New-York tribune., 1896-12-27

,ber homes. help The father. .ound home o. !
..,r ou, and the parents ieel that they are |
h.s.ed in the happiness and the prosperity o. their
.or Ru. II Is different with daughter i she |
has been we'll educated and has been thrown Ill
contact with refined and cultured people "llie Al /
.cbool she will be likely 10 have ASPIRATIONS 10
wh,ch her knowledge and her culture may give
rer the right but TO which the circumstances o.
nor father may he an insurInonn'able barrier II
.hs wants TO marry into a certain circle she must
have a certain amount of money. and without the
money she had better dismiss her ambition.
MOTIVES IN MARRIAGES
emu, ara marriages not prompted by more than
mercenary motives
..1,hey are. certainly but the marrlaseabe Ger
- ,aLes pood care TO fall in love with Il woman
only after he knows how much Mitsit she VIII
receiye and that IS the rule ana not me eA'ep-
t,on II fits society where the hSIreS az" 'O"N'c"
NV hundreds OF thousands and it Il IN vogue "here
~. consideration is only certain amount o. house
no,d linen crockery or wooden ware and Will"
matrimonial matches OF that kMd may he pro-
ductivo OF just much happiness as those "hv'e
,bs dovrv question is never mentioned ana "heie
no thought Of gain actuates the principals 10 the
contract the usage is hardship on many 'aiherS
and has blighted the hopes OF many estimabe
maidens. ,
The Germans. Russians and Austrans nave
brought TO this country with their beer theT IAN
~rspe. their paprika and their many peculiar
u.ares and in many of the districts of New-York
City where these people live. the same ru'es are
observed as in the countries where they originated
With each generation they become less rigid and
removal from the distinctive district and association
with people who have shaken off their foreign ways
somet,mes obterate them: but the question Of
dowry frequently outlives all other important Gus
toms.
DROPPING THE OLD CUSTOMS.
Those who have made the matter a study say
that the Germans the first 20 desert from the
old CUSTOM and that the settlement Of stipulated
amounts ON daughters who marry is no longer
yractised in the better walks OF German American
soosty although still prevails in the lower strata
The Austrians are slower TO follow the example or
their German uptown neighbors, while those who
live in the lower and parts Of the city ad
here as closely the old usages they ever die.
and the Bohemian Moravian or Hungarian girl VINO
snakes a contract for better and for worse. II the
parfy OF the second part is a counirynan OF hers,
must bring a certain amount OF Might now, just
ss her mother and her grandmother did before her.
The class In which the custom prevails 10 the
greatest extent is among the Russians with whom
marriage is made largely matter OF business
and among whom many people make COM
portable living by acting as matchmakers and ad-
tusters OF differences which arise In the course or
the transactions which prcccde the matrimonial
ceremony Ii does not matter If the girl t. the
daughter OF u wealthy merchant. manufacturer or
professional man, II she earns a scanty living in
4 swcatshOp, she must nave Il certain amount or
money dowry. IL any man would CONTRACT 10
marry a woman who had nothing; ne would De
looked upon queer" by his ncighbors. and the
guardians OF the young woman would probably
shink his neglect 10 insist on dowry eridence OF
weak mind When such condition exiSts II is
natural that women with gre1: expectations should
be sought after and that men "ao are fortune
hunters a small scale should be on the lookout
for them. Mothers have daughters 10 marry; ana
they are usually anxious 10 have the responsibility
of their hands the cart! go asy possible The
East Side s full OF marriageablc men, and 10 brins
the two together is the business OF the Scha,chen.
THE sCHATCHEN's METHODS
II he is careful man and has enough time to
devote to the matter. he will have book IN which
the names of desirable parts" recorded.
with the amounts opposite each name which the
prospective husband may expect TO receive with the
young Her picture and short biograp PHI
ica sketch also frequently part Of the record
Another book contains the names OF the men who
have discovered that II Is not we'll TO be alone and
bring them a respectable dowTy and help to inn
prove or enlarge their stock Of merchandise. This
book usually contains besides bogra phcal sketch
Of the would-be bridegroom "a report on his hnan-
DIAL standing, his business capacity and matters
generally which would properly belong In the
records Of a mercantile agency.
with the aspirants for matrimonial honors
basis the Schatchen goes TO work. lie attends so
cial political. religious and business meetings
throws out hint here and suggestion there. shows
4 picture at the proper time TO the proper person.
Of q careful father and finally brings about meet
1ngs which often lead 10 nothing more than cnbar-
RAISING interviews. but frequently to the result
which they were arranged.
when / succeed in bringing about
Dent" said man who has had years OF expert
pace In this strange business. Il receive pay IN
keeping with the amount Of money involved TIE
man pays ne for securing the girl and the money