Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-09

Dailp kfnnfher 3ournal.
Marrying for Rank.

Some years ago young girl whom
knew very well as the reigning beauty in
one OF our smaller American cities married
Hungarian gentleman who was an Off
Ger in the Austrian service OF very respect.
able rank. He was kind, amiable, and
there was no question as to his social posi-
ton, and as the girl seemed very much in
love with him her parents reluctantly gave
their consent. She went with her husband
to her far-off home. She knew no Ger
man (as he spoke English very welD and
had no knowledge of the world. Think
what her life must have been? She could
speak to nobody for while until she mas
tered enough OF the language of the coun-
try to get along. The few amusements
permitted her were not those she had been
used to. and the absolute social freedom to
come and 60 without suspicion. that is one
of the charms of American womanlife, was
all gone. Two years ago was in gar
rison town of Austria, on the Lower Dan
ube, and there met what had been the
sweetly pretty girl of ten years ago. I
never saw such a change. "You are the
only American | have met that | ever
knew before in ten years." she said. 81
am not unhappy, but think if our girls
ut home could only know or understand
how different everything here is from what
they hrve been used to they would never
dream of marrying a man who was not an
American. They have to change every
thing when they come abroad to live. |
have gone for years and never heard my
mother tongue. Leopold, my husband, is
in command here. But there are no ladies
for me to associate with. In the Austrian
service no man is permitted to marry
until he has certain income. The
young officers, therefore, cannot marry.
for they are generally poor. Those who
are rich go into the Guard regiments.
which are at Vienna or other large
cities So we get the worst and poorest
educated in the line. have not spoken
to a lady in six months. You cannot
imagine my unutterable loneliness" AS |
bade her good bye she broke into a tor
rent of tears and said: al am so lonely s;
O, that could go home!" Upon my re-
turn to America saw her mother, and
told her that her daughter was dying of
homesickness, and that if she ever wished
to see her alive they must bring her home
for visit They did so but the, bad liv-
ing and miasma had done its work only
too well, and she died within three weeks
altar the time she again came under her
fathers roof. If our girls could only know
or if they would only think, how much
unhappiness they would save themselves!
The first thing the foreigner thinks of in
marrying is money, and not an American
girl in one hundred is married for any
other cause than that she has or will have
money This rule is absolute. For the
sake of her dollars the noble German, or
what not, bestows upon her his rank,
which he would never do if she were not
rich. Small wonder is it, then, that our
painstaking Consul makes up such a
statement as that quoted from, and that
the result is invariably what he says it is
shame and misery until death. 1t may
be that the lesson will be needed, and il
it is, then Mr.. Potter has done work that
entities him to the thanks of every Ameri
can man or woman.