The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1905-11-28
BACHELORS ARE TRAPPED.
Girls Matrimonial Club in Belgium
Invite Eligibles to Their
Feast


The spinsters of the Belgian town
OF Ecaussines have in their way done
more for the cause of womens rights
than has been effected by parliament
airy legislation for years past In that
kingdom. Why, argued these young
women, in country like Belgium,
where men are in minority, should
not feminine privileges. hitherto con-
fined to leap year, be extended to every
year. of grace?
Being Of practical turn OF mind,
says the New York Tribune, these mar
riageable young women proceeded a
few months ago to organize a matri-
monial club of so members. Once duly
constituted, the question remained as to
the best means to attract desirable suit
ors. After much discussion the would
be matrons of Ecaussines came to the
conclusion that in land OF legendary
good living like Belgium a banquet
would be the most likely way of ap-
pealing to the male youth of the dis
trict
Invitations were. therefore, promptly
issued by the president to the girls
club to so eligible young men to an
open-air feast in the gardens of the
club house.
Shortly before four o'clock in the
afternoon OF the appointed day the
bachelors began to arrive, some in au-
tomobiles. others in carriages and 9th
ers on bicycles. BY four. the hour fixed
for the feast, go bachelors had assem-
bled Whereupon the club president.
with no show of embarrassment. well
coined the "eligibles" with short but
humorous speech.
The president then set the feast go
ing by selecting partner from among
the bachelors and conducting him to
one OF the ten tables prepared for the
spread" Her example was immediate
ly followed by all the members of the
club and In few minutes the 60 Ju-
lets had their Romeos beside them.
Perfect decorum prevailed through
out the unique feast. Notwithstanding
the absence of chaperons to reproye
anything in the shape Of sidelong looks
of love. The success of the bachelor
girls venture. however. may be judged
by the fact that IA weddings resulted
from the banquet.
An open-air ball brought the festivi-
ties to close. this dance being mar
ucularly intended to give hashful suit
ors full opportunity to choose their
life partners AS matter of fact it
seems that most of the proposing did
take place at this ball. according to
confidential information on the subject
conveyed by the club president
Although the prime mover in organ
lzing the club. the president did not
lind her better half at this years
the success of the Ecaussines
bachelor girls venture has proved such
however. that the club has now been
organized on permanent basis. the
Ia departing members being duly re-
placed by new recruits. Hereafter.
the Ecaussines banquet
viii become an annual affair.
The reputation of the club has now
become widespread and since the hold
ing OF the banquet the club damsels
have received many letters from bache-
ors all over Europe asking for invi-
-ations to next years fast. The WON
an of Ecaussines are. however. moth
ng IL not patriotic, and are opposed to
International matrimonial alliances:
heir list of invited guests for the com
ng banquet will, therefore, it is de-
Jared. be confined strictly to their own