The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-01
TIE READY MADE BRIDES OF BOSTON Immigrant Girls Marry on
 Landing MANY PRETTY ROMANCES Scores of These Girls Marry Men They Never Saw Refore-Meth- od Is Regular Institution
 Among Italians.
MANY PRETTY ROMANCES
From the Boston Herald.

cry season here immediately after the arrivals of the brides on incoming ships. Sometimes these prospective wives have never seen the men whon they are to marry. The marriages have been arranged by brothers or parents or guardians; the man agrees to provide Q good home, and for reasons of conVen- fence the relatives of the girl in faraway Europe agree to bring her out and give her to wife.
 Sometimes the girl and man have been sweethearts for years. She remained at home in sunny Italy or among the Swiss mountains to wait until her lover had made home for both of them in the newer land of promise.
 Just as Italy furnishes the great mass of immigrants to this country, so the Italians predominate in these dock mar rfages. Whereas the average number of marriages to a shipload of English, Scotch or Irish immigrants will not ex- ceed two the average for the boats bringing immigrants from Italy runs from eight to twelve.
 There have been as many as 9 mar riages among the immigrant girls arrlv- ing In Boston on one steamer. And a time of rejoicing 1t is The north end goes crazy with excitement. There are torchlight processions, bands and fire works; crowds serenade the newly we'd ded couples; sometimes there is a char ivari; and the Italian colony of Boston gives itself wholeheartedly over to the delight of a romance as only an Italian crowd can.
 Coming all the way from Scotland 10 marry the men they love, two pretty Scotch lasses arrived in Boston yester- day on the British steamer Sarmatian from Glasgow. Before their journey ends the two girls will have travelled 4000 miles on their quest, one of the lovers lives in Michigan and the other in Illinois. The immigration and custom inspectors aided them on their way" That is news item Such items in va rying forms can be found several times d week in the Boston papers during the season when the influx of immigrants Is greatest.
 It Is institution among the Italians, this method of marrying. So many brides come here to find their husbands that Fr. Roberto Biasotti of the church of the sacred Heart, in the north end, has an assistant at the docks to meet every ship bringing Italian immigrants. When the immigration officials inspect the incoming crowds, these prospective brides present their papers showing that they intend to marry upon arrival-that they have come to America for this ex- press purpose, in fact They give the names of the men and tell all of their Awaiting the immigrants are crowds of their fellow countrymen. The officials go where these are gathered and call out the names of the men designated.
 Should they respond, they are ques- tioned about their plans and whom they expect on the ship. If the stories agree and everything looks all right to the of ficials, permission Is given to the girls to land They join their sweethearts, and away to the church in the north end where they are speedily married.
 talr a11a1 h dan individual than an immigration official not to be moved at the sight of some of the reunion of lovers which take place the Boston docks. It may be that two of them have not seen each other for years; but the man has been work | ing steadily with one object in view, and tthe girl has waited patiently In her own country against the time when he should send for her.
 Bnt there are occasions when pathos Is far removed from the scene and when love does not enter into the compact One instance occurred a few years ago. tall, extremely fine looking Italian girl arrived among a large crowd of i'm migrants. She had paper to show that she was to marry one of her country men resident in Boston.
 Had she known her prospective hus- band long, She had never seen him.
 
 marriage had been arranged by her brother.
 The brother was found also the pros pective bridegroom. He was a little man. stunted and somewhat bowed in the legs, and he wore an air or apoio- getc misery
 The girl gave one look at him. let out a little shriek of repugnance and then re- fused point blank to marry him. The would-be husband conferred with the brother and there was a conference again with the irate girl.
 Suavely the brother explained that his friend was a good man, very good man; also he was rich, quite rich. He had a fine home very beautiful home, full or pretty things. All this was for her; and he would be very good to her Then, or course. she might be deported if she did not marry. Had she thought of that?
 The Italian beauty gave ear unto this plea. Yes she would go with them to inspect the home.
 Away they went. She saw, and she was charmed She could hardly get to the church quick enough to make sure of being mistress of all this magnificence. They ara one of the happiest couples In the Italian colony today, and the husband is prosperous
 Not few marriages have been celebrat- ed in the waiting room at the immigration sheds: more have been performed on the
 
 eigners When a girl arrives to be mar ried with the prospective husband on hand and a double desire to be united at once a priest is sent for and the knot is tied Besides the weddings In the Italian church in the north end many marriages take place in the Swedish Home and In the quarters of various other societies.
 Last summer eight Italian girls arrived on one ship to be married Six secured their husbands who were at the dock to meet them Two were left dsconsolate with the danger of deportation staring them in the face for the swains came not In the,north end diligent search was be- ing made by the relatives of the girls for the absent lovers.
 A couple of days passed, and at last the recreant bridegrooms were led to the docks Whether willingly or otherwise. 1t matters not They were there, and they were there to be married. The male rela- lives of the brides were there to see to that So the marriages took place after all. and all was happiness and jubilation in the north end.
 All nationalities are represented in these dock marriages Sometimes the bride will come from fer Russia There are Films and Poles, German and French girls. Scgndinavians and Dutch. One English girl came bound for the Klondike to mar ry her lover. Before reaching him she would have traveled more than 1O.GoAmiles but news of the happy ending of thfs TO- nance reached the local officials later.
 Deportation faces the girl who. expect t.,f1 x.<1f- 4<,f hrr -a1a