HUN MARRIAGE MARKETS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16423, 25 April 1919, Page 3

HUN MARRIAGE MARKETS.

(By Henry do Halsalle, Author of “Degenerate Germany.”) Marriage in the land of Kultur has ever been a sordid affair of barter. 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 whoso 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 that a woma n desiring a husband should possess a dot, and the larger tho dot tho bettor chance she has of-finding tho man. Money will always compensate the German for any defect of physique or character; and-the unsatisfactory state of affairs arising out of these illassorted and sordid unions is indicated in statistics. For the period 1897-1907 tho number of divorce petitions in the Fatherland was 20,340, against 965 in England for tho period 1900-1910. But not all Gorman marriages are arranged in tho “markets.” The advertisement columns of tho press also afford useful media. Frequently these matrimonial advertisements are the only items of humour appearing in tho Berlin principal news sheets; but no German deems them humorous. ! The Teuton father, too, has often a graceful touch in advertising an unneeded daughter. Thus a notification from the Berliner Tagoblatt: I have an excellent daughter to marry, who refused many good offers, when young. She is now 29, and I would give a good dowry to a suitable husband, a tradesman if possible, I or well-to-do artisan if pious and averse from alcohol. 1 What, one wonders, would an English- I woman (confessing to 29) have to say 1 if she found that her parent had adver- 1 tisod the fact that she was no longer ‘ young; and what sort of a reception would await the pious, teetotal workman when lie presented himself? Daily Mail. .