Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-16
A Matrimonial Problem.

Statistics are frequently quoted TO show
that there are more women than men in
certain countries and in different cities,
and judging from the frequency of an
nouncements of this kind the fair sex
must be in the preponderance pretty much
the whole world over Every good rule
has It's exceptions. however, and in this
instance very pronounced and notewor-
thy exception is furnished by the Canadian
Northwest. In isolated sections of our
own Northwest territory the scarcity of
women has occasionally driven bachelor
frontlersmen to advertise for wives. but
this scattering and spasmodic demand is
trivial in comparison with the mighty cry
that has come down from the remote
parts of the Dominion OF Canada for help
meets.
Some idea of the extent and gravity OF
the celibate condition OF the Canadian
Northwest can be gained from the fact
that the Dominion government has had
its attention called TO the problem, and
that the subject has been considered in
public meeting. 1t Is notorious fact that
the Dominion government has spent enor-
nous sums to encourage the settlement of
the Northwest, and to this end has left
nothing undonc to promote immigration
to that section from all quarters of the
civilized globe.
After expending immense sums IN this
laudable effort tho Canadian authorities
have suddenly discovered that the great
want of their Northwest Is women Many
mon have been induced to settle upon
farms In the almost womaness region, bu,
the bachelor life of the residents has natu-
rally tended to mako them discouraged
They have had no fair faces except ir
memory to greet them with cheering
smiles at the close of their arduous work
of the day, nor have they had good wifi,
TO blanc because things did not go rlgh
and because crops failed.
The Canadian cclibates of tho Northwes
have naturally complained of their hare
and unsatisfactory lot. and some hav,
gone so far as to write to friends in Eng
land of their condition. Tho Canadian
government found that this action on tn,
part of benefciaries has tended to inter
rupt the tide OF emigration from Grea
Britain to the Dominion and the situation
finally became 80 serious that scheme
was started under government auspices II
Ontario looking to solution OF tho matri
monial problem In tho Northwest. A pre-
limlnary meeting was held in the city o
Toronto and a plan was developed for tn
sending of girls from the overcrowde,
centres of population in tho older prov
inoes of Canada to the new territory.
The published reports of this meeting
show that the good women of Ontario
metropolis took kindly to the project, unit
one OF the speakers disclosed the fact tina
the plan was to send girls West to bccom
wives for the prairie farmers, when tn
fair sex were at once up in arms a3aIns
the project as taking romance out of mar
riage and lowering matrlmony to com
mercial plano
This Is the status Of tho project at pres
ont, and inasmuoh as the women of Toron
TO will in all probability throw cold waite
on the scome until Cupid has been give
part to play its success may be pei
maiently postponed. If statistics are col
rect there are about $1,000 moro men tina
women in tho Canadian Northwest and
IN not impossible that the mere advertiser
of this fact may result In a rush of Ion
females of uncertain ago to that land Q
promise matrimonial. In the meantim