New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-22
OLD MAIDS IN BERMUDA.
MARRYING AN ALIEN MEANS LOSS OF
WOMAN'S LANDED ESTATE.
SINCE THERE Is a DEARTH OF ENGLISH
wOOERs. sPINsTERHoOD Is PREFERRED
TO povERTY-A CURIOUS SORT
SOCIAL, LIFE
OF SOCIAL LIFE.

OF SOCIAL LIFE.
In spite Of the pre-eminence OF the spinster IN
w-England the proportion Of unmarried women
IS greater in the British colony OF Bermuda than
anywhere else on this side of the Atlantic ocean.
The semi-tropica climate CT the Islands. together
with their isolation. has made of the white inhab-
itants of English stock a quiet, almost a sluggish,
people Of a simplicity nearly Arcadian The women
especially, many of whom have led very clrcum-
scribed lives leaving the ISLANDS, cultivate
an old-fashioned hospitality and possess natural
ease of manner that seems to rise from perfect
faith in other people. Crime Is very rare In Der
muda partly because II Is extremely difrcut for a
criminal 10 get OFF the islands.
Bermudian women are excellent housekeepers,
and bring up large families of children, the favorte
chicks of flock being sent, In some cases, TO the
States for education. In matters of etiquette these
folks are much more exact than Americans They
are a comfort BILE well-to-do set of people, with
here and there a family possessing ample means
As in England property. especially real estate, re-
mains in the same family for long period. some
of the descendants of the original settlers still pos
SEES sing lands that never have passed out Of their
families.
30 "SQUAW MEN HERE.
II Is conservatism as to real estate ownership
that keeps I'D the supply of spinsters. No alien
can acquire Il title to land In Bermuda. either by
purchase or inheritance. This law Is directed
mainly against the Portuguese. who have fockel
10 the colony ana taken 10 growing OHlons Do lonb
as these nruders no land. they have no vote.
and the difficulty Of naturalization and the prop
crty qualification combine to make double bar
ricr. protecting the natives in their control or
things.
But the law provides. further. that II a woman
owning land marries an allen she forfeits her real
estate and becomes incapable of inhcriting any.
They have no "sIuaw men" In Bermuda. This law
IS not very popular WITH young women. who see
their brothers and sweethearts paying court to
American girls with comfortable incomes. The
number of Americans who have become residents
o. bermuda H. smaller than IL would he under
different land laws. but the winter colony Is
larg" one. and the most energetic business men OF
Hamilton the capital Of the islands, are from the
states. Marriages result OF Bermudian men with
American girls but in 4 community where 10 large
a proportion OF all property Is land, Bermudan
girls are prevented from retalating. There in
stances where girls renounce their birthrghs, but
Pennies bellies are not universally attractive.
HARD FOR GIRLS TO GET MARRIED
Young men omigrate from the islands I'm ever
Increasing numbers in search Of better openings
than 80 limited field Offer and this course
operates with the land laws restrict matrl-
nonial opportunities. There is very little abject
poverty among the whites OF Bermuda 80 that
from point OF view the 'superiuous' women
30 not suffer. but they have not the mental