Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-09-18

out about one thousand francs, ana no
wife, with q further groan.
''WeI. what will you do next? Hunt
up anotherP"
Hunt thunderr giving vent to a
pyrotechnical display of profanity that
made the electric light flicker. Pm
goin' to mosy homo by the next boat
and marry the poorest critter can find
in Devils Lake. No more rich mar
riages in miner
OF the one-hundred-odd marriage
brokers in Paris the large majority are
women, and generally women who have
had very little to do with marriage as
we understand it. Generally faded flow
ers of evil, who have fallen back on
this business after their own charms
are gone, but who understand thorough
" how to fatter and cajole the victims
Iured into their attractive nets.
Their transactions very often amount
to downright swindling, but the victims
seldom complain for fear of being made
the objects of laughter and ridicule.
Their principal prey comes from the
provinces-young men who have-re-
ceived some small Inheritance, and
who, dazzled with the glitter of Paris
ian life, think Of settling down and
making a rich marriage in the gay cap
itaL
In most of the agencies no fee is ex-
acted, but the client must sign a con-
tract agreeing to pay from five to TWEEN
ty per cent. of the dowry as soon as tho
match is consummated. There are ways,
however, of squeezing money out of tho
unfortunate before tho matter is def
nitely settled. One flourishing concern
that found itself in court the other day
for having swindled coachman who
wanted to make rich marriage, had,
according to the police, only brought
about one real match in 4 year.
Receptions given in hired salons are
the places where tho best brokers ar
range the meetings of their clients, and
also at places of amusement. The poor
er agencies have their own parlor, gen.
orally well furnished, where the happy
couples are brought together.
The frst.class agents have dealings
with the nobility and rich commoners,
recruiting the female clement from tho
foreign colony and from tho provinces,
where many widows, dying of ennui in
their rural homes, arc only too glad to
berescued by marriage broker. The
lower-class agencies have dealings with
retired officers and department clerks
and working-men of every description.
A large and fourishing office in addi-
ton to it's chief is en- rapport with the
employees of the Government registry
and mortgage Offices, where they gain
accurate knowledge of the solVency CT
their clients. Servants and governesses
know that they can turn an honest pen
ny by standing in with the brokers,
giving information when the eligible
young sons or daughters of their en-
plovers will be present at certain en-
tertainments.
Besides the one hundred recognized
agencies, matchmakers are to be found
on all sides. The propriotors of tho
restaurants and cafes bring about many
marriages between their pensionaries,
It is curious fact that most Parisians
are always anxious to marry off their
friends and customers, though they
may never think of assuming the chains
of matrimony themselves.
Some of the disrcputable agencies en-
ploy women to work as dccoys when
they are off duty. They are elegantly
dressed and generally accompanied by
a little boy or girl. They take up their
station in some public place like tho
Tulleries or on the benches of tho Bots,
looking the picture of modesty and
aristocratic reserve
In discreet way madame will attract
the attention of rich-looking proVin-
cial, probably through tho medium OF
the child who accompanies her. lie en-
ters into conversation and learns that
she is a rich widow whose husband was
killed during the war. He begs per-
mission to call, but it is a long while
before she consents. If she thinks him
unworthy prey he gets no further than
the first conversation, but if promising
the permission is granted He calls,
is entranced by the quiet refinement of
her fiat He proposes in time, but she
only half accepts, holding him at arms
length, but with firm grasp. Then
she finds means 20 borrow money Of
him, and finally throws him over, and
bats her trap for the next conner. One
unfortunate who had been through this
course of swindling saw the woman
again some months after he had re-
ceived his dismissal. This time she
was accompanied by little girl, where
as his sYmpathies had been attracted be-
fore by her only child--a son, whom she
wept over frequently when he called
because he was so like his father.
Should he encounter madame again
he might find her with twins, for the
agency hires inteiligent-looking infants
to add interest to their docoys.-Paris
Cor. n. Y. journal