AN ANCIENT AUCTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1689, 21 January 1888, Page 3

AN ANCIENT AUCTION.

The account which follows is taken from a historian of Babylon, who wrote of the fifth century before Christ, and it may undoubtedly be relied upon as a correct picture of the times. These old Babylonians believed in marriage; and if the woman, old enough to marry, did not find a husband of her own good fortune, then she must be provided for by the public. And to this end, an auction of unmarried women took place annually. The most beautiful of the girls were first put up, and the man of good character who bid the highest sum took his choice. And so they went on until the really desirable wives wore all disposed of. In some instances, where young ladies of rare beauty were presented, large sums were paid —such sums, in fact, as only a man of means could afford.

And now, what was done with the money accruing from these sales. W e will tell you: After all the goodlooking girls had, been disposed of there were some for whom no one would make an offer; and some there were whom no man would take except he were paid for it. And now* came bidding in the other direction. : Instead of the man saying how much he would give for the wife, he said for what sum, cash in hand, he would accept her. The woman unfortunate enough to be homely, but healthy and strong, was put up and bid off to the man who would take her for the least money. Naturally there would be a few really homely ones, who he would not take, except he was paid a large sum. And thus it might happen that the large sum paid by one man for the most beautiful of the young girls would be paid to another man for acceptiag the plainest and homeliest of the lot.

In this way we see, the sums paid lor the desirable wives became marriage portions to the unfortunately undesirable ones. So in the end the sale was completed and the docket successfully cleared. There is one other thought that forces its way upon us: How often do yon suppose it happened that of those men who had been paid to take a homely faced wife, found himself in possessed of a treasure ? And, on the other hand) how many of those who had been attracted by a beautiful face, and had paid a large sum of money "for their choice, would, before the year was out, have gladly exchanged for one of the plainer faced?—Exchange.