GERMAN FRAULEINS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16738, 20 May 1922, Page 17

GERMAN FRAULEINS.

WAR CAUSES SHORTACE OF HUSBANDS. MARRIAGE BROKERS DO GOOD BUSINESS. (Correspondent “New York Herald.”) Marriage brokers are doing a thriving business in Germany. The important role being played by marriage agents, to whose services thousands of people take recourse, is one- of the characteristic features of social life in Berlin and the other cities of Germany. It is accentuatingly interesting that those who seek the literal marriage marts are not, as may be supposed to the contrary, representative of the poorer classes. The clientele of the marriage brokers now consists almost exclusively of members of the aristocracy, the landed gentry and the families which grew into aristocracy before the war by means of industrial power. Curiously, the war profiteers arid the nouveaux riches on the one hand, and the plebian folk on the other do not seem to find the need to avail themselves of the matrimonial markets. They seem to be able to manage for themselves. Thus the new spirit in Germany becomes apparent in the field of matrimony also. National, racial and social prejudices have received a severe blow from republican ideas which, while w elcome to those formerly oppressed, is replaced in the mind of a part of the once privileged classes by a spirit of resignation. A remarkable fact is the considerable number of marriages between German women and Americans —both German-Americans and full Americans. EJven Franco-German marriages are frequent, while the marriage offer of a central Afrioan native chief is “favourably considered ” by a, German lady who* hails from old military stock. AGENCY TELLS OF GROWING BrTSINFSS These and other characteristic facts were mentioned and explained to me by Mrs Lehmann, the owner of one of Berlin’s best known marriage agencies. “We are extremely busy,” she said. “Through my efforts 168 marriages were concluded last year, while we scored about 200 weddings in 1920. Forty-eight ol' my clients celebrated their betrothal lost Christmas. “ It seems that the German woman has a good reputation abroad. She is a good housewife and mother. The economic situation in Germany makes it very difficult for the average woman to find an ideal husband in the Fatherland. This accounts for the fact that a very great number of our women are interested in getting married to foreigners. Nationality has ceased to be an obstacle. It is immaterial whether they are former enemies or not. In fact, preference is given to Americans. Only Dutchmen are rather unpopular among our ladies, who consider them too coarse. “ About 50 per cent of the women ready to get manned abroad are members of the aristocracy, although practically none of their future husbands belong to their own social class. In justice to our women I must say, however, that their attitude is not, as might be supposed, inspired by materialistic motives. “ It goes without saying that they want husbands of assured circumstances, but a good character and education and corresponding manners are considered idispensable. Their attitude is the same in regard to German husbands, and even aristocratio women of wealth are perfectly willing to marry gentlemen of the middle class if only they are fit to become good and thoughtful husbands. THOUGHTFUL HUSBANDS IN DEMAND. ” The prolonged absence of so many men from their families during the war has had the result that most women now explicitly ask for thoughtful husbands. It is also characteristic that the greater part of those who intend to get married abroad are not young girls yearning for romance, but mature and sensible women who know life. Poor people cannot use the services of marriage agents because this procedure is too expensive. O n the other hand, the new rich* do not need our services, because with the present high cost of living in Germany it is they, and they only, who give big par ties and private balls where young people get. acquainted. Our clients are the aristocracy and their families of high officials who cannot now afford to indulge in an expensive social life, and also the wealthy old families who own land or industries and live in the provinces where, by the force of circumstances, they have little social intercourse.” People who use the services of a marnage agent here are required to make a small advance payment to cover the expenses of correspondence, etc. The usual fee asked by agents is 2 percent of the bride’s cash property, no matter whether it was the husband or the wife who solicited the services of the agent. , The same principle is applied in regard ' to fees even when the husband is much wealthier than the wife. In this case, however, the former is expected, but not required, to pay a fee to the matchmaker. Tt is curious that German law does not protect the interests of marriaga agents. They are not entitled to sue a client for the payment of their fees, and it is said to happen pretty often that the happily married couple forgets all about the agent’s claims, while the latter is deprived of the protection of the laAv. MARRIAGE BROKERS A BENEFIT. Our expenses have increased twenty times since 1914, and yet our business has never flourished like this. Our correspondence amounts to about a hundred letters a day,” another Berlin agent, who may be considered the busiest and “ classiest ” in Central Europe, told me. “ 1 do not believe in marriages through advertising. Advertisements of this kind often lead to great disappointment, let alone the fact that many unscrupulous people are merely looking out lor adventures, and use these advertisements to obtain their ends. Besides, a private party cannot make such careful and systematic inquiries about the person who figures as a marriage candidate as a professional agent who has both the practice and the responsibility. Professional matchI making offers much more of a guarantee to the parties concerned.” As to the age and appearance of women who take recourse to the agent's services, I must admit that 1 had been under the influence of erroneous idea**. 1 had heard so many anecdotes about ugly old maidens looking for a husband. I remembered the unfortunate bachelor who was introduced by a marriage agent to a wealthy and exceptionally plain-looking woman, and who, upon his complaint to the agent that the ladyha d freckles and a hunchback and was •y xui, cd (lac. ctuueoling reply,

"‘You can safely talk aloud. She is deaf, too.” My surprise was therefore genuine when by the courtesy of the agent I saw some photographs of female “ marriage candidates.” My eyes rested on the portrait of a charming, exquisitely dressed young lady. SOME APPLICANTS. il The only child of the owner of one of our biggest banks,” was the comment. “ Her parents are looking out for a serious young man of good family. He must be a graduate of law and able to take charge of the bank one day.” My eager question whether there were already any suitable candidates for this marriage, was misunderstood. “ There are three already, but 1 can put you on the waiting list,” was the reply. Another photograph shows a slender, well built young lady with beautiful features, standing in front of what looks like a garden door of a gorgeous country home. She is twenty-three years old and the daughter of a wealthy landowner- Another very handsome lady, Countess N. ? about twenty years old, is the heiress of a huge property which is famous for its/wine production She would prefer getting married to a member of the aristocracy, but makes no condition of it. Her future husband is expected to be able to run the pro perty and the extensive wine export business. A fair-headed, beautiful young girl in riding breeches is the daughter of a wealthy farmer of German extraction, who lives in the Argentine, and wants a German husband of university education, with a knowledge of agriculture. Several ladies whose photographs I saw are neither beautiful nor plain. Not a single one is ugly, as far as 1 could make out from the portraits. There were several of exceptional beauty. Most of them are wealthy, hut there was a couple of girls from Vienna whose only dowry is their charm. “We are particularly happy,” the j agent declared, “ whenever we find a good matoh for a poor girl of good family.” OFFICERS AND ARISTOCRATS NOT THOUGHT DESIRABLE. On the whole, male candidates are now judged by German women upon their personal merits. Officers and exoffioers are not wanted, and aristocrats have but a small chance of being elected for their title’s sake. Importance is attached to the future husband’s character and manners, and almost in every instance he is required to possess business ability. On the other hand, men looking out for fiancees are not so materialistic as might be expected, now that the outcome of the war has upset economic life and social traditions. There are, of course, many who expect their wife to bring capital into their business. But most of the seekers are chiefly bent on marrying a good housewife and mother. Sense and knowledge of art and music are often required. The planless and lonely life led by so many million men during four years of war have aroused in them a longing for a comfortable home, and this is their first and foremost consideration :-n choosing a wife. War widows who intend to marry again cannot, however, help attaching importance to the financial condition of their husband-elect, for, according to the law, a war widow loses her pension on marrying a second time. Nevertheless, many German marriage candidates prefer widows to girl*, and the number of widows who get married again is constantly increasing and considerably reducing the girls’ chances. '