The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-15
THE DEMAND FOR WIVES.

| IL - announced that some ten thousand
| Irish girls are expected In the United
| States this year They are coming over
with THE intention of securing employ
| mert but the probability is that their ul-
innate purpose is TO become the wives OF
American citizens. There Is an institution
called the United British Women's Emil
grafton Association, whose purpose is to
assist women TO find occupation. The wor-
thy members of that association willingly
contribute time and money for the pur-
pose Of teaching girls to be independent.
They would refuse assistance 10 a woman
II she openly avowed that her purpose IN
emigrating was 10 seek husband and not
an opportunity for work. Since il Is an
entirely voluntary association. with a very
benehcent purpose. the methods of its
members need not be very severely criti-
oised. although it Is not more honorable
TO want 10 be domestic servant than to
want 10 be the wife, housckeeper and
helpmeet OF man who works for his fiv-
ing. IN providing employment for girls.
only the girl is provided for; in providing
a wife. both the woman and a man are
provided for.
The settlement OF new territory is nec-
essarily made. first, by men, and the scar
city OF women is felt so soon as homes,
however crude, begin to take the place OF
the hunters blanket and the pioneers
tent Not long ago some of the Canadian
newspapers contained an advertisement
from mining camp In British Columbia.
in which Il was announced that the camp
was wholly destitute OF women: that nei-
.her gambling nor the sale OF intoxicating
liquors was permitted in the settlement:
| that the miners were Industrious, had
saved money. and now they wanted wives
! and homes. Young women OF The Dornin-
ion wero invited to enter into correspond
| ence with a committee as preliminary to
/ possible emigration to the camp. and pos
/ sible marriage with the bachelors thereof.
Here Is a ine aeld for the British women's
Association. There is a demand. Il Is true.
! for domestic servants. and 1t seems pity
| to divert the supply 20 any other avenue
but the world will De the better for worthy
! girls to marry men who are "a Industrious
/ prudent and well conducted as these min.
| ers would seem TO be.
| The demand for women Is not confined to
| British Columbia; Australia and Cane Coll
! any are both complaining Of a scarcity. II
Is probably even worse in tho French COL
onies, where. in Alsiers. for Instances. thers
are said 20 be from four to six Frenchmen
for every French woman. There is .consA-
quently TO family life. and VI. Chaulv-
Bert recently wrote TO the Paris Debat.
that the young men there were Ike the
roaring lion. who 'goe,h about seeking
| whom ne may devour." A colonist OF AT.
seria' relating his own experience. said
| thai he had tried for three years 20 per-
sGade young woman--he does not saw
| whether Il was the same ere All ire time
belonging 20 his own social plane. 20 share
his fortunes in the colony. He did M,
succeed, ard in the end married ~
| daushtcr q farm lahorer vsho r., 49,.
Is making him \ good helpmeet IN his -.
loniai home. The British and pptc, oo,-
onists II South Africa and the East In
iias have less reason 10 Complain o. ,ns
paacity OK women although the Rri,ts.
| are No; 50 much inclined 70 mate with ~.
natives as she Dutch have been. This -
iates only % the eoax; countries. whav.
settlements II Europeans have been
formed
In equatorial Africa the climate Is =,
trying 20 women that few OF them from,
the more temperate zones can bear Eta
even under the most favorable conditions
and when to the cares of household ara
added the demands made BY motherhood
their heSlsh becomes = natter OF mos,
serious Apprehension. With plenty of
money to purchase comforts and house.
hoia help. women ef strong constitution
can i've fer = few YEARS. but where any
cESrsy Is required. such IS would Be