The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-26
TO ENCOURAGE GIRLS TO WE'D

| To provide young womeI. with sufficient
/ dowries to make marriage a thing more
probable so far as they are concerned has
been recognized as a charity in Eng
J land.
Like a number of other institutions in
England this one can be traced back to
Queen Elizabeth. 1t is recorded that on
one occasion the Queen was passing
through one of the big towns, and was
struck with the uncommon ugliness of the
women.
These girls, she was positive, never
would find husbands unless men were paid
to marry them. Acting on the thought,
she provided dowries which should be
paid to the young women, to certain
number. in the event of their marriage.
Today there are an umber of charities
which provide dowries to young women
who otherwise would be portionless.
In Sutton Coldfield the trustees of the
charity elect four young women every
May day. These young women are paid
each 500. In this case marriage must
precede the gift, and the marriage certifi-
cate, along with credentials of good char
acter. must be given in evidence when
the dowry is received.
In London the municipal corporation
has a trust fund from which three young
women are to be given dowries. The girls
must be between the ages of sixteen and
twenty-five. and must be drawn by lot.
For year this fund has suspended opera
tons owing to a disagreement over the
method of bestowing the money. 1t Will
he resumed as soon as an agreement has
been reached. The amount TO be divided
among the three successful in the dowry
lottery is $500.
Arnold's marriage gift is another Lon
don matrimonial charity. 1t is given to a
Jewish bride.
The Raines' charity provides a fund to
be given a girl student in one of the
schools. This dowry consists of $500. The
founder arranged a quaint program to be
followed in making the award. Each
girl draws sealed ticket out of a CAMS
ter. There are elaborate ceremonies con-
nected with the breaking of the seals of
these tickets.
After the wedding a dinner is provided
for the bride and bridegroom and their
friends. The governors and friends of
the foundation also dine together at their
own expense At an appointed time after
the dinner the bride and bridegroom and
their friends enter the room.
Achoir of boys and girls sing an ode.
after which an address OF congratulation
and admonition is delivered Then an
other ode is sung. and the proceedings are
brought to an end by the company rising
and drinking to the health and happiness
OF the fortunate couple
In bristol there are two matrimonial
charities one was founded in 1922 by
the Rev. Thomas White. who bequeathed
a sum sufficient to provide for four yearly
portions OF $40 each These have been
awarded by preference to poor maidens
of honest fame and account" The appli-
cants must show that they have done
something towards n bank account. and
the marriage they contemplate must be
deemed a prudent one. The prospective
husband must be proven man of good
character and 10 be Industrious
John Whitson. an alderman of Bristol
founded n Red Maids school Since lea
the trustees OF the school have been
awarding dowry TO meritorious girls in
the school. The regulations are much the
same as those in effect in the White fund.
but the young woman has TO produce the
marriage certificate before her application
is considered.
At windsor there is another old mar
rage fund. which gcve dowries Of So 10
applicants. There is no method OF cleo
ton in this case. and the applicants do
not have TO take their chances with q lot
terry. The trustees Of the fund exercise
their discretion when the application is
i
grant is made ut once.
Cardiff possesses its funds in the name
Of the third marquis Of Bute's silver we'd
ing dowry fund. The patronage is vested
in the mayor alone One OF the stipula-
lions is that on presentation OF the money
after the marriage, the couple must be
reminded Of the origin Of the fund The
mayor is obliged to read to them the first
eleven verses or the second chapter Of St
John And the third day there was
- a.