NO TAKERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 714, 13 July 1929, Page 7

NO TAKERS

Wealthy Man's Bid for English Wife

The strange failure ot a rich American to find an English wife, although he offered her a luxurious home and £3,000 a year, is revealed by the Rev. Joseph Shepherd, the well-knovu minister of a chapel at Islington, London.

Mr. Shepherd was asked by a rich American of early middle-age, living in New York, to find him a wife, but although Mr. Shepherd put this proposal to a women’s meeting at his church not one woman present showed the slightest interest In the suggestion.

“Last year I was in America,” Mr. Shepherd said in an interview, “I am greatly Interested in the development of Anglo-American friendship, and some words ot mine found their way into some American newspapers, and were read by this rich American. “He is also deeply interested in friendship between the English-speak-ing peoples, and a few days ago 1 received a letter from him in which he said that he had always much admired English and Scottish women, and that he was anxious to find a British wife. “He asked me to help him. He was sure that as a minister ot religion I should be able to put him in touch with a fine specimen ot British womanhood, and so save him, should his request be made known in another way, from responses from mere adventuresses. “There is no doubt that this was a genuine offer, prompted by the highest possible motives. “My correspondent sent many references,” Mr. Shepherd continued, “which I fully investigated, and which completely bore out all that he said of himself. “He said that he would he able to otter his wife a luxurious home, and was In a position to make her an allowance ot about £3,000 a year. “At a women’s meeting held at my church In Upper Street, Islington, I mentioned this offer in an address I gave on ‘votes for women.’

“The meeting was made up ot all kinds of women, young, middle-aged, old, rich and boor. I told these women that it anyone of them liked to be put into communication with this American I would see that It was done. “Afterwards I discussed the matter with several members who were present. “Not one of them, however, was prepared to leave Islington to find comfort and security for life as the wife of an American of the highest character.

“Naturally, it would he easy for anyone to send a shipload ot undesirable applicants to this American. But the type of woman I should like to have sent is exactly the type of woman who would not leave Islington. “Women ot my congregation were appreciative of the good will ot the American’s otter, and were able to see the sincerity of his motives. But Islington is home to them, and they would rather starve here than be rich in America.” Mr. Shepherd has lived in South Africa, and has always been interested in the question of emigration to the Dominions and to the United States. At first he was a little disappointed that he was unable to help his American correspondent. “Then,” he added, “I realised the significance ot the utter indifference which my people showed. It meant that they set a high value on the dignity ot marriage, and that no mone-

tary inducement could persuade them to consider a life-union with an unknown man.”

Mr. Shepherd, not having found an applicant among his own congregation, does not intend to pursue the matter further.