Life, 1903-06-18 · page 7 of 24
Life — June 18, 1903 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 563: "Americans Abroad" This satirical article mocks the marriage market for wealthy American heiresses in Europe. The top illustration shows American girls in a German garden surrounded by European nobility seeking advantageous marriages. The accompanying announcement advertises American girls as marriageable commodities, with explicit mention of arranging marriages to foreign noblemen in exchange for titles and social status. The text jokes that American fathers with money are eager to secure titles for their daughters through marriage settlements. Two specific cases are highlighted: "Helen J.," described as a millionaire's daughter with "a quiet, amiable disposition" seeking a titled husband; and "Beatrice F.," a very desirable American girl pursued by nearly twenty suitors who rejected them all to marry an Englishman. The satire critiques the gilded-age practice of wealthy American families purchasing European nobility through strategic marriages—a genuine historical phenomenon of the period.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Announcement. AMERICAN GIRLS ALWAYS ON HANO, NGLISH Lords, Dukes and other members of the no- bility should consult our list of American girls before making a choice elsewhere. A corps of trained law- yers is constantly on hand to consum- mate negotiations, Our supply of American girls is constantly being increased by new additions. Money is being made very rapidly in this country, and as fast as any young girl’s parents have acquired A MILLIONAIRE “TRYING TO KILL TIME." AMERICANS ABROAD, ELIZABETH IN A GERMAN GARDEN, enough of it to make her marriage to a foreign nobleman a desirable thing, she is duly registered with us. Marriage settlements are arranged for, if desired, without an interview with the girl, and the good, hard, solid United States cash put up to bind the bargain, Parties writing from England should state, not only how much they person- ally require, but how much estates are mortgaged, and whether they prefer settlements in cash or securities, Also their pedigree. Personal attention given to Dukes and Princes of the blood, Ordinary knights need not apply. State age, not for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith, If appli- cant is old, gouty and dissipated, it should be stated,as these noblemen are usually more particular in their selection, and greater care than usual will be taken to supply them with beautiful American wives. Herewith we present a few specimens of our latest American novelties : HELEN J.— This young girl has a quiet, amiable dis- position, and at the same time a sprightly vivacious air, Her father made his money in Pittsburg, and has houses now in almost part of the Morgan Belt. je is very ambitious, and has been taught from her cradle that money is the only thing worth living for. Now at the age of twenty-three, she is more than will- ing to sacrifice herself to any good, desira- ble lord that may come along. Father will make immediate settlement of half a mil- lion on happy bridegroom, and regular income later according to rank c computed from insurance tables. 3 young specimen is likely to be snapped uf at any moment. Apply early and ayoid the rash. ever. BEATRICE F.— Very desirable young American girl who has already been proposed to by nearly twenty Americans, and refused them all, pending expected negotiations with England or Continent. She is very tractable, and will be perfectly satisfied with a mere title, leaving her future husband to pursue his own pleasure. Her father is from Cali- fornia, and was at one time a Bourgeois, but he is now an American aristocrat, being a United States Senator, head of four trusts, and a member of the Jockey Club. Money is no object to him, so long as his daughter does her duty by the British flag. ‘The option on this fine specimen can be secured by the right party for a reasonable length of time. comicbooks.com