Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-31


stances. She had seen a photograph
but unfortunately the handsome image
implanted in her mind was shattered
when she saw the man. He was near
ly old enough to be her father and
| didn't resemble in the least the photo
graph No wonder. The picture had
| been taken about twenty years before
ard meanwhile time had been doing
things to his physiognomy. No we'd
diug. In another case the deception
was even worse. The man had bought
or borrowed a likeness of an Adenis
and had sent it along for inspection.
| The poor girl was convulsively fearful
when the real face appeared before
her. The inspectors said that they
| didn't blame her in the least when.
sorrowfully. she shook her head and
declined to marry him. In her case
| she chose deportation to married life
| with the owner Of the frightful face
| Another instance of the never-saw-
| him variety was similar in respect to
| Photographic deception. But the girl
was a bit crafty and apparently not
| overlooking with romance and senti-
| ment. When she saw the man she be
| trayed plainly her dislike for his ia
| cial features which were peck marked
and greasy. She seemed to be
on the verge of declining him-without
| thanks. The inspectors We're slightly
| surprised at her request. because it
| was unusual. She wished to know
/ what kind of home the man had pre-
| pared for her. and asked for time to
see it before she should give her yes
| or mo" The privilege was granted
| and the answer was yes" The home
was an excellent one, probably much
| better than any she had ever had.
She now presides over that home.
| Photographic deception is not the
only kind practised in this matriinoni-
| al game of blind mans buff. Comes
| a girl who expects to find a man who
| is about twenty-five years old and
| single. Behold she learns through the
| immigration inspectors that he is
nearer fifty and is the father of a fam
| lily of several children. Poor girl. she
| knows not what to do. Perhaps she
| has left a poor place in her native land
| and she is oppressed as to which is
| the worst-the prospective new or the
well-known old. She knows she is not
| required to marry the man-for that
| is always made clear by the inspectors
| but she is aware that her circum-
| stances mean that she has to choose
| between staying here and becoming a
| drudge for children not her own and
| for whom she may not ever be capable
of caring, or going back to take up
the old hard life. In instances of this
| kind girls have chosen either way.
| On the. other hand. the men who
Il have hoo INIT 70 IN
| be declined by the girls have rnas
| to be rueful. When they went about
| the matter they felt fairly certain that
the wedding assuredly would follow,
Therefore. when thrown down." gen
orally about the first thing thought of
| is the money paid for the girls pas
sage. If that could be retrieved feel
ings might be less keen. But it can't
They. too, took a chance. And not al
ways is the passage money all that a
man stands to lose. In one case
where the girl had refused to marry >,
and the man was Informed that she
would be deported. the man made
vehement avowal that he would get
back his s100." Questioning by the in
spectors ELECTED that that amount had
been paid by him to the girls uncle
for his services in arranging the
match. While they rarely learn that
the matchmakers or Intermediates,
have been paid for their services, it is
generally understood by the inspec .ors
that the promoters do not work for
love. despite the game. That, how
ever, is none of their business.
BY no means. however. should 1t be
understood that marriage is a requis-
lite to gain admittance to the country.
In the Austrian girls case this was
made quite clear. Girls frequently ar
rive who decline to marry the men
waiting for them. Thorough inquiry
always is made in each instance and
very often the immigrant aid societies
do all that is possible TO pave the way
for the girl to remain on this side of
the Atlantic and later choose her hus-
band. And none are more careful or
DESTROYS that the girls be given all the
opportunities possible than the immi-
grafton inspectors.
The reason for the marriages at the
dock or station is quite obvious. It IS
a protective practice. 1t is plain that
caution is necessary in the case of
these girls who are ignorant of Ian
guage and customs of the new. coun-
try. Reference to the Austrian girl is
again enlightening. What If the girls
destination is somewhere in the West
as in that instance?. If the man is
sincere it is generally the rule that he
travels the distance to take care of
his bride as soon as possible Some
times business or something else in
terferes and the man is not able to
come. Perhaps the excuse is fraudu-
lent. How are the authorities to know
anything of the man? For all they
know he may be a trafticker in wo-
men. IL reliable information, perha ps
testified to by someone in authority, is
Forthcoming, she may be allowed to go
to the man. but Notwithstanding. the
safest way is to have the couple mar
ried within the Government precints.
and the authorities have done their
best. In illustration of the reason for
reluctance to let girls go to distant
cities without first being married: A
man in the West secured congress