The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 7, 1904, Page 17

] Pages 171020 — CALL l Pages 171020 l B — SAN FRANCISCO, SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 1904. BELGIAN GIRLS CARRY OUT ODD SCHEME TO SECURE HUSBANDS WHEN HOME SUPPLY OF MEN GETS S E béndidates for Matrimony Numerous. SRR R 6.—W iageable ¥« en last year g girls of ng Belgian Hain- wful conclusior lage could not § to go arou foreign parts (the nce, including e over the hill strange that they co! migh ith a possible y as little real- would become I that I should for the n away from y of the having arrived, o be repeated, hus which is first rrow ra- crowned with > two be- ing di ¥ X ich might be a river of blood, so effectually does it separate them. Hence ¥ @’Enghien professed t ussines be entirely ig- norant of the day’'s festival in its s ter village, even though su. flower arches spanned its roads. The propri etor of 2 small draper’s shop, with a fine air of indifference, said she ad read something about it in the papers, but really knew nothing definite. BITTER RIVALRY. The rivairy has been made more bit- ter than e.er since Ecaus s-Lalaing has hit upon an idea which has brought mar nonial prizes and much trad = become famous not only in the general idea, but as having actu- ally succeeded in originating a delight- ful country custonm time when such are fast disappearing By 2 o'clock each village window framed the figure of a young girl, dressed in her Sunday best and looking cut like sister An for some one com- ing,” and singing, perhaps, in her heart the old song “Is Nobody Coming to Marry Me?” Invitations by mnotices, circulars and newspapers had been sent out far and wide, and youths re- sponded nobly to the call. From 2 o’clock on young men came in swarms. They were of all sorts and classes, from the farm Ilaborer who, clean, shining and guffawing, arrived in lum- bering carts, and young farmers, with rukish hats and smart ties, who came in neat gigs, to the townsmen, who ap- peared by train, in a delightful incon- gruity of attire, having apparently lost themselves amid the riches of their wardrobes, when they emerged in brown or white boots, frock coats or U/eC. FCAUSSINES . WVHERE HARRIAGES ARE CEZEBRATEL < ?“ .5 S AT FAMOUS BELGIAN HUSBAND MARKET. Some even came in auto- es for the festival dotted, open air, the small “place” on bank of the Senmette. On these -coveded tables bowls for coffee were placed. They had no hand were wreathed with roses and bore af- fectionate phrases suitable to the oc- casion, as did the many welcoming arch ome of which bc a design ot Cupids shooting with bow and arrows turtle doves, wedding rings and carrier pigeons with love letters. BRUSSELS DELEGATION. Excitement reached fever heat when eighteen smart bachelors, all with huge buttonhole bouquets and headed by a vivacious president, arrived from Brussels. There was an awful pause when 4 o'clock struck, and not one single young girl could be found with sufficient courage to go to the office tab and await a companion. They emerged shyly from their own door linked arms and, union giving courage, proceeded to thread the crowd. But they were deaf to all invitations. By ten minutes past 4 they were toss- ing their heads like proud society beauties, showing themselves off with all the airs and grace of finished co- quettes. They even wound their way between the tables (whereat every young man tucked up his collar and pulled down his waistcoat and pre- pared for a dash), but they would not ke their places. It seems that en- us rivals of other villages had made disparaging remarks on the anxiety of the girls of Ecaussines-Lalaing to secure husbands, and, as an old crone on a doorstep mumbled “our girls must show to-day that they are not to be picked up in a minute.” The swains were getting more than a little cross, when, the sacrifice to Mrs. Grundy having been paid, the girls’ president—the eldest of the party— gravely took her place at table. An- other and another followed, each leav- ing a vacant seat on either side. There was a shout from male throats, and in an instant every Jill had a Jack beside her, though honesty compels the acknowledgment that, the afternoon being hot, and many of the men having come long distances, they seemed at first far more interested in the coffee and a peculiar sweet cake made for the occasion, and known as a “mas- telle,” than in sweethearting. The mastelle looked hard and uninviting, but local custom allowed of its being dipped in the cup till it was soft and sloppy. I lcoked on with considerable in- terest at this odd fete, and was rather amused to find that, the bachelors being greatly in excess of the girls, I was receiving invitations myself to take coffee with one or another of the partnerless swains, invitations given by a whispered “Mdlle?” nudge and a jerk of the head in the direction of the tables. At last a smart young man from some neighboring country town advanced with great form,'and with much clicking of heels to white can- vas shoes and a flourish of the hs begged Madamoiselle to do him ti honor of taking coffee with him all that accepting his invita tion mi ir , I demurred, but his insistence, a of mischief born of the holiday feeling, made me change my nd with a smile in my sleeve the thought of the husband left at home I advanced to take my place with the rest. It must be stated that earlier in the afternoon my hostess had informed me that my arrival had been viewed with great disfavor by the gitls, who saw a possible advantage in my town-cut clothes and the fact that I wore a hat, which they did not. Being already pro- vided with admirers themselves, how- ever, they could now afford to be gen- erous, and my appearance as a candi- date for coffee and matrimonial honors was greeted with much applause. SEEKING A “CHIC” WIFE. It was with much amusement that I settled down to coffee and my new conquest. Oddly enough, he knew a few words of English (I suspect he was