The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
GERMANY'SD OWERSYSTEM.
MARRIAGE NoT TO BE THOUGHT OF
BIZ PoRTIONL $ GIRLS.

IL IN ~ W INV a. ohAbH ~ VIZ pAO"S
dover system in Germany in tho custom in
vogue among the early Teutons Of bestowing
! articles of value upon the brides parents to de-
fray the past expenses OF her girlhood, thus
establishing the husbands absolute authority.
By degrees, as women attained q position OF
greater Importance, tho dowcr was settled I'M
condltionally upon tho wife, she In turn bringing
her husband gifts Of corresponding value, and
tho customary exchange Of weapons, an i'm
portant feature of this settlement, typihed their
equality. This quaint custom still prevails In
certain districts of east Prussia, where women
| enjoy greater privileges than W In Ger
many, but q sharp knife replaces the spear and
short sword OF olden times.
Eventually woman was ~relegated to her pres.
ent rank of hdusfrau, and with this new order
Of affairs mans financial obligations toward her
ceased. Not so the woman's The necessity OF
her possessing u dowry obtains throughout the
empire, notably among the military and peasant
classes to such an extent that a portionless girl
is practically dcbarred from matrimony. Indeed,
SO absolute is this custom that certain philan-
thropio ladies Interested in tho amelioration Of
woman's condition In Germany have formed q
society for the purpose Of supplying their less
fortunate sisters with that indispensable dowry.
Save In Prussia. where the inhabitants con-
p psas 4tSsy wealth siab.E eons( Rra%Ris' at tines fmSa t Consists h%s
chiefly Of land and cattle. Money consequently
% nSe1taeg Ney WitSr eesa It's absence doternfnes tho
else, and, travelling southwark from the land Of
gold to the land OF grain. her gradual descent
from n human being to q superior animal be-
comes more apparent at every stage. Among
province, although family traditions, ever dear
Written law. to the scandal Of the countryside.
and the detriment of the maiden:
lands and cattle, flax, linen, and the many gold
or silver buttons and trinkets. which adorn the
Tor, snitors even sending from distant towns to
woo without seeing her. But with, Gretchen,
Sara, can nSPs savings 'GT sane and mere hsr mothers ,oi% R'r patiently aait 3 :
accumulated store Of linen, things appear in a
different light, In the early days Of the court.
are to be protected; that the household fur
nishinRs, the d%utEenduts or useless dozen.
chest of all but the poorest, passing from mother
to daughter for separations; the coy and oags
well.tilled ground Of saxony. the harness dogs
trained to drag the heavy wagons to and from
buttons which adorn the vest. of every married
Brunswicker. all these must be forthcoming or
ans nno aheGF n nSfS l ssa exnatins s %ass VII But feo oneq
these ,preliminaries satisfactorily concluded
tentiy awaits the day When he may assume
absolute control OF these riches.
in W sI eirc ies t d"% lnid d q r c9sSsas atta ,hsi iess i%,
portance to it than any Others, often contenting
Themselves with a mere pittsta TIA HsGs where err 10Th the .
however, the ambition Of every family to see its
house furnishings. which devolve solely upon
the bride, and the personal outfit, with its Gus
lars. &o.., beins. The source Of more petty jsai
ousies and heartburnings among the good ladies
could occasion. Many lanshabiss incidents occur
In connection with, this unnecessarily large
OUTFIT. which each mother endeavors 10
DrDyiQe. and MANY antiQuatei garments
descend to the, younger generation to
their I nf intense rial IS e shmtS n,on mhe Three in dnas aSnxsr aD o.
peared at their first balls in the remodelled wed
ding gown and slippers Of their mother The
youngest daughter, a pretty girl. several INCHES
shorter than her sisters. who closely resembled
their pondeEoq1s, mamma, Was the i! greatest ate g sG n.
flop OF the slippers, stuffed at the toes with cot
ton, and held on the slender foot with a large
her but few qualms OF vanity and created no
comment among the guests, accustomed as they
In case OF marriage among the officers OF army
and navy the Government has determined the
"a, 900 marks in case of a Lieutenant and 10000
for a Captain of the second degree. The slender
suffices to satisfy the demands Of kaserene (bar
racksl and band, which must be supported by
s sas ss 81 life. HIS His }RPn n1sSiEsl H. Msj s g rsp PsSss:
tatiyes may not. therefore,, incur the response
superior officers that the lady in, question i
en- tbled TO maintain y position In Keeping with
the dignity OF her husband s military Standing.
the reward Of ten or twelve years OF faithful
pursuance OF duties, the officer attains an indie,
pendent position. owing to the greatly increased
pay. and may, rise superior to the detail OF
dowry il he chooses to marry. But nowadays
men seldom care to marry at that age. Some
years ago. however, engagements OF long dura'
%tion-ten. twelve. and even fifteen ycars-were
The old Emperor Wilhelm l.. was an avowed
opponent OF the dowry laws prevalent in the
inClinllR hin toward Il more liberal course
Had not Bismarck's iron will held him in check
abolished these laws entirely. His personal sym,
pathies once enlisted he seldom failed to remove
the . obstacles nramo whi,h . prevented we e nee o tine si marT netHs ny
one Of the sweetest memories he has left III,
people he vas Sa, KIN known W, to supply the Tha ne s,drS
Is perhaps worth repeating, as IT gives an IN
sight into the stringency of these laws. which
The province Of Brunswick is famous in Ger
many for the ancient and noble families whicl
daughters. fairer than any Of their German sis
ters, who grace the court functions; None OK
who were in attendance upon the late Duchess
the wife Of the first Imperial Regent OF Bruins
, the empire penetrated the circle Which, sur
rounded tho Empress Augusta. who, wishing I,
beauties, requested the Duchess to permit tn,
, two youngest TO make a brief visit to the capital
PfFahS onor, Won sap Arnssin ali one se of the b 5SY hse b %Sit,
and charm OF, manner. among, others a, younl
Lieutenant, the descendant OF a noble but In
= poverished family incapable of providing for hi
, maintenance. Upon her departure the Lieu
) tenant procured. his exchange. to q cavalry, regi
!. ment In Brunswick, and eventually won Frau
, lein Won Arnheim's love. Their prospects wer
/ not cheering. but they couragcously resolved t
Z endure the long engagement which must ensu
i before the Lieutenant could hope TO obtain tn
i desired promotion to n C9ptaincy. Of the frs
: during one OF the Emperor,s many absences from
/ quest and the Lieutenant's subsequent OK
change inspired in him a desire TO- NEE
2 ing the months which elapsed before hi
/ annual visit to Brunswick. His interest in tn
I young couple increased when he learned of thei
= devotion, and after several unsuccessful al
i tenpts to secure the officers promotion. he hin
\ self. upon arrival in Brunswick, presented TO tn
: maid OF honor the requisite bonds. Rumo
:, whispered that one of the couple was related Z
= the charming woman who won the Emperor
= lifelong devotion, but this report WAS entircl
!, without foundation. Those who knew the lime
/ workings OF Wllhelm's mind affirm that the gil
i was the result of his avowed dieapproval OF tn
= stringent military laws concerning the dowry.
y t. .n,.t 90 tl,n nhanlntn Nj vol NJ IN