The Dickinson press., 1884-04-26
How the Maidens Of Sicily Get
Husbands.

The following is absorption of a
seem which goes on every Sunday
morningi1 the hospital at Palermo:
The long dormitories were clean and
orderly but the curious and peculiar
feature of this establishment was the
parlatorio, OR reception-room. Picture
a large, long room the greater portion
of which is divided off from the sides
andfurther end by an iron grating which
forms a cage entered only by a we'll
barred street door, through which Wis
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 10, 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 fit and proper
husbands for the girls under it's charge.
The fit and proper here is much like
the fit 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 q wife II
comfort before he is allowed to aspire
to the hand of one of those precious
damsels.
Having given in his credentials of fit
ness to the guardian, Ire receives a card
which admits him next Sunday morning
to an inspection of the candidate for
matrimony. There, sitting on a bench,
if 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 accompanied by a girl.
She had been selected by order of
seniority and capacity for household
work from the hundred or more between
II and 81 waiting for q youth to deliver
them from tkeir prison.
The two young people, both no doubt
breathless with agitation at the impor-
lance of the ceremony, have to take one
long. fixed look at each other. No
word is spoken, no sign is made. These
good sisters behieve 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.
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 sput
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 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.
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 conversation
within hearing Of the Lady Superior is
allowed, but not a touch is exchanged.
The empty talk, interspersed with gig
Cling. consists of inquiries asto the we'd
ding-dress, and the occupation and
place of abode of the sutton. 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 difficile he is dis
missed. The girl also has the power of
refusal.
The marriage over, the task of the
sisters is done. Here falls q veil they
never lift-and whether happiness or
faithfulness ae the result of this rite
they " 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 q 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
life.