Year: 1874

A paper of the late lady Amberley in
Nacmillian's Magazine describes visit
she paid to novel institution in Palermo
Picture large long room, the center por-
ton of which is divided off from the sides
and further end by an iron grating which
forms cage, entered only by we'll bar
red street door, through which visitors
from the outer world are admitted Here
they sit on benches to converse with those
on the outside of the iron grating. Friends
Of the Sisters or employees of the place
and the fotser parents are the usual visi-
tors Once a week, however, on Sunday
mornings, from ten to twelve, this place is
the scene of the most novel and ludicrous
courtships. One of the objects of this
mortherly establishment is to find fit and
proper husbands for the girls under their
charge, the one requisite being that the
young man is bound to show himself in
possession of sufficient means to maintain
wife in comfort before he is allowed to as
pire to the hand of one of these
precious damsels. Having given in his
credentials of fitness to the guardians, he
receives a card which admits him next Sun
fdar morning to an inspection of the candi-
dates for matrimony.


THE DETRoTHAL.


There, sitting on bench, if his curiosi-
ty and arder will allow him to remain sit
ting, he waits the arrival on the other side
of the grating of the Lady Superior, ac-
companied by girl. She has been selec-
ted by the order of seniority and capacity
for household work from the hundred or
more between seventeen and twenty-one
awaiting for a youth to deliver them from
their prison. The two young people, both
no doubt breathless with agitation at the
Importance of the ceremony, have to take
one long, fixed look at each other No
word is spoken, no sign made. These good
Sisters believe SO fully in the language of
the eye that to their minds any addition is
futile, and might but serve to mystify the
pure and perfect effect of love at first sight
The look over, the Lady Superior asks the
man if he will accept the maiden as his
bride. Should he answer in the afirma-
tive the same question is put to her, and if
she bows her assent the betrohal has taken
place, and they part till the Sunday follow
ing.


SIGNING THE CONTRACT.


The young lover again makes his appear
ance before the tribunal of guardians, and
there the contract is signed, the day of mar
riage fixed, and he is granted leave to bring
the ring, earnings, wedding dress and
confetti and present them through the grill,
of course, to his betrothed. Evcrythg has
to pass the scrutiny of the Sisters, for fear
of letter of some tender word being slip
ped in with the gifts. During the Sundays
! that intervene between the first love scene
and the marriage, an hours's conversation
within hearing of the Lady Superior is al
lowed, but not touch exchanged. The
empty talk, interspersed with giggling, CON
sists Of inquiries as to the wedding dress,
the sort of confetti most liked and the oc-
cupation and place of abode Of the suitor
| Sould the young man refuse the first dam
sci presented to him he is favored with the
! sight of three or more, but should he still
appear di6iciIe he is dismissed This girl
also has the power of refusal.


NO GOODS WARRANTED.


The marriage over the task of the Sis
ters is done, and whether happiness and
faithfulness are the result of this heathenish
rite they never inquire. Visitors have
wondered what inducement there can be
to make the youths who have the world to
choose from come here in search of wife
Two hundred and fifty francs is the great
attraction. The sum is given in dowry
with each of these girls, and for that sum,
it seems, Sicilian is willing to sell himself
for life. Those girls for whom the institu-
ton fails to find husbands are allowed at
twenty-one to face temptations alone, and
situations are found for them.