The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-12
FOREIGN MARRIAGES.
Unhappy Experience of American Girls Who
Marry Europeans.


Lucy Hooper's Letter.
The worst feature of these marriages lies in
the fact that the young wives inevitably lost
to their families and to their American friends,
If not at once, in.the course of very few years.
They taken possession of by their husbands
and their husbands families. A change of
religion almost inevitably ensues. Then they
taught that their republican friends and rel
Satives are too vulgar to be endured by their new
ArIstocratic connections. To this rule there
have been sosle few exceptions but generally
the American born lady of title becomes more
royalist than The King and more Catholic than
the Pope, and drifts away from everybody and
everything that made her happiness before mar
rage Very often, too, these unions result in
the wife's conjugal misery. | cannot but medi-
can girls whose high-sounding titles it
chronicles. One shut up by her aristocratic
only rescued By the spirited interference of the
American consul at the city whittier she had
been taken. Another died suddenly, with
strong suspicious of untmely taking off. a
third was forced to leave her noble spouse be-
cause he struck her repeatedly. fourth died,
leaving little daughter. The aristocratic
father tried sell bis child TO the wifes family
and on having his exorbitant demands refused
he married a member of the deml- onde, and
gave over the training and education OF his little
girl to those unworthy hands well-known
French nobleman left his American wife
and went TO live with another American woman
whom he afterward married VIII he had COM
PEELED his wronged wife TO obtain a divorce
from him.
A very amusing instance OF the light in whic
these titled husbands regard their marriages
was told me the other day concerning Peruvi-
heiress who was immensely wealthy and also
remarkably plain. A marriage was arranged
for her with French gentleman of high degree
The wedding took place with due pomp and
splendor, the preliminary process of settling
handsome income on the bridegroom having been
duly gone through with. The newly married
pair returned to heir elegant home the SUI
pe-b carriage of the wealthy bride. The hus-
band got out CALAMITY helped his wife to alght,
rang the bell for her, waited till the door
I'D H.nw hnwI a.G Sr@oRa 41rv1
peared. From that hour to this she has never set
eyes upon him. Being deyout Catholic, she
has never ceased to call in all the powers of the
Church to bring about his return, of her
last efforts being the presentation to the statue
of the Vergin in her parish church of a diamond
necklace valued at $4,000 But prayers and
she said, and probably will have to keep say
ing.
It is not only the nobility of Europe that
consent to make mercenary marriages. A
very singular, and to my ideas very shock
ing case came to my knowledge u year CT two
ago. For some ten years past woman be-
longing to a highly respectable American
family had been prominent member of the
demi- monde of Paris. Her adventures and
One day one of her uncles. who had amassed
large fortune arrived in Paris. He sent for his
niece. and thus he addressed her: stYour mode
of life distresses aud shocks me. I want you to
marry and become a decent woman once more.
If you find respectable man who will
marry you, pledge myself to settle $4,000 on
you Oh your W6OOiHR Jay. Inc HuSOaDuy Dy
means of this inducement, was. found SO
speedily that the time that elapsed before the
wedding was counted not even by weeks but by
days. He was no penniess adventurer dsso-
lutte Bohemian, but a lawyer in good standing
and of excellent family. Yet about the past of
the woman that he married there could be no
shadow of doubt or even of palliation.
A list of my country women who have married
titled Europeans would give some idea of the
wide acceptation which American ladies have
met with in the highest circles of European
Elizabeth Patter-
son with Prince Jerome Bonaparte remains the
greatest match ever yet achieved by Ameri-
girl. but she Is not the only of my coun-
try-women that has entered bv matrimony the
charmed circle of royalty The nationality of
the titled husbands is very varied. the majority
of them being French Italian. As rule
italian gentlemen make the best husbands
American wives of all the Europeans.
having the most sincerity of nature and
Frenchmen. under such circumstances are
apt 10 be indifferent, and almost certain TO
be volatile and unstable. The English des
potic husbands, and have idea of consult
ing the wishes of a wife or of showing her any
special consideration. The Germans. even of
the highest class. are the worst all, being very
tyrannical and looking upon wife. nc matter
how tenderly nurtured or how highly accom-
plished she may be- as an upper servant whose
duty 1t is too cook for her husband, and 10 sew
for him. and. il necessary, to do her own wash
ing The French husband may neglect his
American wife. and will almost certainly make
use of her income TO set up q second establish
ment but he does not exDect her to take TO
manual labor his behalf.
The Coming Opera.