The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-15
WIVES FOR NEEDY MOBILES.
How Such Matrimonial Matters Are
Arranged In Germany.
Gondon Mail.)

1t is notorious that marriages are
made in heaven, but-to judge from
facts brought to light by several law
suits which have lately occupied Berlin
courts-considerab assistance is rem
dered by earthly Intermediates OF both
sexes.
1t transpired in one case just settled
that a. considerable business is done In
Berlin by promoting marriages between
officers in the army and rich Jewesses.
The German nobility and upper classes
(the Junkers) are in general poor; they
are, however, very cliquey, and very
careful whom they admit into the IA
vored circle of their society.
The bulk of the capital in Germany is
in the hands Of Jews; indeed, II the
truth were known, it would probably
show that the present prosperous state
of trade and commerce in Germany is
attributable rather to Jewish than to
purely German enterprise. This ap-
plies, at any rate, to the capital.
The Germans themselves almost ac-
knowledge their. fear of the superiority
of their fellow citizens of Jewish eX-
traction by carefully excluding them
from almost every position of political
influence. There is, too, hardly one Jew
among the officers of the German army.
Not that there is anything in German
law or in that of any of the German
states to prevent a Jew becoming an
officer-the circumstance is entirely
due to the officers themselves and to
the system of appointment to vacancies
in the officers corps.
It will be easily understood from this
that Jews and Jewesses are not looked
on favorably in the best society,"
When there are officers wanting
money, which they can easily obtain by
marrying Jewish ladies who wish to get
into Society" Intermediates will be
found who will aid in bringing about
the necessary introductions. When,
however, these Intermediates do not
receive a sufficiently high brokerage, ="
or they are forgotten in the subse-
quent happiness, the public learns in
teresting details.
The most recent case has been of pc
culiar interest, as one of the married
parties, besides being an aristocrat and
a prominent political parsonage, is the
proprietor of an extensively Ber-
lin newspaper. Some time ago the fol-
lowing advertisement, which is sam
pie of what are published every day in
the leading German newspapers, ap-
peared in a Berlin paper:
IAN aristocrat of the old nobility, 40
years old, of agreeable, distinguished
appearance, of scanty means, though
absolutely free from debts, wishes to
marry lady possessing a large for
tune"
A marriage agent answered this adj
vertisement and contract was drawn
up by virtue of which the agent was to
receive 5 per cent of the fortune
brought by the lady, if the advertiser
a count, found a wife through his in
strumentality. The count was put into
communication with several wealthy
ladies, but after time he informed the
agent that he had reconsidered and in
tended to remain single. The agent
accepted a small fee for out-of- pocket
expenses, and considered the matter
closed.
Shortly afterward, however, he heard
that the count had married one of the
ladies he had introduced, and forthwith
claimed his percentage.
Again the count tried to evade ex-
pense by giving the lady's dowry as
less than it really was. The agent dis
covered the truth and as the count
refused to pay, the matter was brought
into court After going through the
lower courts, the case has now been
thrown out by the supreme court of
judicature, on the ground that payment
of fees for promoting a marriage can
not be enforced by Prussian law
That this mode of obtaining a part
ner for life is largely practiced is also
proved by the fact that a newspaper
devoted entirely to the interests of the
business has for long time been is
sued weekly in Berlin.