PUBLIC MATCHMAKER NO. 1

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

PUBLIC MATCHMAKER NO. 1

Kind-Hearted Mayor's Parlour Becomes a Matrimonial Bureau JOVIAL, kind-hearted Mayor of Boston, Lincolnshire —Mr. J. H. Mountain—has become a famous figure and is rapidly qualifying for the title of "Great Britain's Public Matchmaker No. 1." Since the publication of the story of the part the Mayor played in helping Miss Ruth Bell, orphan girl of Sutterton, near Boston, to recover from her shattered romance, Mr. Mountain has been snowed under with letters from men and women in all parts of Britain, and even from abroad, asking him if he can find them wives and husbands.

IN the first place, 23 letters offering Miss Bell marriage were sent to Mr. Mountain, who had had the unhappy task of telling Miss Bell that her postal romance with a man named Quirk in Australia was apparently a hoax. Miss Bell bought her trousseau, packed her trunks, cabled £ls to Quirk and was awaiting her ticket to Australia from him when Mr. Mountain informed her that other girls had received similar offers of marriage from Quirk. "I am convinced now that Quirk had no intention of marrying me," she said in an interview, "and I have forgotten about him. The letters which I have received have been very kind and given me considerable consolation. I am hoping that as a result I shall not have bought my trousseau in ▼ain."

road all up-hill. 1 have started a boardinghouse, but things are not turning out too good. I am looking for a good man who desires a partner." A single woman of 39, living near Nottingham:—

"I long for a home and a companion, i have been in service since I was 13 and have no home or family. I would not mind marrying a widower, and would do my best to make a man comfortable. I am not extravagant." Two sisters, aged 30 and 24 respectively, of Tottenham: — "We have a mother who is 64 and ill. We would be glad to get homes of our own so that we could help to make the closing years of her life a little happier. We are both of spotless character, kind and lovable. Two weeks ago one of us was jilted by a young man after spending ail our money on buying things for the home." A single woman of 39, living at Putney:— "I was disappointed in one love affair, but still long for a home and a good husband. I have never used paint or lipstick, and never would. I am fond of animals and am musical, but rather shy in company. I am only aver-age-looking, and have to wear glasses, but I hope no one will despise me for that." "Not Many Men About" A widow of 37. with one child of 13, living at Guildford: — "I am cot a good-times girl, and I feel there are not many men about for girls like myself. My husband died four years ago, and this lonely and unhappy lifo is proving too hard for me. I just long for someone to work

Now the mayor's parlour at the town hall has become the principal matrimonial exchange and mart in the British Empire. By every post scores of letters have poured in. Human Documents Mr. Mountain allowed a newspaper representative to examine more than 100 of these human documents, and they tell a poignant story, chiefly of the loneliness felt by men and women ;who are getting on in years. The majority came from wid"»?ra and .widowers with children, who Deed a

father's and a mother's loving care. (The , desire for companionship and a home—rather than riches, or even a fair share of this world's goods—was uppermost in the thoughts of most of the writers. ,

for and look after. I am so fed up and lonely." A widow of 47, living at Cambridge: "I have been expecting to marry a man for five years. Now he has let me down. No one knows how lonely and sad I am. I am longing for a chance to be happy again. If only a business man would take pity on me."

For obvious reasons the names and addresses of the writers cannot be disclosed, but the following are extracts from some of the letters. They tell their own story:— "To Help My Mother" From a cripple girl of'2l, living in Surrey, who enclosed a photograph of herself in an invalid chair: — "Could''you please find me a nice young farmer as a' husband? He must be an Australian, as my father was one. I am' young and pretty, with grey eyes and curly hair. I am going.to hospital soon, and the doctor says he will be able to make me walk again. I want to get married, so that I can help my poor mother, who is one of the best."

A widow •of 40, living at Tottenham:—

"Only those who suffer loneliness know what it is like*—no one to speak to day after day, night after night. At times 1 feel heart-broken and long for the love and companionship of a good, hard-working man. I don't want a man for money, I would be happy if he could only afford to keep a roof over our heads and sufficient food to live on."