employed in some shop), and he gave me many terribly tortured English phrases to unravel, but at last he sank back into comfortable French. He was good to say he had noticed me the in- stant he arrived, that he liked some- thing “‘high class,” hazarded that I was perhaps at the head of some business, or perhaps maid to some lady of title. He was evidently seriously looking for a wife, and I grew rather anxious about the end of the edventure. With great volubility he pointed out that he was “joli garcon,” taking off his hat that I might admire his curly locks and dark eyes; told me that his posi- tion in life was “tres bonne,” that he had economies and was all the time artfully trying to resolve that burning question for Continental suitors—my “dot.” He told me he had a mother and that she intended coming with him that day to look out for him, but was prevented by illness. She would live with him after marriage, and would, he at = o was sure, welcome and love her daugh- ter-in-law. When I could get in a'word I hesi- tatingly tbld him I was not a candidate for hymeneal advancement, drawing off my glove that he should see my wed- ding ring. Fortunately a diversion occurred then in a welcoming speech to the bachelors drom the lady president, made from a rude platform, in a voice choking with emotion. - It was very cleverly put to- gether, and her thanks for the ready response of the celibates “to the spin- sters’ call for succor” was very amus- ing. An excellent reply on behalf of the bachelors was made by the presi- dent of the Brussels party, who re- minded his hearers that last year's fete had resuited in fourteen weddings, add- ing “go thou and do likewise.” Both he and the lady president were presented with bouquets and exchanged the kiss of friendship, an example so promptly followed by all the couples that I was glad.to have lost my young man in the crowd. A very fat girl with the voice of a mouse then gave us a love song, and many ditties on the tender passion fol- lowed. An amusing incident was the speech of one of those bachelors who had been unable to find partners and who, bewailing their sad fate, sug- gested that next year the committee should import enough girls to go around. With a bow to the stranger lady he was even good enough to invite “the blonde misses of Albion.” Before T left I 'learned that Ecaus- sines d’Enghien, viewing with dismay the stream of moneyed visitors that had all day passed her by, had petitioned to be admitted to next year's festival. the girls of the village combining to give the coffee and cakes, and the feast being held alternately in each village. It is probable that in time the whole affair will lose much of its delightful originality and sincerity, but as I saw it, it was simply a rustic festival in which all took part in serious earnest. ENDS WITH DANCING. An open-air ball closed the proceed- ings. Everything was orderly in the extreme, there was no going off to flirt 77:03 FARRIAGE TETE AT G0l o H 4 v 1y ,“\‘ HORT _LCRAUSSINES o «a - | 0ot | amen in Australia and America, struck REBUILDS | HISTORIC EDIFICE William Waldorf Astor Would Win Favor | of Britons. ‘ LONDON, Aug. 6. — In undertaking j- ill there for the last week or two. The Count will leave for New York at the el of the present month to attend to the restoration of his latest acqu tion, Hever Castle, William Waldorf Astor is taking particular pains to con- * : some private business matters there, ciliate Eritish ppinion, which is Very pyut pe will return almost immediately scnsitive on the subject of American tg artend to his official duties here. dollars applied to the remodeling of THE LONDON SEASON. historical structures. He has put in Mrs. Lawrence and her charge of the work F. L. Pearson, a gaughter. together arles West- well-known architect, who is an ardent ing of New York, have arrived in Lon- devotee of the antique, and has caused don for the season. They have been it to be known that he has instructed Seeing the sights and enjoying the hos- him to spare no expense to preserve aln,v‘ of a number of the Irish mem- the original design as far as possible. OF, Kurigaing. i bty Furthermore, he has announced his in- M€t in the States from time to time. tention of adding to it a large deer TheY Were guests of William Redmond, park and old-fashioned garden, so that the brother of the Irish leader, at the its surroundings will be in accord with Flouse of Commons on a recent evening those that prevailed when it was occu- 2nd enjoyed the much coveted luxury pied by Anne Boleyn, whom Henry Of tea on the terrace of the Houses of Bads e After *d g London, II married and subsequently behead- Parliament. ~After “doing” London . Heretofore Mr. Astor's manage- they Wwill see the beauties s i 90, Herswato e shire and the lake district. They will ment of his property in England has not added to his popularity, which may in a measure account for the fact that at Hever he has assumed the role of a patron and preserver of historic asso- ciations. Since Count Ward accepted the posi- tion of Consul General in London for Roumania, at the urgent request of Queen Carmen Sylva, he has practical- ly made up his mind to settle perma- nently in iEngland. He has taken a country residence, Fulwell Park, among the Surrey hills, and between there and his favorite hotel he proposes to divide his time. Fulwell Park woula have been the scene of lavish enter- tainment during the present season had not the Count’s diplomatic respon- sibilities necessitated his almost con- stant attendance in London. For that reason he let Fulwell Park for the sea- son to the Dowager Duchess of Man- chester, who has been lying seriously * = in corners, and the lovemaking was all done in the eyes of the sympathetic village. As a study of country life it was unique and has attracted attention all over the world. Letters have been re- ceived from every part of the globe from bachelors regretting that distance prevents their being present. Lomely