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Literary Review
Antique matrimonial
"Two European Gentlemen, in good circumstances, agreeable exterior, and pleasant and refined manners, having no opportunity of being introduced to the society of `ladies'; and being in the prime of manhood, and very desirous to find for themselves helpmates to accompany them on life's journey, have decided, for want of any other available means to appeal to any single ladies or widows for sympathy and permission to correspond, with a view to matrimony... Ladies inclined to respond to this most sincere and strictly honourable offer should not be above 30 years of age and should also possess a cheerful temperament, fair education and pleasant appearance."
In the far away and long ago times (this is 1885) when people did not advertise themselves as "30/ 150 cm/ wheatish/ kshatriya", they still wanted spouses, hair oil, spectacles, hats, and books. Early Calcutta Advertisements gives you a glorious, wonderfully referenced compendium. Though published in 1992 it has done a phenomenally bad job of advertising iself outside Bengal, but hours of delight and information are assured if you can lay your hands on it.
Anuradha Roy
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