The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-02
BeIuian Maids Feast Bachelors,

Probably no set of American girls
will have to bestir themselves in the
effort to get husbands to such an eX-
tent as the maidens of the little Bel
gian village of Ecaussines did the
other day. Most girls at home find
the other sex only too willing to offer
marriage, but of late the young men
of Ecaussines have proved uncommon
ly backward about entering the bless
ed state" SO having waited for pro-
posals till they were tired, the girls of
the town determined that it would be
necessary to do something which
would, so to speak, give matrimony a
boom in the village.
They held several meetings.
which married women We're vigorously
excluded-and finally made UP their
minds to give great dinner, to which
bachelors from all parts should be in
vited, the guests being warned in ad-
vance, however. that the object was
matrimony.
The thing was advertised all through
Belgium-even in Holland-and for a
fortnight before the dinner took place
it was being talked about far and wide.
On the great day EcauSsineS was en-
fete, the center of attraction being a
long table laid right in the middle of
the principal street, about which the
girls, all in their Sunday best awaited
lHSlf guests Hty 1iQ not nave 10
wait long, however. for all the unmar-
ried men of the town were on hand.
and bachelors were arriving every
minute from all parts of the country.
Before the dinner began the fair
maids, with their parents and male
guests, went in procession to the near
by town hail. where the villages most
eloquent speakers made addresSes-all
on the subject of matrimony. Then the
MAJ tu To TO hi in ho
main street, and the real business of
the day began.
The girls had it planned out neatly.
At a given signal they all sat down
each, however. leaving a vacant place
beside her. and 1T was then UP to the
young men to fill these places accord
ing to their incfinations. There was
rather an awful five minutes before
any one of the crowd of bachelors
huddled together like a flock of timid
sheep-found courage enough to make
move, but then Strapping country
man somewhere in the neighborhood
of forty. who for some time had found
life cherries without mate, bounced
forward. red as a peony. and pumped
down beside prettp girl near one end
of the table. Two other men who had
made up their minds followed his ex-
ample in a twinkling. and then came a
general rush. with the result that be-
fore long every vacant seat at the ia
BILE was filled.
Promptly the walters began to bring
on the eatables, and particularly the
drinkables. over which the various
couples soon grew sociable, and before
long compliments were flying about on
every side. and it Is declared that two
proposals had been whispered before
the roast came on. Like all Flem-
1sh feaSts. this matrimonial dinner.
which had begun at o'clock, lasted
until z. and as soon as it was over the
public square was filled with happy
couples promenading arm in arm.
The good work was helped along by
ball given in the open air later in the
evening. at which Cupid got so busy
that when the Flemish equivalent of
Home. Sweet Home" was played
there was not more than two or three
girls without SWANS. The effect of the
feast was no transient one, either.
Since it was given enga gements by the
wholesale have been announced, and
in several cases the happy day al
ready has been SET