The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-27
MONEY AND MARRIAGE.
why Jewesses Are a Glut in the Mat
rimonial Market.


From the Hebrew Standard.
Thousands Of pretty, young and accom-
plished Jewish maidens who are languish-
ing for husbands may be found in every
portion Of this city and Brooklyn, because
eligible Israslites demand that their
brides shall be equipped with a n'dau, or
dowry, according to their stations in life.
AS a majority of the girls cannot furnish
the required marriage portion and will
not abiure their faith by wedding those
Of other creeds, they virtually place them
selves ,'on the shelf, y and thereby largely
increase the old maid brigade.
IL is estimated that there are over
10000 young Jewesses in this city en-
ployed as saleswOmen, milltners, type
writers, boOkkeepers, stenOgraphers and
public and private teachers, who are
eager to marry, but who receive no offers
Hence anxious parents as well as jew
ish leaders are seeking to solve the great
domestic problem of Gotham's lSraelites
/ During the past twenty years there has
existed a great rivalry among Hebrews in
regard to training their children: conse-
\ quently majority of the girls have been
overstrained, and thereby have become
untitled to be the helSmates of young He
brews of moderate incomes. These young
ladies, after graduating at college, have
been piled with music, painting and all
ornamental studies, to the detriment Of
their knowledge of cooking and house
keeping. A love of ease and luxurious
display has often begOtten extravagant
tastes which are antagonistic to the sim
pie methods Of life so conducive to home
comforts and domestic happiness.
There are happily exceptions to the
rule, but these cut very small figure in
the grand total of those who scare OF
rather than attract matrimonially in
clined Hebrews Of moderate means.
Those who possess wealth estimate in
advance the cost of maintaining establish
ments beftting their means, and insist
that their prospective wives shall con-
tribute their financial quota to the newt
able expenses of welded life. so that no
matter what station in life Jewess may
occupy, if she desires to marry she must
possess considerable cash.
To alleviate this unfortunate condition
of affairs hymeneal, the professional
schatchen has had a temporary vogue,
but enlightened Hebrews shun these I'M
scrupulous marriage brokers. In their
place the matchmaking mother or widow
abounds, and is more successful in secur-
ing victims by reason of her facilities for
pairing" under cover of social courte-
sizes
London also has a superabundance of
manageable Jewish girls who lack the
requisite cash contributions, but this evil
has been ameliorated by the organization
of wedding portion societies and dover
clubs. These are sustained by weekly
assessments upon the young lady men,
bers, and at stated periods lots are drawn
for the dover prizes, so that the luckiest
girl is the first to be married.
There are a few like associations in
Chief Rabbi Jacobs diocese, which in
cludes Ludlow, Essex, Mott and Bayard
| streets, but here there are certain inn
| pressiye religious formalities attending
each matrimonial engagement so as to
make them legally and enthusiastically
binding