Video: Both laughter and sin: marriage announcements of the 19th - early 20th centuries, or How bachelors were looking for a mate and solving financial problems
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
On September 29, 1650, the world's first marriage agency appeared in London, and in 1695 in the collection How to Improve Economy and Trade appeared first marriage announcements … The title of the collection has nothing to do with the topic only at first glance: at that time matchmakers and other marriage intermediaries acted rather as coordinators of capital mergers, helping to conclude mutually beneficial deals.
A successful marriage or marriage was often only a means to increase one's fortune or to save oneself from ruin. Therefore, in the first marriage announcements, information about the amount of income and dowry was necessarily provided. "A gentleman of 30 years of age, announcing that he possesses a significant fortune, wishes to marry a young lady with a fortune of approximately 3,000 pounds and is ready to conclude an appropriate contract on this account"; “A 25-year-old young man with a lucrative business, to whom his father is willing to give £ 1,000, would willingly enter into a marriage suited to his position. His parents raised him in faith, and he is distinguished by sober behavior, "read one of the first marriage announcements in the collection How to Improve the Economy and Trade.
However, not only wealthy gentlemen allowed themselves to advertise the search for rich brides. The impoverished military in Russian newspapers of the late 19th - early 20th centuries. without hesitation they declared: “The non-commissioned officer would like to marry a girl who has her own capital. Wedding at the expense of the bride "; “If I were rich: I would only take a poor girl as my wife; but I'm poor, intel. with higher. obraz., agronomist-technician, Pole, 35 years old, I offer myself as a husband only to a rich girl, (not less than 100,000 rubles. cap.). The one who agrees will not regret the choice ever made; I will not answer anonymous."
Men skillfully advertised their merits: “I decided to marry, but I don’t know who. Everyone loves me, I am not rich, but I am beautiful; I am 25 years old, height is above average, character is soft. Those who are rich, handsome and not older than 19 years old, I ask you to respond, it would be desirable to be the only one. daughter of parents, agrees to enter the house and live with her parents. Please do not hesitate, the matter is serious. " The shortcomings were also stated directly: “I have a good condition, 30 years old, blond, I drink heavily, I wish to marry a person who would try to save me from this disease”; “I am poor and ugly. I am looking for the fullest contrast. Woman respond. The purpose of marriage."
Some businessmen openly offered a mutually beneficial deal: “A wife, a companion with a capital of 5 thousand, is looking for a respectable gentleman, 35 years old, who opens a canteen. The case promises a tremendous success”; “A decrepit bachelor, an aged baron, of a noble family, does not have the means to live, wants to transfer the baronial title to a lady, a maiden through marriage; origin and religion are indifferent; capital is needed 5-6 thousand. Can adopt, adopt."
In German editions of the XIX century. also published similar announcements: "A Jew, 30 years old, wants to marry a representative of a large Berlin production of blouses and dresses"; “Landowner, 40 years old, evang. religion, looking for acquaintance with a wealthy lady, especially if she is a landowner."
Sometimes the commercial proposals of men were hidden under a romantic veil: “A representative, serious, intellectual, 29 years old, who has not lost faith in ideal love (unsuccessful marriage), is looking for a marriage with a young girl, at least who had a mistake in the past, but with solid capital, to expand his business, in which he wants to find oblivion."
Women did not lag behind men in frankness: “Beautiful, with mermaid eyes, all woven of nerves and originality, invites an intelligent, very rich gentleman capable of a strong bright feeling to the holiday of life; the goal is marriage”; “20 years old, an educated young lady is looking for a husband of a millionaire, certainly an elderly one, in order to avoid infidelity”; “Who marries a girl who has a“sin”in the past, albeit involuntarily? Pretty, educated, young, I have no money, I live by my labor”; “A very interesting young lady (blonde, dark-eyed) with funds; wants to get married. Only for one who possesses at least one, but very large, merit”; "A very beautiful brunette immediately wants to marry a millionaire, without a past and without a dowry."
Our contemporaries also rely on the old proven method - the Chinese hang up marriage announcements right in the central park: Shanghai Marriage Market
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