LAND OF HUSBANDS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1924, Page 9

LAND OF HUSBANDS

SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S REPUTATION.

(?&OM OUR OTTN CORBBCFOtoBNT.) SYDNEY, 17th January. ' Not a little heartburning was caused amongst eligible young ladies throughout Australia during the war by the number of brides who were brought home from England by the soldiers. As well as the more personal grounds that in looks and capabilities and physique Australia had nothing to be ashamed of compared with other lands, the point was raised that the men should be urged to caution because many of the brides were accustomed to easy conditions in England, and had a complete misconception of what they were likely to encounter in Australia. Unfortunately this proved, in many cases to be only too true, with the result that some returned to- their native land heart-broken. Ihis misconception, however, was more often due to the human trait in some of the men which led them to paint their life, prospects, and adventures in Australia in more glowing colours than closer' acquaintance justified. But the general principal that before becoming a brido was well that the young ladies should become acquainted with the life and conditions that they would meet was proved to be sound. Based on this experience the same warnings are being pronounced m connection with a curious little epidemic of husband-seeking letters which has broken out in South Australia. Some months ago a young lady of an evidently imaginative and romantic turn of mind, wrote to the Chief Secretary in that State from England, saying that she was looking for "a home, a husband, a baby, and a horse," and that she thought there might be eligible bachelors in Australia, who would be glad to communicate with her on the subject. When the matter got into the Press several replies were sent in, and the prospective husbands were given the-lady's address. The promising result evidently obtained publicity in the "Leeds Mercury," for letters are now starting to now in, and it is believed that with a little more publicity there would soon be enough willing ladies to supply all the bachelors in the State—a condition of affairs by no means to the taste., of the undoubtedly fine types offering nearer home. One of the later applicants is a widow, who confides that she is 48 years of age, and the mother of two sons, aged 19 and 20 respectively, and that she would like to have them with her in her new home. She describes herself as refined, domesticated, and affectionate, and is confident that she would make some lonely man comfortable. Rather than encourage such affairs as these the authorities in the States content themselves with pointing out the opportuni-ties-that exist in Australia for domestic service, .leaving those who thus qualify to plan their own matrimonial ventures with_ full knowledge of the man and the conditions that they are undertaking.