. Once a week, however, Sun
s.'. mornings, from ten to twelve, this
0a ;aoa is the scene of the most novel and
la;s,ous courtships ever described.
n"o Of the objects Of this motheriy es-
.oliI 1 is to find fit and proper
I,s",honds for the girls under its charge.
n nuf' fit and proper here is much like
~. lm' tt and proper of society-the one
..aaoo,isjtjon being that the young man is
l,a.nd to show himself in possession of
sufficient Wc;iLS W ludiAtaiA ~ WIG III
aamfort before he is allowed to aspire to
,Mn hand CT one of those precious dam
Having given in his credentials of fit
ro:s to the guardian, he receives a card
which admits him next Sunday morn
;ng to an inspection of the candidate
toT matrimony. There, sitting on a
bench, if lis curiosity and ardor will al
Inv him to remain sitting, he awaits the
,rr;yal on the other side of the grating
Il The Lady Superior accompanied by q
Gr]. She had been selected by order
{; seniority and capacity for household
work from the hundred or more between
syenteen to twenty-one waiting for a
vo,,h to deliver them from their
prison.
The two young people, both no doubt
brcathless with the Importance of the
CEREMONY, 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 language of tho
eve that, in their minds, any addition
IS futile, and might but serve to mystify
the pure and perfect effect of love at
trst sight.
The look over, the Lady Superior ask.
the man if he will aeceptthe maiden as
his bride. Should he answer in the af-
trmativc. the same question is put to
her, and if she bows assent the betroth-
al 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-drcss,
and present them-through the gridiron
Of course to his betrothed.
Everything has to pass the scrutiny
Of the Sisters, for fear of a letter or
some tender word being slipped in with
the gifts. During the few Sundays that
intervene between the first love-scene
and the marriage an hours converse
ion within hearing of the Lady Supe-
rNr is allowed, but not a touch is eX-
changed. The empty talk, 1~nterspcrscd
with giggling. consists of inquiries
Sto the wcdding-dress, and the occu-
patton and place o. abode of the sutton.
Should the young man refuse the first
Y&MAsel presented to him, he is favored
with the sight of three or four more;
but should he still appear ditfcule he is
dsmissed. The girl also has the power
Of refusal.
The marriage over, the task of the
Sisters is cone. Here falls q veil they
never lift-and whether happiness and
fathfulness 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 in
search of a wife. Two hundred and tif-
" francs are the attraction. That sum
is given in dowry with each of these
girls. and for that sum, it seems, q S-
clan is willing to sell himself for life.
lone Letter.