The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-28
TRAVE[S13,000M MILES
Fritz Alder Journeys, Matri-
mony Seeking.
SECURED AN ENGAGEMENT
From One of SWitzerland'S
Mountain LasSies.

Fritz Alder Of Medicine Lodge, Kan.
tired of bacheIorhood, went back TO hi:
native home in Switzerland to find him a
bride. In all the grace and beauty Of
Kansas womanhood there was nothing &c
compare with his ideal. The bewitchins
smile of Barber county lassie. and many
there were for Fritz, could not make hin
forget the VOW he had made to the sweet
heart of his youth. though the rough sea
separated them for seven long years.
Fritz Alder stopped in the city yesterday
while on his way home from a three
months tour in France, Germany anC
Switzerland. He registered at the Topeka
Avenue hotel. Mrs. Tangney noticed nj!
good humor and questioned him about it
Fritz could not hold his secret. He sale
that he had found him a wife, and re-
porter being near caught the story.
II have Travelled over 1900 miles, prin'
cipally 20 get me wife, and I got her
Mrs. Tangney.'
Where is she?" everybody asked.
"Oh, she is back in the old country, but
I got her I gave her an engagement
ring and that cinches the contract. She
will be here just as soon as 1 can get a
home prepared for her"
Mr.. Alder was so delighted that he did
not consider his story a secret. but was
free to tell everybody about the hotel.
He said the rules of their church made
an engagement sacred, and he had no
thought but what his fiancee would remain
true TO him. She is to meet him in this
country at an appointed time and they
will be married.
While in Switzerland Mr.. Alder visited
with his parents and relationship at Fri
bourg, a beautiful city about thirty miles
from Lake Neuchatel He also visited
many other places of interest, among them
Geneva, Bern, the capital, and Basch, on
the Rhine, near the line of Alsace. All
the beautiful scenery of Switzerland, so
common to him when boy, was visited
again, in company with his iancee. He
visited interesting places in Germany and
France, and eight days ago departed for
America.
Courtship in Switzerland is different from
the custom of this country. Mr.. Alder
says that the acceptance Of an engage
ulcut IlilS - ICpOIlcu ~ AHC pdACAiNS VI
both parties, and a record is made. The
laws of his and his iancee's church con-
slider that act just as binding as though
the ceremony had been performed. A
breach of the contract would lose them
their rights in the church forever, and
all allowance from parents estate.
Mr. Alder had to make aff1davit as to
what property he has before the ladv's
father would consent to the engagement.
He then told Alder to come back to Amer
lea, build a nice home on his ranch, fit it
I'D comfortably, and then he would send
his daughter to him. Fritz could hardly
wait to get out to Medicine Lodge and
commence building. He bought some fur
niture yesterday and will have things
pushed rapidly for the proper reception of
his bride to be.
Mr.. Alder is a bright and intelligent
Swiss gentleman. He came alone to
America seven years ago and had barely
enough money to get over here. Locating
near Medicine Lodge. he began to acquire
land and property. He now owns 800 acres
Of land in Barber county and has 1000
acres leased. He attended strictly 70 bust
ness and had good luck with stock. At
present he is feeding 1000 head Of steers of
his own, besides other stock.
Look here" he said. after having told
the reporter and landlady his story. He
fshed from his inside coat-pocket a care
fully wrapped photograph. 1t was the
picture of a beautiful Swiss girl-a Venus
of the Alpine hills.
Mr. Alder left for Medicine Lodge last
night. after looking the city over for nice
things TO put IN the big new house that
he is going TO build