The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-17

NlAASts l4L al NOME IN tus country tue
marriage Of q young girl solely for money
Is question that IS discussed very deli
cately- Marrying for money, says the
New York Sun, is doubtless almost as
common here as il is in the other coun-
tries, bus il IS not a distinctly American
habit In Europe. where marriages are
arranged with greater prudence than
they are here. the financial feature Of
every match are discussed frankly, and
settled just as any other matter of busi-
ness would De. Here, the idea that she
was being married for her money would
be in toierabie TO any American girl The
bare suggestion of such an attitude on the
part of the man she was about to marry
would put an end al the last moment 10
any agree ment that might exist between
them.
That would be the state Of mind of an
American girl in her own country. once
she has been transplanted 20 Europe,
however, al the view changes immediate
~. The negotiations preceding her mar
rage TO a foreigner would, in all proba-
hiliJy. be concerned only with the imam
cial phase OF the matter. The relatives
who concerned themselves IN the AFFAIR,
the fiance himself. the lawyers. and every
body else interested in the matter, would
say ana DO nothing but what constantly
reminded her that without her money she
would never have gotten the husband VINO
IS now about to consent to take her.
Every preliminary step in the wedding
preparafions rests on this financial basis.
Yet the American girl is not shocked by
it. She quickly absorbs the foreign ideas
Of the subject. She is willing 10 be looked
upon as the Indispensable adjunct OF some
titled lovers life ana realize at the same
time that her dot is quite as indispensa-
bic as she Is. The betrothed might take
her dot without taking her. The reverse
OF this could never happen. Yet the Amer
lean marr.es cheerfu.ly the titled foreign
err when a similar proposition from one
of her own countrymen would be looked
upon as an insult. one case recently show
ed that this is 50.
An American woman of great wealth
| became engaged to an Italian Prince. Ev-
| erybody said that this was a love match,
| even if millions we're involved. Prepare
| tons for the wedding progressed favora-
| bly, up to a certain point. There they
stopped suddenly. Tug and pull as the
| nsgotiators might, things would not ad-
vance. They stuck fast at the Prince
| Inc xorable demand for the full control OF
| his wifes fortune. They discussed the
| question alone, with their relatives and
| with their lawyers. By the terms of her
| grandfather's viii, the great estate that
| had come down TO her could moth be alien
| ated. Her executors in New York cabled
/ their positive refusal to allow any ac~
| ton by which the control OF the estate
| would pass 10 her husband, for she had
| called in their assistance to help her sat
| isfy the Princes demands for her whole
/ fortune. The fiance became i'll when it
became certain that the crisis was not
| 10 be got over as she hoped it would. The
| Prince, who had never been angry, bur
| always low-voiced, polite and considerate,
| said goodbye with sincere and WelI-choseh
| expressions of highly aristocrauc regret.
| Then she grew worse, and the watching
! doctors never left her for weeks. The
Lp,fr 10. af ha acid. ,a
| his sister, a Duchess and wealthy. The
| breach seemed permanent, but the loss
| of the millions was an awful blow No
| body had supposed that the demand to
| hand them over entirely would be refus-
| ed. 1t was late 10 make another effort
/ to get them, but the reward was great
| One day the Princes sister, the Duchess
! came into Paris from her country house
! and called at the American home. Mad
| emoiselle was too ill to see anybody
| Duchesses are not in the habit of being
| bafied by Americans, and she repeated
| her demands TO the mademoiselle. She
became so persistent that the young wo-
| mans aunt came into the drawing room
| to receive her.
| 1t distresses our family" was the sist
| OF her conversation, that this painful
| difference should have occurred. 1t dis
! tresses all of US. 1t may even make US
| ridiculous before the world. My brother
Will marry your niece without any pre-
! nuptial contract They will marry as peo-
! pie do in your own country. My brother
VIII ask no questions, but the two will go
| nand in hand to the altar"
This was delivered in cordial tone, but
without enthusiasm. 1t was an intimation
that this noble family would consent to
violate all its traditions for the sake of
these Americans who we're of a kind that
made the sacrifice immense. 1t was in
reality trap 70 get the millions that seem
h.
and affectionate. But she had shrewd
comCnn sense.
1--WE are as regretful as you over this
sad affair. Nine. la Duchesse,'' was her
answer, land my poor niece is very i'll.
She is heartbroken But l am afraid l
do not understand the offer you bring from
your brother l thought that a woman 5
property on her marriage became her hus-
bands by the laws of France Surely that
would be no different from the question
that has already caused us 50 much
trouble"
The Duchess rose from chair and looked
at her cOntemptuously.
You Americans" she exclaimed, as IL
that ought TO explain anything. you
know more about The laws of France than
l do and my granduncle was one OF it's
Kings"
She left the room then and the marriage
proposition was never revived To this
dwelt on whenever her name is mentioned
and the affair discussed She did suffer
dreadfully and it was her heart not her
pride that was wounded. She was i'll for a
long time and barely recovered. The Prince
has married and the woman is wealthy.
His deserted American betrothed has told
her friends that her romance was ended
with that episode in her life. Her TILED
lover tried 10 get complete control of her
fortune and refused to marry her unless
she gave it TO him. When he could not
get 1t fairly, he tried to trick her into it,
| An American who had gone about marry
ing her in this way would nave been an OBJ
ject of loathing to her. But in a foreigner,
that was different. 1t even seemed all
right, loVable, adorable.
The Atchison Globe has the following
| CONNIE nts on the fair sex:
Every engaged sirl makes the mistake
| OF imagining that she now has him too Sc
cure to be scared off by her appearance in
| cur-papers.