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Seeking Matrimony
100 Years Ago
I SAW RECENTLY a matri-<*>
monial advertisement which
appeared in "The Manchester
Guardian" 100 years ago, and
its length and detail and quaint man
ner of expression caused me to seek a
comparison in the columns of our
newspapers of today.
A modern advertisement from the
mans side states:—"Refined intelli
gent gent, 45, desires friendship lady
under 40, affectionate, not thin, day
or evening. Collect Tuesday. Clean.
R, this office." One from the
woman's side is even more concise.
It reads:—"Lady, 26, view to matri
mony, wishes to meet genuine gent.
Straw Widow, this office.
Compare with these the century-old
appeal for a helpmate. Evidently as
he said, he was "possessed of a nice
independency," for he did not sacrifice
the space needed for his advertise
ment for the sake of clarity. I ought
add that it appeared on two different
occasions three days apart.
MATRIMONY. —Not being able to
meet with c suitable person,
"among the circle of my acquaint
ances," to become my partner for
life, I hove taken this course, as
being the only one left, in hopes of
hearing of a Lady whose disposition
might be so far in unison with my
own as to lead to the supposition,
that a life of happiness would be the
result of o matrimonial connection.
Without, then, any further pro
logue, I shall at once state my ac
quirements:—l am young, well edu
cated, highly respectably connected,
of an agreeable exterior, possessed
of a nice independency, and shall
obtain considerable property at fhe
death of a near relative. I also
flatter myself I have a good disposi
tion, and some little pretensions to
the possession of a mind. Should
any lady consider this worth her
attention, let no scruples of delicacy
interfere, as I pledge my honor as
o gentleman the utmost secrecy shall
be observed.—Address A.8., Post
Office; Manchester, to be left until
colled for.—N.B. Post-paid ad
dresses only will be received.
One year later when the penny pos- j
tege was introduced, tie would perhaps
not have been so particular about
"post-paid addresses."
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