Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-04
LIFE IN HOLLAND.
THE CURIOUS MATRIMONIAL Gus
TOM OF MARRIAGE BY PROXY"


TOM OF MARRIAGE BY PROXY"
The wife's Legal Position-Wives and
Daughters Of the Lower Classes-The
Railroad Watchwoman At Her Post
An Iron Social Rule.
A marriage by proxy, or, as it is called,
marriage by the glove" is prevalent in
Holland, and is brought about by the fact
that many of the eligible young men after
having finished their education depart for
Dutch India to engage in some lucrative
commercial enterprise or to accept a position
IN this colonial service. The scarcity Of
marriagsable white ladies in that cline in
duces the would be husband to write to a
friend in Holland, disclosing his wish for a
wife
The friend selects willing young lady,
generally one with q substantial dot and
otherwise conforming closely to specifca-
tons Of the letter A photograph of the
favored one is inclosed In the return epistle.
After the lapse of few months, soiled left
hand glove, with power Of attorney, Is re-
ceived from the far away bachelor The
friend in Holland marries the selected bride
in precisely the same manner as if be were
the actual groom, and the young wife de-
parts in the next Indian mail steamer to
bring happiness to the lonely one in the far
east. A marriage Of this description is as
binding as if the bridegroom were present,
and is never repudiated. If either party to
the glove marriage should die before meet
ing in India the survivor would share the
property of deceased in accordance with the
law.
THE wFE's LEGAL POSITION
The laws in Holland in regard to the legal
position Of the wife are very much behind
the age, and the husband can do about as he
likes with the person and the property of his
helpmate. The laws are silent as to the wife's
claim on the husband, but lawyers have told
me that this apparent void in the law book is
caused by the invariable devotion of the Hol-
lander to his home and its inmates Love for
home, Wits and children is nowhere more
thoroughly illustrated than in the Neither
lands, and cases of neglect to provide in
every possible way are very rare in the land
Of dykes
The wives and daughters Of the lower
classee try in every way imaginable to aid
the husband and father in procuring a hv-
Ing. In summer you will observe hundreds
pf them on their knees in the public squares
armed with q three inch spike wedding the
Erass blades from between the stones, for
which they receive twelve cents a day.
Others are engaged in wheeling sand into
outward boqnd merchant ships, to be used
Is ballast. You will see woman pushing a
wheelbarrow, containing about 200 pounds
nf and
least 80 degs., at gait simply wonderful
considering that the wheeler is of the weaker
sex. You viii often meet small procession
On tho tow path Of the river Amstel, consist
ing Of mother and two or three children,
harnesBed to the tow line OF the canal boat,
WI much in the manner of American
mules. They hang, as it were, in the harness.
and their swinging regular walk proves that
great part of their hives has been passed in
this way. When the boat comes abreast you
feel like using ropes end on the father Of
The family, who, piaoidly smoking his pipe,
dts In the stern steering the vessel, but your
niger will cool when investigation shows
that if be took to the tow path and allowed
MS wife the helm, all damages for collision,
&C., would have to be paid by him
THE RAILROAD wATcHwoMAN.
You cross a railroad track and casting q
glance along the iron path, a woman, dressed
In red tunic and glistening helmet, waving a
white signal flag, catches your eye. She is
the watchwoman at the crossing At every
railroad in Holland this position is filed by
a woman, and railroad officials have assured
me that no accident has ever been caused by
a watchwomans caTelessness They receive
twenty guldens ISL per month A man
would require double that salary and might
get intoxicated once in awhile. Distinctions
Tn privileges between married and single
women are so thoroughly established here by
social custom as to be observed in the every
day associations OF the sexes A native will
readily discover whether the couple walking
on the street in front of him are married or
not, this discovery being made easy by tbs
strict adherence of the populace to the ancient
custom conpulsorily introduced into the
country when under the iron rule Of "Alva
tho Bloody" An unmarried woman ALWAYS
takes the right arm Of her escort, while the
married ono selects the left side OF her hus-
band So deeply has this custom entered
into the life Of Hollanders tnat at a church
wedding the bride enters the edifice on the
right side Of the groom, the wife returning
On the left side OF her husband when the cere-
mouy has been performed No unmarried
lady can dream of going to church, concert
or any place of public assembly without the
escort OF parents or male members of her
fxmily. Size cannot take walk, pay a visit
or go shopping unaccompanied by her
mother or other chaperon. Until the be-
erothal Of tho young lady has been announced,
shs remains the sole charge of father and
mother, and she makes acquaintance only in
the presence of a third party.
Unmarried daughters In that country are
chaperoned to all places of amusement.
Even dancing parties are interspersed with
singing, recitatious, etc, for the amusement
Of the elders of the family, who SIT around
the tables, slipping their coffee, wine or other
fsvorite beverage, while the young people
dance Here tho young must make the best
Of their opportunities, for when it pleases the
parents 70 so home the daughter also Quit
the gayetes Of the ballroom.-Amsterdarn
Cor. New York Tribuna
A Court Dress In England.
The one article of court dress alone calls
for the exercise Of all ones intellectual DOW
49, lila Mrs. To6-arS, ,-,.avV - oou- g.,