HUN MARRIAGE MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 70, 22 March 1919, Page 17

HUN MARRIAGE MARKETS.

>'arriage in +iie land of Kultur has ever been a sordid affair of barter, writes J Henry de Halsalle, in the "Daily Mail." In all large German towns there are certain places and certain days where and when members of the middle and well-to-do classes assemble for the purpose of arranging betrothals. Army officers heavily in debt, roues whose health has been ruined by debauchery, manufacturers threatened with bankruptcy, merchants and officials in monetary difficulties—all these seek matrimonial partners suitable for their' particular requirements. Such assemblies are aptly known as "marriage markets." In Germany it is absolutely necessary I hat a woman desiring a husband should possess a dowry, and the larger the dowry the better chance she has of finding the man. Money will always compensate the German for any defect of physique or character; and the unsatisfactory state of affairs arising out of these ill-assorted and sordid unions is indicated in statistics. For the period 1897-11)07 the number of divorce petitions in the Fatherland was "20,340. as against 965 in England for the period 1900-1910. But not all German marriages are arj ranged in the "markets." The advertise- : merit columns of the Press also afford I useful nadia. The Teuton father, too, has often a j graceful touch in advertising an unneeded daughter. Thus a notification ! from the "Berliner Tageblatt": — I "I have an excellent daughter to ' marry, who refused many good offers J when" young. She is now 29, and I would ! give a good dowry to a suitable husband, j a tradesman if possible, or well-to-do j artisan if pious and averse from alcohol." What, ono wonders, would an Eng- ; lishwoman (confessing to 20) have to • say if she found that her parent had advertised the fact that she was no i longer young; and what sort of a re- ! reption would await the pious, teetotal workman when he presented himself?