The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-07-10
NEW WAYS TO WIN WIVES.
Cupid Uses Many Strange Methods Of
Leading Victims to Altar.

by which a bride was recently won as
the prize for victory in a cross-coun-
try race by a brace of cowboys on
bronchos. In certain parts Of Wales,
is is said, the Old World custom of
marriage by capture still survives,
and before a man can lead a maid to
the altar he must. race in hot pursuit
of the father or brother, who seeks
to carry her off on horseback and
rescue her for a more agreeable fate,
remarks the New York Press.
But wives have been won by con-
tests more novel than these. Only
last year, it is said, pretty Scotch
damsel looked on at Bisley while the
two aspirants to her hand scored
bull's-eyes and magpies in stern and
silent rivalry, for the final scores
were to determine who should be
her happy possessor. Last year, too,
if we are to believe the newspapers, a
very charming young lady in society
awarded her hand to- the one of four
suitors who took the first place in q
billiard tournament. And there are
at least three recorded cases in which
matrimonial destiny has been deter
mined over the chess-board.
Even more singular was the meth
cd recently adopted by a wealthy
Neapolitan called Tesino who offered
his name and fortune to the lady who
could best cook macaroni to suit his
exacting palate. No fewer than 12O
ladies, we are told, entered with zest
into the contest for so tempting a
prize, with the result that a few
weeks later the successful macaronl
expert was led to the altar by the de-
lighted signor, whose wedding pres
ent took the gratifying form of S4,-
900.
A short time ago the hearts of Wall
street brokers were fluttered by the
appearance among them of an attrac-
tive young lady, "a handsome blonde,
with blue eyes and an exceedingly
graceful figure" She carried valise
containing a number of tickets which
bore the legend, For the purpose of
assisting the completion of the musi-
cal education of Miss Edwina, I agree
to pay the sum of $40. If this number
proves to be the lucky one in rattle,
matrimony may be considered" ;"
Within a short time every ticket of
this novel lottery was disposed Of.
Miss Edwina carried off more gold
than was necessary for the training
of her erich soprano voice." but
whether she secured a husband with
her harvest, history is silent.
While Miss Edwina was thus bar
tering her charms for the sake of her
voice, Miss Elizabeth Magic, young
lady of Washington, was boldly ad-
vertising herself for sale as "a slave
for life' to the highest bidder, Civ
ing a tempting catalogue of her per-
fections, from her "gray-green eyes,
full, passionate lips, splendid teeth
and graceful figure" to her love of
poetry, her truthfulness, honesty and
essential womanliness.
II represent" she says, "an outlay
of $4,000, which my late father
spent on my education and training,
in return for which, in addition to
constant soul-destroying labor as a
typist, I am realizing an income of
$40 week. I am curious to ascer-
tain what is the highest market value
set upon an American slave girl by
the slave masters -
Even more remarkable was the Of
fer of a husband as prize to lady
canvassers made by an enterprlslng
tea company. "The young lady"
this amazing offer ran, "who produces
the best results compared with the
amount of salary received for not
less than six months service, will re-
ceive $4,000 and will be allowed to
marry any single young gentleman in
the firm. Shoule he refuse to
marry her we will pay her breach of
promise damages, $500 extra, and
dismiss the young gentleman from
the firm"
Wives have been won more than
once by the toss of coin, but never
under more dramatic conditions than
the following: Two Genoa wood cary
ers who were rival suitors for the
hand of a pretty little milliner, de-
cided to leave their fate to the de-
cision of coin spun in the air. When
the fateful coin fell and Signor Nizza
saw that he had lost, he produced a
revolver and shot himself in the head,
falling dead at his successful rlvals