The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-29
AMERICAN GIRLS
AND FOREIGN TITLES

There is, no doubt, something fascinating
about a foreign co%urtshIp to the romance
loving mind Of the American girl. And if
the foreigner owns the title of duke. prince.
count or baron he at once becomes invested
with the attributes Of a hero. The girls
Imagination portrays to her an ideal Lohen-
grin, and she longs to ~transfo N poss lbility
into reality, by taking the step which shall
land her from the fres aroma of republican,
ism into the gilded chambers OF the
aristocracy.
American girls have most of them found
out that the almighty dollar" is the mo-
tive , over which impels foreigners in the
majority of casas to we'd them. While &C
knowledged, even by European critics, to be
among the foremost in the RI nks OF at
t%ractiye. intelligent, we'll educated and
beautiful women in the civilize 4 world, yet,
when it comes TO mRtrimony, the foreigner
changes his tactics and makes exc bitant
demands and conditions ere he bestows tho
honor of his hand, his name. on a free
born American ri for the heart IL. with
him, oft n but IA secondary consideration.
1t il not eXaggeration to say that III nine
cases out of ten the American al | who
weds a foreigner il apt to reap IA harvest of
disillusion. discontentment and unhappi-
ness.
Fox a close observer Of human nature,
and OF tho logic of facts. this is but Il nat
ural sequence of her action. The Ameri-
oan girl receives. on the whole. "A broad.
liberal training. u SUI eric education, and
at an early age becomes impressed with her
own value and rights. and her mind be-
comes imbHed with indep ndent ideas.
With this training. which has little or
nothing in common with that of the young
girl on the continent, she goes abroad; and
whether she be beautiful or plain. rich or
poor, she is always sure to receive atten-
B. tlpn for thara ia tiuEt u u lna "A lput lpr-I
stimulating something" sud a French So
ciety man to nue. not long ago.
unknown i'll our young girls" If
this finishing touch to her educa-
ton. which a comprehensive European
tour alone can give, but increase her pat
riotism. and bette fit her to he mn ornn-
ment in her own social circles at home. az
we'll as in the home of some worthy man
who ID able to appreciate her mental and
moral value. then 1t ID a wise course to
pursue, 70 nothing extends our mental ard
even GU moral horizon more than I Avsl-
Ing. But If she fall into the ira OF Hymen,
digguisca IN so many nlluring forms. she
puts tactical sense and forethouHht tenn
pc srtlv aside, and ls willing to take her
chances in tho great lottery. where so many
women, in her position, dtaw blanks.
When TN American girl mafries a for
eigner, especially II be beR noblemAn bank
iultt H kuipe oho Voihh nao VI pe U
signed 80 sacrifice her ind pendsncs, have
her Amer loan ideas, views and customs set
at nauQht. and accept her position. M tho
Inferior. not ths equal, of man. In Europe.
woman is not re ar ed AS ahs il III Amorioa,
where she realizes aud embodies the u eat
factor of equivalence IN the social forces,
and whore she IL regarded NC the menta,
equal or companion of man. Or course,
tnste nro American women who u q w.ddei
TO Europeans who have been happy,
| know sevs al such. They seem to
be- a. hapny as any woman who
has married NJ homo. But their husbands
were not ruined noblomsn. aud they
woro exceptions to the great and tested rule.
IL Ia by no means impossible for Il foreigner
AND an AtAorioan woman to DO happy to-
grther; but abe risks more and has fewer
chances Of happiness than another. In the
oaao of the girl who has marricd an ~"aristo-
trat' the situation liz worse. As such mar
risgsa are almost invariably based on gold.
IL Ia more especially to these that | refe,.