New-York tribune., 1896-05-31
WANTED. 5000 WIVES.
4 CITY oN VANCOUVER ISLAND WHERE WOMEN
ARE AT \ PREMIUM

From inc ~ LOUIS f1on'- ''tho'Ih'
There ls a city I'm the western part of Canada
close 10 the Pacific ocean. which IS named by all
who visit II the dc-1late spot upon the face
sources e,c,lleni ia houses lar rs streets well
paved yet within this town there is an air Of FOR
l1rn detection that strikes the most careless tray
cl.er thAi com"H within iis boundary ,-. A.,
the desolauon is caused by one thing-one only. The
lack 81 women aud girls.
others OF its locality There are many towns upon
tho island but This ono lacks women so sadly that
800 shor' This number Included count OF serv-
ing women women 10 do tho work OF the house,
gris and women who are not expected TO marry.
Ana. OF course u took In the queens OF the city.
Of tho pretty establishments.
To-day the doorstcps Of these houses yawn vacant
y and the vines nutterng over the portals seem TO
II is not 70 he expec,ed that such a condition
thrifty 'longshorcmen Of the place and the wood
men. the miners and the merchants have written
place was surprised snd desHted to receive a let
ter containing suggestion. 1t was that. women
numerous In tho East 10 find the homes
they desired. that he, the Mayor. should devote
part Of the funds OF The town to sending East for
and settle in the vacant homes.
were not in ariicnt circum.tances S most Of them
living with married sisters or supporting them
With small do%ry With wheR TO TO eGp s5HEds serss rsf9
to come out to shake hands with them and make
being there to say How do you do?''
The scheme at last reports was being carried out
and hundred little gripsacks in the East were
being filled with the small belongings OF feminin.ty
the same that were to transform that corner OF
earth into n paradise for men.
The matrons propose 10 open the amusement halls
every night and give socabies. fairs and tea drink
lngs. They have planned an amateur dramatic com
pany, ana as for dances. each is to have n dancing
class under her own chaperonage. The girls upon
the day OF their arrival are to be given a reception
ana VIII become acquainted speedily.
The greatest bargain sale Of wives ever known
took place upon recently opened domain a few
years ago. \ frantic call 10 the cities for
100 women And poor girls out OF fun and curiosity
and Willingness to have home. went out there
Inc men met them at the station The girls looked
them over shyly. BY evening all the girls had found
boarding places In the wooden shnnties OF he
town" And by Sunday the parson was kept busy
tying the nuptal knots The prettest girls and Tho
richest ones got the wealthlfst men. A girl with
10 was an helress, and man with 500 a prince
The plain girls took up with poor fellows WITH
hopes ana chances II was n quick. natural selec-
ton
one very handsome fellow with blond curs go,
a very pretty giIl, though neither had a cent II
was ease OF beauty. The rude courtshp was
carried on in he three enings between the time
the gr's arrived and Sunday, and within a week
there were nearly one hundred small wooden houses
going uD in tho town.
There Is name for this peculiar state NJ O.,
c!ety where women wanted TO make homes
and where mcnev Is laid down for them and nail ~
them 10 queen II over a home. A glaring h. fllne
IN an Englsh paper once called II The Barter oS
women In America" Rnt among those who see tho
satisfactory after-workngs T. j. merely the rotd-
natured consent Of the girls TO adjust themseves m
Their country which is Yet new enough no, , b 70
eVeNy distributed as 1t will be when the twenty.
FIRST century and woman come in '''