The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-04-03
JOHN BULLS DAUGHTERS.
They Claim That American Girls Have
the Preference i'm Matrimony.

They Claim That American Girls Have
the Preference i'm Matrimony.
Tho question, what shall we do with
our daughters?" In England grows mo.
mentarily graver. 1t is rumored that
John Bull. or rather Mrs. John Bull, is
considering the advisability of being
less cordial to the sparkling American
girls with heavy money-bags who cross
the pond and capture so often the titled
"eligibles," for people in America have
no idea how very few and far between
the eligibles really are in England.
One lady of posit IN, whose entertain
ments are famous a the London season,
fatty refused to invite single Amer
lean debutante to her drawing-rooms,
and next year other indignant British
matrons arc going to adopt the same
chilling tactics, for the American girls
are apt to be dangerous.
Nowhere is the surplus female popula.
ton 80 painfully apparent as in London.
The appalling frankness with which the
matrimonial question is discussed in
the ladies' journals shows the gravity of
the situation. The London Telegraph
has OF late been publishing letters from
some of the surplus population on the
marriage question. 'Governess" writes
that last winter she obtained situa-
( ton as nursery governess for the munif-
icent salary of EGO (s100l year. She
has six children to teach; must mend
their clothing, make the puddings or
dessert for dinner, and in the evening
read aloud the dreariest sermons to the
master of the house, an English clergy
man, and very dull one at that "Gov-
erness" has reason to think she Is not
plain, as two ladies to whom she applied,
after examining her credentials and
hearing her play and sing, told her she
was "too attractive" to suit them, as
they had sons and young gentlemen
visitors constantly about the house.
''In my position l never have an oppor-
tunity to meet a gentleman. for when
there are visitors am strictly confined
to the school-room; and this is the treat
ment women in my position ordinarily
receive. 1 am lady of birth, but by
the people am with my dependent po-
sition is made only too evident and this
feeling extends to their fIiends.
Nineteen" writes dolefully that she
has met one eligible man in six months,
and she saw him for one evening only;
and that the curate in her town is con-
sidered eligible The is lame and bald),
but that as nine girls are busy night
and day working him slippers, antima-
CAESARS, mufflers and bags she wisely
resolves not to contest for the prize"
"a True Briton" addresses few per-
tinent remarks to the wailing damsels.
He says: 81 would like to ask all mar
riageable young women how in the
name of common sense they can expect
to be led to the altar when females are
on every side ousting men from their
legitimate occupations? All the matri-
monial agencies in the world will never
remedy this sad anomaly; and IL bach
elors' incomes are reduced by the influx
of spinsters in governmental and public
Offices the young ladies who remain sin
gle have only themselves to thank for
it."
The number of lady-like English girls
who live in families as governesses or
genteel drudges for the sake of the roof
which covers them and the occasional
presents they receive is painfully great.
Every avenue open to women seems to
be overcrowded, and the wages earned
seem to an American woman the merest
pittance. 1t is fortunate that many En-
glish girls have small income of from
EGO to ESQ year with which to keep
the wolf at a respectable distance. -
Chicago Post