The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-01
BIG MATRIMONIAL BUREAU.
How Manitoba Settlers Were Supplied with
Wives Some Years Ago.

Wives Some Years Ago.
"Not manv years ago was in the
wholesale matchmaking business" said
an ex-army officer to Washington Star
reporter. at was match making OF the
matrimonial kind. At the time. in 1879
and 1880, Manitoba was being opened to
settlement, and there was rush OF colo
nists thither from Ontario and Quebec
and from Great Britain The settlers were
mostly men. Some of them had families
and would send for them as soon as they
had got somewhat fixed, but very many
were bachelors. They were making homes
for themselves, and naturally they found
that they needed wives. Not a few of
them were sons of English farmers and
nearly all OF them were respectable and
bard-working fellows.
They could not afford to 20 and get
wives, and so helpmeets had to be i'm
ported FOR them. Young women, guar
Rnteed as TO responsibility, we're brous bit
over from England in great mum bers, and
this business rapidly grew TO be an i'm
portant branch OF the immigration traffic.
One philanthrOpic lady in England de-
voted her attention to exporting homeless
but worthy girls by the ship load to Que
bee, whence they were forwarded 10
Manitoba. Trains would come into st.
BOniiace, across the river from Win
nipeg, bringing two or three car
loads of available wives at a time.
They were chaperoned with due re-
gard to propriety and were consigned
to the land and mining agents. who con-
veyed them to Winnipeg. where suitable
quarters were provided for their temper
airy accom- mediation. The accommoda-
ton was very temporary. because they
were soon disposed OF.
THE settlers vino were bachelors APP
piled for the girls as fast as they were
brought in. Their applications were not
considered unless they were properly
guaranteed as to character and ability to
support a wife. Few of them came 10
Winnipeg from a shorter distance than
$50 miles. Most commonly they we're GER
titled by letters from land agents stating
that John Smith, for example. was located
on such and such a tract of land. was
the owner of 800 horses, was sound and
kind, aud so forth. On making formal
application for a wife John Smith was
asked what sort of woman be preferred
whether blonde or brunei, tail or short;
plump or thin, etc: Having stated his
preferences be was introduced TO one of
the available ladies, whereupon matters
were quickly arranged. remarkable
point was that no sultor had 10 De intro
duced to a aecond girl. Invariably he was
content with the first one and Immediately
married her. Apparently the men con-
sidered that when they had gone so far as
an introduction they had committed them
eelves irretrievably.
I'm this way, by a process of artificial Sc
lection. myself and other persons officially
in charge at Winnepeg made matches by
Wholesale. The Young women were given
free transportation of course, the object
being to make homes in Manitoba. and
thus secure the permanent settlement of
the country. Incidentally the natural
increase of the population was provided
for. / remember one man who drove over
700 miles to get q wife. He was present
when a train load of girls arrived and
spotted the young woman he wanted of
hand. Within seven minutes after the
train came in the pair were united in mat
rimony and the bridegroom started away
with bis bride in blackboard wagon"