The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-04
A BIG MATRIMONIAL BUREAU.
How Settlers IN Manitoba Were Sup
piled With Wives some Years ago.
To-, u. tuo.L..,,so- ry..,....,, o..

How Settlers IN Manitoba Were Sup
Piled With Wives some Years ago.
From the Washington Evening Star.
mot many years ago was in the whole
sale matchmaking business, " said an ex-
officer Of tine army. "It was match-mak-
ing OF the matrimonial kind. AT that time,
in 1879 and 1880, Manitoba was being opened
TO settlement and there was a rush of colo
nists 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 some
what fixed, but very many we're 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 we're re-
spectacle and Woodworking fellows
They could not afford TO go and get
wives, and 30 helpmeets had to be imported
for them. Young women, guaranteed as
to responsibility were brought over from
England in great numbers, and this BUSH
ness rapidly grew to be an important branch
of the immigration traffic. One philan-
thropio lady in England devoted her atten-
tion TO exporting homeless, but worthy girls
by the shipload to Quebec, whence they
were forwarded to Manitoba. Trains would
come into st. BonIface, across the river
from Winnipeg, bringing two or three car
loads OF available wives at a time. They
were chaperoned with due regard to pro-
priety, and were consigned to the land and
mining agents, who conveyed them to Win
| nipeg, where suitable quarters were pro-
vided for their accommodation. The &C.
commodation was very temporary as they
were soon disposed Of.
1.-THE settlers who were bachelors applied
for the girls as fast as they were brought 10.
Their applications were not considered un-
less they were properly guaranteed as to
character and ability to support q wife.
Few Of them came to Winnipeg from
shorter distance than $50 miles. Most COM
| monty they were certified by letters from
| land agents, stating that John Smith, for
| example, was located OH such and such a
tract of land, was the owner Of 800 horses,
was sound, and kind, and 80 forth. On
making formal application for wife John
| Smith was asked what sort Of a woman he
preferred-whether blonde or brunette, tall
or short, plump or thin, etc. Having stated
! his preferences he was introduced to one Of
the available ladies, whereupon matters
were quickly arranged. remarkable
point was that no sutton had ever to be in
troduced to a second girl. Invariably he
was content with the first one, and married
| her. Apparently the men considered that
when they had gone 80 far as an introduo-
tion they had committed themselves ire
| trievably.
''In this way. by process Of artificial
selection, myself and other persons officially
in charge at Winnipeg, made matches by
wholesale. The young women were given
free transportation, OF course, the object be-
| ing to make homes in Manitoba, and thus
secure the permanent settlement of the
country. Incidentally, the natural increase
/ of the population was provided for. l re-
| member one man who drove over 700 miles
to get wife. He was present when train
| load Of girls arrived, and spotted the young
woman be wanted off hand Within seven
minutes after the train came in the pair
we're united in matrimony, and the BRIDE
| groom started away with his little bride in
| q blackboard wagon