"Longing for a Home" A single woman, living at Nottingham:—

" A month ago my mother, to whom I gave all my attention, died. Now I am at the cross-roads, faced with selling my home and finding work or finding a husband. Nothing in the world is worse than loneliness. I have nothing in the way of this world's goods to offer, but I can positively promise one thing—a loyal heart." A single woman of 35 living at Blackpool: "For 18 years 1 have been a companion to a young lady. Now I am longing for a home of my own. I am miserably shy, do not go dancing, and consequently do not meet many people. I am broad-minded and even-temperorl and would not mind a man with a baby." A man of 35, living at Leigh-on-Sea: —

A widow of 47, living at Whitstable, Kent:—

"I hav»j a little girl of nine. She keeps on saying that she wished she had a daddy like other little girls, and if I could find a good man I would willingly marry again. I do not smoke or drink, but at the same time 1 am f not a bit old-fashioned."

A single woman of 31, living in Paris, * who enclosed an attractive photograph:— "I am a Children's nurse, and have been in France ten years. I have also worked in South Africa and Italy, but, being English, my one desire is to marry an Englishman and have a little homo of my, own in the country. I love housework and housekeeping, but most of all I love babies, and my greatest happiness would be to have one of my own. I have £2OO in the bank and my trousseau all ready."

"i am 6ft. tall, fair, in perfect health, and have £3OOO behind me. The wife I am looking for must not be over 25; height about sft. Bin., slim, good complexion, carriage and speech. I think

"Plain and Shy" A single woman of 40, living at Manchester:— •

"L ain a business woman, rather plain and s>ny, and have never worried much about attracting the opposite sex until lately, when 1 realised that I cannot go on working at my job for ever. I do not crave for wealth or a great deal of amusement; just home life, peace and contentment, if that is possible in this age. ' "l am afraid 1 am a little oldfashioned, but sincere and affectionate, and if 1 could find someone willing to share life with mo based on these ideals I can assure you there would be nothing Bham or artificial about it. I don't expect any man to be perfect." A single woman of 45, living at Southampton:—

"I would give my life to meet a decent man who would provide me with a home of my own and a garden. For years 1 have been a housekeeper, but never luqky enough to find a man who wanted a wife as well as a housekeeper. 1 am still attractive, and feel that it .is a waste of a woman's life to go on being just a housekeeper." A pathetic, yet dignified appeal from a Avidow of 43, with two child;*en, living at Birmingham:— trying to carry on for the ® a °* children, but it is a lonely

the type 1 need is a hairdresser, shop assistant or typiste." A widower of 58, living at Bideford, Devon: —

"My home is my castle. I do not like a gay life. My wife, one of the best, died 18 months ago, and I do not want to sell up my home if I can avoid it. I have been a head gardener, and am thinking of retiring shortly to one of several houses which I own, and which bring mo in £l2O a year. I want a respectable and homely person." A widower of 60, living at Streatham:-!-

"My family have all grown up and married. 1 now feel very lonely, and would like to got into touch with a widow between 60 and 60, bo that we could be a comfort to each other in our closing years. I am in fair circumstances, having been employed with one firm for 20 years." Three young stokers, serving in the Royal Navy at Devonport:— "No doubt you have heard all the songs and saying about sailors, but we would like to tell you that any average sailor would just like five minutes with the authors of them. . .

"We three are pals, and so far have not had much luck with the opposite sex. Perhaps you could introduce us to three of your fair citizens. Wo have six more years to do in the Navy, and then we want to settle down." "Mother's Love"

A widower of 36, with two children, living at Plymouth:— "My wife died six years ago. My little boy of eight and my little girl of seven need a mother's love. I, too, feel the pangs of loneliness. I work in the dockyard, and am of temperate habits." A man of 70, living in South-East London:—

"I live alone and have no relatives, llctired, pensioned, and superannuated. My terms are £SO down and £1 a week to spend. When I am gone, she will receive iOs a week widow's pension, £52 back, and 10s a week for life." A widower of 37, who lives at Angus:— "My three children—eldest 12 and youngest six —badly need a mother. We wero all so happy when my wife was alive. I am a total abstainer. No worldly goods to offer, but a nice home and the affection of three lovely children." "Cannot Ignore Them" One writer suggested that the Mayor of Boston should prepare a list of those wno had written to him and circulate it.

But the mayor has not yet decided what he will do. "I do believe that most of the letters are really genuine, and I cannot ignore them," he declared. "It is so difficult to know what to do. . .

"I want to do the right thing. I hope to acknowledge the letters,, but if I start doing that now I shall havo no time for anything else. "The writers present so many angles and make the matter so complicated. Some of the men do not want to meet Miss Bell, but want mo to introduce them to someone else. It seems like a proper matrimonial exchange and mart.

"All £ can say now is that I shall deal with the letters at my discretion."