go to Killarney on their way home. Proprietors of some of the big hoteis in the vicinity of the Strand are com- plaining that their American guests do not patronize the hotel dining-rooms. “For that reason,” says one these Bonifaces, “we are not so keen on them as we used to be and much prefer ca- tering to_the traveling glishman. The latter, as a rule, both eat and sleep at the hotel, but within the last twelve months it has been especially notice- able that most of the Americans of the tourist class who put up here merely engage bedrooms and get their meals elsewhere. We call them ‘one liners,’ because there is never more than one line on their bills every morning—bed, six shillings. The popular notion that American travelers spend their money much more freely than those of any other nationality is no longer true. Man for man we make much more money out of our English patrons than out of our visitors from the ‘land of liberty.” ™ AN AMERICAN RESTAURANT. The explanation of this lies in the fact that for the last twelve months an American restaurant has been estab- itors who lodge at hotels in the vicinity much prefer getting their meals there to partaking of the fare t~-* their car- avansaries afford. The complaint of the hotel proprietors is really a tribute to the superiority of American cooking and to the greater variety of American dishes. It will not be long before some of their English patrons find this out. Some of the proprietors will then prob- ably seek to provide a remedy for their waning receipts by importing Ameri- can chefs and reorganizing their kitch- ens. with admiration by the courage of the girls of Ecaussines, have proposed cor- respondence, but this the village Mrs. Grundy refuses to permit. Applica- tions for invitations poured in, and twenty-five young men wrote a very reproachful letter at the I minute that they had been forgotten. Another group from Grammont submitted not only names, but occupations that the girls might choose before they came, while they guaranteed that they were all handsome, kind and possessed of that mpystic power, ‘“chic.” Italian lovers wrote sheets of poetry for the girls and a Frenchman, “au desespoir” Picard, Prime Minister Combes has that the fates kept him at home, sent a gathered in the first of his vietims very cleverly drawn up litany for marked for official beheading after the spinsters, in which each line béars the attempt made to connect him with the name of a saint with a rhymed prayer Chartreux bribery scandal. Lagrave for matrimonial bliss warranted in- was brought back from America to fallible J. E. WHITBY. give testimony against the premier. —_——— Combes Avenged for Scandal. PARIS, Aug. 6.—By deposing M. T.a- grave from the commissionership at St. Louis and replacing him with Alfred lished in the Strand and American vis-, TOO MANY PLEBEIANS PRESENT Royal Inclosure at As- cot Is No Longer Fashionable. LONDON, Aug. 6—In view of the very mixed character of the folk who occupy the royal inclosure at Ascot this year it has become a mooted question wheth n the near future it will not be considered more fashionable to be outside rather than inside this spot, popularly supposed to be sacred to the social elect. To be sure, the King and his immediate satellites were inside, but so, too, were a varied assortment of tradespeople, money lenders and so- cial no And on the outside were those of fashion who had re- for the inclosure, but who ind that these pasteboards afforded a cheap and easy means of paying off debts and obligations to lots of persons who need keeping in a good humor. Permission the royal in- closure at the races is supposed to be confined to court circles, the members of which write to Lord Churchill for a ticket, and it is he who decides wheth- er applicants are of sufficient distine- tion to be entitled to bask in the sun- shine of the royal presence. What is done with these same tickets afterward to enter is, unfortunately, a matter beyond his control. If it were an exception for a social “outsider” to get into this charmed spot the offending court mem- ber responsible for the intruder might be discovered, but the giving away of the tickets has now become so gemeral that to be inside does not at all imply that one is an “insider” in court eir- cles, and, on the other hand, a place on the outside by no means indicates inferiority to those within. The femi- nine aspirant for social honors who has sucgeeded in getting a ticket to the royal inclosure for the first time is plunged into misery and distress by the perplexing problem that confronts her. If she makes use of her ticket she may expose herself to the suspicion of hav- ing obtained it by purchase from some- body else and be classified with the tradespeople and social nobodies who =afl in under false colors. On the other hand, if she makes no use of her ticket and remains outside she fears it may be thought that Lord Churchill did not consider her standing sufficient to en- title her to one. One woman unac- quainted with the strange traffic done in royal inclosure tickets was bemoan- ing her failure to obtain one to Mrs. George Keppel, who enjoys the distinc- tion of being numbered among the King’s particular friends. “Why bother about a ticket?" excl ed Mrs. Kep- pel. “T got rid of mine to a tradesman, and you will find lots of us outside at Ascot who have done the same thing.” [N — Machine a Mechanical Marvel. ROME, Aug. 6.—The official bulletin of the Italian Postoffice Department gave, in its latest issue, interesting de- tails of the invention of § r Cattani, which he calls the teledattilograph. It is an instrument by which one is able to utilize a writing machine in order to send or receive messages over the tel- ephone. It the person sought for should mot be at the receiver the machine, left in contact, will write the message, mov- ing the corrgsponding keys of the type- writer, as in the sender's machine. Messages can be sent to several per- sons at once.