The times., 1898-04-03
MILLIONAIRE MAIDS.
American Girls Who Exchange
Their Dollars for Titles

offer a leaf OF that small volume 20
the consideration OF all patriotic Ameri-
can women. His figures are impressive
and not difficult to comprehend. and he
leads of with the assertion that in the
last decade ending December 81. 1887,
round $4,000 600 has been carried out OF
the United States by the marriage Of our
daughters with citizens of foreign eoun-
tries. Just the sum total Of the amount
Congress was called upon TO appropri-
ate for the defense OF our threatened
seacOast. over $2O.000.O00 have gone to
England and France from New York
city within the past FIVE years. More in
sorrow than in anger does he arrive at
the conclusion that it is from the god
of love. and not his majesty of war.
we suffer the greatest loss Of property
and the exile OF many most valuable in
habitants.
Reckoning from the first very notable
international marriage, that OF Miss
Patterson, of Baltimore with Jerome
Bonaparte, this searcher OF cupid's
archives, has found that not less than
IS eco Anerican-b0rn worlti nave been
induced to Iink their fortunes with those
of foreign born husbands, 'acknOwledg-
ing allegiance, as his notebook for
mally records "to other governments
than that Of the United States s'-as by
her marriage a woman becomes legally
a subject OF whatever ruler her mats
acknowledges so have these $500 women
resigned their birthright as Uncle Sans
daughters for titles chiefly.
Now. OF course. when We go back so
far as Miss Patterson's rather unhappy
marriage" explained the owner of the
notebook "and foot up the dOwers that
accompanied the hands of these girls
who chose TO we'd beyond the borders Of
their own land. the sum total OF hard,
bright yellow gold carried out of the
States foot up TO a figure near $1,000
coo. This is always taking the very low
est estimate. not including those dow
ers under $4,000 and naturally overlook
ing many alliances so quietly made that
the most ly1x-eyed newspapers failed 10
record them.
'One interesting fact still remains evi-
dent Fifty years ago It was the rare
American woman who selected a hus-
band of another nationality than her
own, and then she did so frankly for
purely ambitious motives Before the
civil war, when a milliOnaire's daughter
captured a count or prince, the whole
country rang with the news. and senti-
ment was entirely unacknOwIedged on
either side. The agreement was so much
money for q title and position at Euro
pean courts and because American for
tunes were not so large nor so numerous
/ as at present, the International mar
riages We're less frequent The number
Of these alliances increases every year,
the dots grow larger and larger. and
yet find an increasing per cent of love
matches.
This last is a mitigating circum-
can is bound to regard as an existing
evil. To balance against the rather cold
/ blOOded alliances made in the past five
years between American women and a
couple of English dukes. a French count
and several British earIs, who actually
knocked down their corOnets to the
highest bidders we have Miss Endi-
cOtt's love match with Joseph Cham
berlain. Miss Browns penniless beauty
winning the heart of Lady Aberdeen's
brother. and Lady Vernon Harcourt's
conquest. by no golden enchantments,
of England's great political leader.
Still money remains the great link
between our women and the foreign
men who, as time goes on. have steadily
raised the prices of their empty titles,
until the limit was reached a the SO
COO mark, triumphantly touched by
a Frenchman. heir TO nothing bigger
than a worthless marquisate. That IS
the largest cash payment my book
vouches for. though there are fifteen
names set opposite the S2,o09.OO0 mark.
one leading of with S5.000000, while New
Orleans alone. in dots OF from $4,000 70
$500 600. has contributed 81 100000 TO the
big sum total / mentioned before
Now. the fact of the matter is that
French italian or German bachelor who
/ has a title that is old and estimated high
! ly at the court of his country, has absO-
lutely placed his minimum price at SEQ
600. A shrewd New York lawyer found
this out when his daughters hand was
asked for by a French marquis whose
name is respected among the remnant OF
French ariStOcTacy. The honest man Of
law. previously instructed by his wife and
daughter, accepted the marquis kindly.
and mentioned that to every one OF his
daughters he gave a check for 20. .lG0 by
way of a hOuse-keeper's nest egg
THE marquis applauded this generosity.
but announced that the engagement
might be considered of unless the rest
egg was accompanied by three more OF
/ exactly the same size There was q dis
/ play of paterual wrath. and the marquis
never flinched. and at the proper time
| both bride and dover were forthcoming.
| though the three remaining daughters
/ went pennileSS to their untitled American
/ husbands. OF all this impressive amount
/ of money that has passed across the
I one-half the total and more women from
/ New York State and city have made for
/ eigu marriages than from any other Fart
| of the country.
/ The bitterest pill. however that this
/ deliver among figures has rolled Up for
/ American digestion is the assertion, based
/ on personal investigation, that 18th rare
exceptions those women who marry cut
| of the States usually resign. and in too
| brief time. all identity with and af-
| lection for the land of their BIRTH IL is
! only necessary TO meet American wives
| of foreign men To realize how closely the
/ marriage tie binds them 70 the country
/ of their adoption, how rapidly they as
/ sumo the foreigners reverence IOr those
| high places, the recognition OF class and
/ accept the manners and customs that
| their fathers or brothers woIid resist
/ to their last breath.
/ But if England. as the notebook re-
/ cords has got the lions share of our
American millions, France comes next
on the list of benefeiaries, Germany
/ third. and il is pleasant 10 find that
Spain has drawn few prizes, indeed,
from among our rich and pretty girls.
! 1t is true enough that of all titled Euro
! peans the Spaniard is least inclined 70
/ make a uercenary or an alien marriage.
/ while the English and Frenchmen are
the most aggressive in this particular
In Paris indeed, there has recently
/ been opened matrimonial bureau,
/ where a careful record is made OF the
movements of those rich American
women. maids or widows, who are Jrav-
cling on the continent. At the bureau
a careful estimate of the young lady's
fortune a history of her family. etc
etc. can be secured and assistance re
ceived. with q view to securing iutroduc'
tions TO desirable individuals.
Rich Americans TO the Partisan for
! trra hLntar do not. however. simply