The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-28
gOWRIES FOR THE GIRLS.
,r1vEs OF SENATORS AND MEM
pFRs CT TEE CABI EFT DIFFER.

WIVES OF SENATORS AND MEM
pFRs CT TEE CABI EFT DIFFER.
uov q Belgian Count Got a Big In
ooroe for Life Kris. Wansmaker,
Mrs N Bile, Mrs. Senator Sherman,
Mrs. Carlisle end Mrs. Mcpherson on
the Advantages and Dangers or
oDots."
From the Nee York Herald
WAsHISGToN, Feb. 2L-Should Ameri-
AN Urls have dowrissl Should we settle a
,,,-t;on upon our daughters at marriagel
Tnssa questions have asked some of our
mrs. noted society ladies during the past
eek. aud find their answers interesting
:, the extreme. I first called upon MIRA
senator John Sherman. She said:
81 am In favor Of dowrles for our daugh-
ears though / do not think the matter
sbould be 8 compulsory one, IS it rs in
Trsnca / believe, however, that both hus-
bsnd and wife are all the happe or from the
D~zsession OF means their own; and every
psrent who values his daughters best hap
ppinsss will not hesitate to enaow her upon
he event Of her marriage. have often ex-
dressed this sentiment in our family, and l
bslisve that no father, should he possess
s,f1oient means, is justified In placing his
ohild in A position where sic will be entirely
Ssnendent on the whims of another. 1t is a
wise regulation OF the French government
N nrovide by the settlement Of a marriage
norton for the permanent support Of the
wife. so that she can never be left in want,
no matter how iDprovident the husband
may be.
HOW TIE COUNT GOT $4,000 YEAR
Ill 7 ~
Sherman, ''of any number Of instances in
which the system has proved disastrous.
You may probably have heard OF the mar
rage of Miss Gordon of Cleveland, O., to
Count Villain Of Belgium. The affair
created quite sensation at the time, as
Miss Gordon was beautiful girl and the
only child Of a millionaire, who was
violently opposed to his daughter marrying
a foreigner. The parents opposed the
match for a while and made every effort to
draw their child out of the way of tempta-
ton. The lover, however, was not to be
tnwarted, and when the affair be-
came unavoidable the parents de-
ternlined to make the best OF it A
meeting was arranged with the lover for
the purpose of signing the settlements, and
when the preliminaries were being dis
cussed the amount of the dot became a
subject of considerable controversy. At
length the father asked what money the
counts family intended to bestow upon
him. This question Iather staggered the
Young man, who fastened to explain that
no such custom prevailed in his country, 50
far a. the husband was concerned.
every well, them added Mr. Gordon,
unless you can show an equal amount.
either 10 money or lands, you cannot have
my daughter
After considerable cabling and much
discussion the question was finally settled
by the consent of the counts father to
transfer TO his son property valued at $780,
co., Not until then would the millionaire
agree to the demand, and he Immediately
settled a life interest upon the young
couple Of $40, 600 year, 10 per cent Of the
amount conferred upon the groom. Three
years afterward the wife died, and today
the widower continues to receive the
annual allowance agreed upon from his
father-in-law, Notwithstanding the fact of
his second marriage. might quote other
instances of a similar character" Mrs.
Sherman went on, "but they would all go
to prove that foreigners seldom overlook
the dot in a question Of marriage with an
American girl, no matter how fondly they
may love The woman, and the su ject is
worthy of more serious consideration
among those who have their children's
lasting happiness to consider.
SHE LOVED ANOTHER
"You are doubtless familiar" continued
Mrs. Sherman, with Lucy Hooper's advice
to her countrywomenl Ia one of her let
4 tiers written from abroad after her marriage
she thus forcibly puts the case: My young
4 American sisters, if you must have a pet
i purchase spaniel, but never buy French
COUNT Miss Hooper's father, as consul at
Paris, had many curious experiences
brought to his notice in his official capacity
not the least original OF which vas the case
Of Young wife whose fancy lad been en-
thralled like many another American
girls, by the glitter of title. One day
While seated at his desk he was interrupted
by the entrance of lady, who
feelingly explained, that her husband,
Frenchman, had informed her
that, Ivy the flaws of France, which re-
qulre the presence of the resident foreign
minister, or at least the consul at the cere>
mony, to insure the legality Of the contract,
their marriage did not hold good in his own
country, and that, in consequence of the
absence OF such representative at the
church, she could no longer claim his alfe-
glance as a husband. Sympathizing with
the woman in her trying aud questionable
position, Mr.. Hooper very gently explained
that unfortunately there did exist such q
law, and that he was powerless to help her.
10 his establishment his visitor delightedly
exclaimed: Then it is all t. ne, as he said,
0-4O L an 1Tee 10 marry whom choose.
am SO glad, for there is another whom /
love very dearly !"
MRS. PosTMAsrE R GENERAL wANAMAKER.
airs. Wanamaker, wife of our Postmaster
General, is woman of culture and rare
common sense, and having spent several
years in foreign travel is fitted to ex-
press Intelligent views of this subject.
called upon her one morning not long since,
and found her luxuriously ensconced in her
pretty boudoir in the midst OF her reg liar
uaily work Of correspondence. She was
answering dozens of private notes and let
tfTs OF charitable appeals. She said:
Ink that the question of bestowing a
DOT or wedding portion should be entirely
eepnonal, not compulsory, as it is abroad.
nuen arrangements are in many instances
productive of much evil and Of considerable
nnancia! embarrassment. AS an illustra-
s1on OF this recall the case of wealthy
tIehcnman who had three welded daugh-
.ers: upon each of whom he had bestowed a
M not far in excess of his private means
Two OF his sons-in-law have been taken into
III pdTJlerShlT with him nd IN