Washington sentinel., 1898-02-26
An Auction for Wives.

FROM tnC earliest SClllGulCul Oi
the colonies there has always been
a defect in the distribution OF
women in this country. 1t is his
torical tact that, while one section
has always suffered from an embar-
rassment OF riches, another has
pined in needless privation. Atthe
outset of American colonization
the wilderness was hungry tor men
to till il, and thousands OF the idle
laborers OF London and Bristol
poured into The new Ell Dorado
Robert Beverly. in his History
of Virginia" published in 1902 and
I722, says: "Those that went over
to that country first were chiefly
single men, who had not the en-.
cumbrance OF wives and children
in England; and, il they had, they
did not expose them to the fatigue
and hazard of 50 long a voyage,
until they saw how it would fare
with themselves. Hence it came
to pass that when they were settled
down there in a comfortable way
Of supporting a family, they grew
sensible Of the misfortune Of wives,
and such as had lett wives in Eng
land sent fot them, but the single
men were put to their shifts.
"Under this difficulty they had
no hopes but that the plenty in
which they lived might invite mod
est women of small fortunes to go
over thither from England. How
ever, they would not receive any
but such as could carry sufficient
certificate of their modestv and
good behavior. Those, If they
were but moderately qualified in
all other respects, might depend
upon marrying well in those days
without any fortune. Nay, the
first planters were so tar from ex-
pecting money with a woman that
it was a common thing for them to
buy a deserving wife that carried
good testimonials of her charac-
ter, at the price OF 6Ioo, and make
themselves believe they had a bar
gain,
In one year Sir Edwin provided
passage for 1 I,76I new emigrants,
Among those were 90 agreeable
young women, poor but respect
able, to furnish wives TO the colon
lists. This new commodity was
transported at the expense Of the
colony, and sold to the young
planters, and the following wear
another consignment was made oi
90 young maids of virtuous edu-
cation, young, handsome and we'll
recommended. A wife in the first
lot sold generally for 100 pounds
of tobacco, but as the value Of the
new article became known in the
market the price rose, and a wife
would bring 50 pounds oftobacco.
A debt tor wife was Of a higher
dignity than other debts and 10 be
paid first"
Ia a letter still in existence,
dated London, August Al, roar,
and directed TO worthy colonist
Of that settlement, the writer says:
eve send you in the ship one
widow and II maids for wives for
the people OF Virginia. There
hath been especial care had in the
choice Of them, for there hath not
one OF them been received but
upon good recommendations.
'In case they cannot be pres
emily married we desire that they
may be puv with several house.
holders that have wives"
But the writer of this epistle had
little reason to fear that any Of the
"maidens faire" would be left over.
The archives Of Virginia prove
that these first cargoes Of young
ladies were put at auction beneath
the green trees of Jamestown,
where probably the most anxious
and interested crowd of auction
habitues ever know in the history
Of the world were gathered, and
sold for I2o pounds OF leaf tobacco
each, and il was ordered that this
debt should have precedence OF all
others. The solitary lone widow"
went along with the others, for
they could not be particular in
those days. The minister Of the
colony no doubt had busy time
that day. He did not mention any
fees, nor did the bridegroomS think
Of rendering any. All was JOY and
gladness.
There exists in the United States
to-day the same detective distribu-
ton OF women as existed in the
colonies z7S years ago. Indeed,
it is an economical, as well as a
social, defect, that the distribution
Of women in the country is so inn
perfect that, while Massachusetts,
has SO, 600 more women than men,
and while in every city and nam
let from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi spinsters bloom and
fade unplucked by the reverent
hand Of eager youth, we fre-
quently hear Of lonely bachelor
in the far west addressing a letter
to the United States Commissioner
of immigration at Ellis Island,
New York, begging him to exer-
else his taste and discrimination,
and, when his eyes fall upon a de-
sirable young woman who wants a
husband, to forward her to him at
his cost and risk, provided she
does not object.
The fact that reasonably eligible
bachelors in the interior of the
country should find It necessary to
send to an Eastern port for wives