The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-12-11
An Episode Of
Travel
By MARTHA v. MONROE

brought about in different ways from
those prevailing in America. With us
the great bulk Of the marriages are
made for love; in Europe they are
largely arranged by the parents. With
us the bride is not expected to have
II stated dowry; in Europe the amount
must not only be fixed, but settled
upon the bride before marriage. In
America there are no marriage bro
kers, or, at least. there is no such insti-
tuition; in Europe there are places, nota-
bly, Geneva. where most Of the mar
riages are brought about by this craft.
Jim Wilson, a young American, find
ing himself in a place where such was
the prevailing custom. was much in
terested in it. Jim was one OF those
fellows who are not content with OBJ
serving odd ways. but must try them.
gave him an ol,ler for a wife. Not
that he expected to marry: his purpose
was to experience Il case OF wife ne
gotiation. The broker told him that
the man was expected to deposit suf-
ficient money to pay all expenses: that
when introduced to a lady. the object
being matrimony, he might, after see
ing her. withdraw. and she had the
same privilege. .
All classes availed themselves OF
the brokerage system, from the high
est down to those who could not af-
ford the expense. Jim was introduced
to the daughter of a colonel in the
army. Hc found Il very ladylike and
a very comely young person who re-
ceived him, ignoring the purpose of
the meeting entirely. but chatting with
him frankly and With charming man
ner-
Jim could not understand how a girl
Of her refinement could depend upon a
broker to find her a husband, and yet
he knew that in the place where she
lived such was considered about the
only process by which girls could find
husbands. He felt ashamed Of himself
for entering upon the matter since he
had done SO merely from curiosity.
Thinking that the best way out Of
the matter WAS to withdraw Mt once.
he told his broker to say to the lady
that he had decided that marriages be-
tween different nationalities were not
. likely to he happy and if he. married he
would mate With one Of his W coun-
trywomen. He had been told that it
was the privilege OF either party to
withdraw and felt no conjunction at
doing So.
One day while walking in a park.
where a military band was playing
as people promenaded or sat about
in groups. he came upon the young
lady he had met for the purpose of
gratifying his matrimonial curiosity
sitting at a table with her father, who
was slipping wine and smoking ciga-
rettes. He expected to be recognized. If
at all. with reserve. perhaps embarrass.
ment. To his surprise she bowed to
him with Il smile. He did the proper
thing by advancing and expressing
himself charmed to meet her again.
Her father. the colonel. rose, bowed
very low and invited him to take n
seat and partake Of a liter of wine.
Jim was immensely plesed. After
all. the matrimonial brokerage custom
was not SO bad. At any rate, here was
IL girl who had the good sense to con
slider the p~re1iminaries in the light of
a business transaction and not feel
hurt that he had not proceeded in the
affair. He chatted with her for some
time. when her father took her away.
giving him a cordial invitation to call
upon them.
lin was much pleased to make a
pleasant acquaintance in this peculiar
manner. When he reached home it
would be mi Of the episodes Of travel
to tell his friends. He determined to
accept the invitation for once ut least
and within a few days made the call.
The lady. though al modest as before.
seemed to feel a greater freedom that
the matrimonial business was no long
er between them. Contrary to Euro.
pean customs. he was left alone with
her and when he departed felt that he
had spent one of the most delightful
evenings OF. his life. /,
Three weeks from that evening me
left the lady again feeling that for him
the bottom had dropped out Of the uni
verse. He had fallen desperately In
love with the lady he had declinedsto
marry and proposed to her. She had
refused him. giving him to understand
that she would no marry a foreigner
and Oh no account.an American.
II MI. Wilson had any curiosity it
was to know why she had received
him cordially ut first as u suitor
and now that he was ready to complete
what the broker had begun would. not
accept him. He knew that her father
had nothing but his pay in the army
and had felt certain that the marriage
on that account alone might have been
arranged. he concluded to, go to the
broker who had introduced him with a
view to learning what had brought
about the change. That person said
to him:
"Monsieur. the lady could not be ex-
pected to meet with a refusal on your
part to marry her. She has punished
yOn for that"