The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-20
A MARRIAGE LOTTERY.
London's Oueor Mixture OF Dowry, NIatri-
mony and Hebrew PhiInnthropy


London's Queer Mixture of Dowry, NIatri-
mony and Hebrew Philanthropy.
Michael Harris and Nancy Jacobs
having polled the highest number of
votes were duly elected to receive u
dowry of G25 and marriage fees. and n
vacancy was again declared for couple"
so ran paragraph in Jewish paper
recently, and reporter was fired with
an ambition to learn more about these
folks who give couples tlowries, and
more about the conditions under which
| such dowries are won. The beneyolence.
it appeared, emanated from the Society
for Allowing Marriage Fees and Por-
ton to Young Men and Virtuous Girls
OF the Jewish Faith. The president Of
this society che would imagine would
be patriarchal sage with grandchil-
dren i'll scores about his knees. But Mr..
A. Swaab, who is the head of the So
cicty, is ayoung man with slight black
mustache. n clean shaven chin and GER
tainly no grandchildren. When not
hymencally occupied he is engaged in his
business us Il diamond merchant in Hat
ton Garden.
"The society" he said, in reply to the
interviewer, "has been in existence near
ly 90 years, and has done no small
amount of good. 1t was started among
u few friends in quite a small way, and O
| dowry of go only was all that could be
afforded ut first. But G10, if not exactly
a drop In the ocean, was not quite suffi-
Gent to answer the purpose in view, and
as the fund grew the dowry was increased
to e25."
"Aro the operations of the society con-
fined to London:"
"No. They extend all over England
The funds are recruited by subscriptions
| of all amounts, from penny q week up
ward, and by donations"
ut gives them prior claim OH the
dowry Perhaps"
mo, it doesn't. will make that clear
in moment. We assist about dozen
couples every year, the dowries and mar
rage fees coming to over $500. The OBJ
| ject in giving the dowry is to enable the
young couples to start little business
together. Before becoming candidates
for the dowry-toward which they need
not have subscribed n farthing-they
have to be possessed of all home neces-
saries and furniture, and the man has to
prove to the satisfaction of the commit
tee that he is i'll IL position to maintain
his wife"
"Only virtuous girls are to be befriend-
ed by the society, l gather from its title.
Does it not become rather delicate mat
ter to adjudicate upon the qualifications
of young lady applicants?'
every case is investigated by two
members of the committee, appointed
annually for that purpose. They make
their inquiries with proper tact and dis
cretion. and they also investigate the
character of the man. Let lis go through
the entire procedure. Say vacancy has
been declared, which means that we have
sufficient in hand to put another dowry
up for competition. We send out notices
to that effect and supply forms of appli-
cation. We get four, five, six, perhaps
a dozen couples contesting for the prize.
They all come before the committee in
couples, and are asked questions con-
corning the money they have saved, the
nature of the mans work, and so on.
Once, I suppose, must have been press.
ing the prospective bridegroom pretty
hard, for the young lady spoke up sor-
rowfully, Well, sir, You got married
once. and we want to too!"
We'll. as soon as they have been ad-
mitted as candidates, what follows:"
| 1--WE give them a book of members,
and tell them to go and canvass for votes,
the members possessing votes in proper
ton to the amount of their subscrip-
tons"
"Have you yourself many votcs:"
"Yes, hold something like so votes"
'Then you are the target of plenty of
besecching brown eyes and persuasive
| glances:'
No, nothing out of the way, because
as president l take no part in choosing
tho recipients Of the DOVER
Can you give me specific instance
of the good the society has done:"
II can, and striking one, think.
There are three members OF tho commit
tee of the society, now men of position
and we'll to do, who were embarked up
on life with dowries from the society,""
Pail Mall Gazette.