How they searched for brides and grooms 100 years ago, when there were no dating apps

The development of dating apps marks a significant milestone in the 21st century. To find a couple and build a relationship and even a family, you no longer need to go somewhere, get to know each other, and endure awkwardness. A well-designed profile will help eliminate these problems. But what about 100 years ago?

Finding a couple through an intermediary

At the end of the 19th century, matchmakers were the main driving force behind the creation of marriage unions. The respectable middle-aged ladies already had some weight in society and had serious connections. They already knew everything about everyone, could attend salons and social events, and their communication skills could be the envy of any modern PR man.

And for a long time, they were the ones who were engaged in pimping. Eligible brides did not stay long in the girls ‘ company; suitable men were quickly selected for them. Who cared about love or even sympathy – choosing the perfect match, connecting rich and influential families, came first. Of course, there were exceptions, but they never became the rule.

But progress was actively moving through the country, penetrating various spheres of society, and it also touched the affairs of the heart. Matchmaker services have lost their relevance over time. They began to be replaced by newspaper ads.
Now, brides and grooms from all walks of life could send a letter to the editor, and it would be read in different parts of the empire. Choosing a life partner was already becoming an interesting prospect. Everyone had a huge choice.

Marriage Newspaper

The popularization of advertisements for finding a mate began in England and Germany in the early twentieth century. This way of getting to know each other for marriage was considered very convenient at that time.

In 1906, the first Marriage Newspaper was created in Moscow. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. It was incredibly popular and sold all over the country, including in Transcaucasia and Siberia.

The publication set itself a simple yet straightforward goal – to strengthen the importance of the institution of marriage in the public consciousness. That’s why the newspaper wasn’t full of dating ads alone. Letters from applicants were diluted with articles about family, stories about marriage traditions in other countries, short stories and poems, and serious cultural materials.

The Marriage Newspaper made a splash and had high ratings for a long time. Therefore, soon, many people wanted to make money on the same topic. The publication now has many copies. The scammers began to replicate fake newspapers by placing outdated ads in them. Criminals have come up with a way to “breed” naive readers for money. They ingratiated themselves with brides from wealthy families, took advantage of their naivety, borrowed money, and disappeared.

The editors of the Marriage Newspaper quickly heard rumors about the lawlessness that was taking place, and they understood that their name could be tarnished. A warning began to be published on the pages, stating that there was only one such newspaper; you couldn’t just buy an issue – it was delivered only by subscription, and you could only correspond with a potential couple through the office of the Marriage Newspaper itself.

Creative love seekers

The people who advertised in the newspaper showed their creativity and composing skills. They tried not to give formal and boring ads; everyone wanted to stand out from the rest. They sometimes wrote in a very original way, in prose and verse, surprised with metaphors and showered with epithets. Only one literary talent died among these seekers of love.

Today, you can also find such long rides on dating sites and apps. But the main difference between such texts in the Marriage Newspaper is honesty. The author has always been open about his intentions. Moreover, they were very different and sometimes not the most romantic. It could be a financial gain, and both women and men directly discussed this.

Men could safely indicate the age of the future partner and the assigned dowry, and the girls wrote that they were looking for a wealthy gentleman. It sounds strange today, but that kind of honesty was what made these marriage announcements so successful.

People very often described themselves in the same honest way, without unnecessary embellishments: handsome or not so handsome, poor or wealthy, a lover of cleanliness or a slob, a simple worker or an intellectual.

There were no criteria then. As they say, each casserole has its lid. Everyone could find a suitable match for themselves: a pleasant appearance, and youth could easily replace a dowry or a serious title.

Not just marriage ads

Soon, the Marriage Newspaper became a permanent intermediary between two people looking for their mate. On the pages of the publication, one could see messages united by a single semantic connection. One person wrote to another to let him know that his letter had arrived, hoped to receive an address in response, or hinted at a first meeting.

A little later, an advertisement appeared in the newspaper. Beauty salons offered their services, fortune tellers sought to reveal the future, and ordinary citizens sold clothes. Later, girls of easy virtue searched through advertisements for new clients.

The end of an era

The front page of the newspaper, so to speak, her face, was often decorated with letters written by grateful readers; people were happy to say that it was thanks to the newspaper that they met a couple. Sometimes, reports from local weddings were posted on the pages of the publication.

The Marriage Newspaper ceased to exist in 1918. She has worked for a wonderful 12 years and helped many people find their soulmates. After all, even in the most rebellious and difficult times, people continue to believe in love.