Arizona republican., 1910-07-04
A MARRIAGE MART.

where marriages are made instead of dissolved, is rapidly becoming as widely known in Europe as the Nevada Mecca of divorce seekers here.
 Listen to little bit of history Eight years ago the populace of Ecaussinnes which. when everybody is at nome. numbers about 1000 persons, decided to celebrate with more than accus- toned splendor the advent of the sunny month of May. The belle of the village was to be betrothed.
 Some practical young women sug- gcsted that the young men of the neighborhood be notified that there were other good hOusekeepers in Ecaussinnes and willing to work in double harness, and advised that the bachelors be extended an invitation to assemble at the town hall and look over the candidates for matrimonial bliss. The result of this practical in- spiration was that nine other couples announced their engagements. This success led to the formation of an organization one year later by the unmarried women of Ecaussinnes. Three hundred rosy checked damsels became charter members and the club was The Marriage Market" May 31 was decided upon as an annual meet ing day.
 In 1903 II engagements were an- nounced and in 1907 17. Because of the hard times experienced in Europe as well as America in 1905, but eight pairs then pledged each other their i troth Twenty-two pretty girls found husbands in 1906, four in 1907. twenty six in 1908 and thirty in 1909. Of course it is impossible to prophecy how many will be made happy this year
 i It is estimated that on the day be- fore the opening of the market. May ! 31, 15.000 persons will have Hooked | into the pretty town to witness and | take part in the rollicking gaiety that marks the celebration.
 { Over the entrance to the principal street in the village will be hung a huge banner under which every one who enters the town must pass. It will bear these inspiring words: Tt is not well for man to live alone, if he can get d bride"
 This is the greeting If the visitor be an unmarried man it, of course, sets him thinking. A few blocks fur ther and the town hall is in view. ! There is laughing, excited crowd be- fore it. Within its portals is en- shrined the golden book" where, wit messed by the pOmpous burgomaster. the applicant for marital happiness inscribes his qualifications, name and address. When the hour arrives for closing the Golden Book, the visiting bachelors are formed in line and marched through the street to the spot where the blushing maidens of Ecaus- shines are awaiting their coming.
 The burgomaster makes d speech of welcome and the bachelors and maid ems are introduced amid the plaudits of the great throng.
 Then the young woman. president of the organization responsible for the celebration. delivers an address which consists mainly in describing the ob- ject of the marriage market" and extolling the beauty, grace and great worth of the young women who desire husbands.
 It is thought unlikely by Americans who have witnessed the peculiar Bel gian custom that American girls will ever form a like society At least not if the same vows form part of the pledges taken by the Belgian girl to escape being laid on the shelf form part of the constitution. Here are a few of the pledges taken by the Belgian girl
 ''To love her husband the same, be he good or bad after marriage.
 Never to seek divorce, or be watch full of honor.
 "To occupy herself with her chil- dren day or night.
 ITO prepare three good meals a day and on holidays a feast
 ITO keep a silent tongue when her husband scolds.
 "To be first to seek peace in all quarrefs.
 Never to interfere between her husband and her children.
 "To live within the limit of her in- come"
 Is it any wonder that men flock to this marriage market where such para gons of wives are offered?
 After the speech by Mile La Presi- dente. the bachelors are escorted about the town by their pretty host esses
 First the visitors are taken to the chateau with its ancient battlements and wonderful furnishings. Then the old church of St. Aldegonde, a beau tiful building of Louis XIV architec- ture is looked upon
 Within the church may be seen the mausoleum of Michael De Croy, seigneur of Caussinnes. who died in 1856. the famous Rubens painting De Blandina.' and hundreds of other rel- ics of which the village is extremely proud
 The afternoon is devoted to con- certs. games and other diversions. and in the evening a great open-air feast is held.
 After the meal those among the bachelors who have been fortunate enough to secure helpmeets make known the fact to the burgomaster and the marriage market is closed with a dance that lasts until dawn.
 Of course hundreds of men sign their names in the Golden Book" with no other purpose in mind than to talk and dance with pretty girl. and it is equally certain that many of the young women who wait at the end of the march for the parade of bach elOrs are out for a lark" The records prove this. Out of 500 men who reg iStered last year hut thirty hecame