How Russian Dating Profiles Looked One Hundred Years Ago

How would the Russian dating profiles written one hundred years ago look like? How would our ancestors describe themselves and what would they require from their prospective partners?

No need to guess! It’s enough to dig into archives and read the “Marriage section” of the old newspapers. And what an entertaining reading it is!

Old Russian newspaper featuring dating profiles and ads.
Source: http://aquatek-filips.livejournal.com/382645.html

Here is the compilation of Russian dating profiles taken from the old (100 y.o.) newspapers.

Read, enjoy and compare…

***

Russian dating profiles 100 years ago

1. Old millionaire required

Will marry a (very) old nobleman, millionaire. Noble, 35 years old. Details by correspondence.

2. Beauty needs a wealthy husband

A young, beautiful girl will marry a single gentleman, wealthy or pensioner, from 60 years old.

3. 2000 rubles

2000 rubles

owned by a young beautiful girl of 23 years, who wishes to meet a young, handsome man. Purpose – marriage. Serious offers will be answered.

4. Passionate man from Caucasus

I am coming from Caucasus,

22 years old, brunet, black eyebrows, normal facial features, height – above average, of handsome and representative appearance, serious. With the purpose of choosing a wife, life companion, wish to get acquainted with a young, from 18 to 20 years old beauty. No need in pelf [ed: gold, money]. I have a good capital. My future residence – according to the choice of life companion. Will answer only to serious letters.

5. Plain and clear

I have nothing.

Left only kind soul, decency and title of count. Young, 30 years old, secondary education, diligent, want to marry a wealthy woman and cherish her for support. To anonymous [letters] won’t answer.

6. Jovial officer

Hey, ladies!

Don’t be lazy and quickly write, if you wish to marry a young officer with a good and jovial temper. [From you] needed only: kindness, buoyancy and grace. Don’t look for money for myself, but they are needed for your own support.

7. Poor student looks for…

Come… Enchant… Love…

Want stable family happiness with attractive and wealthy woman. Student-lawyer, 3rd year. Details by correspondence.

8. Soul in the shell

Looking for a tender

and high-spirited soul in the beautiful shell. Nature – fate gave me everything except the most needed happiness. Marriage.

9. What did he invent?

Inventor,

personally wishing to exploit his invention, decided to marry. I am technician, 30 years old, brunet.

10. Tempting offer

Cannot

cope with the real estate, whoever risks to untie the Gordian knot – will get in reward attractive wife-friend, middle aged, intelligent.

11. Two in one

1000 rubles,

owns half of house, 26 years old, works, wishes to marry [ed: find a husband]. And brother needs a bride.

[Note: the word "marry" in Russian is different depending on the subject's gender]

12. Bride from America

After recently coming

from New York and not having acquaintances, would like to meet a man, intelligent, well-raised, of high morals, from 38 to 45 years old; not in a need [of money], cheerful companion. Purpose – if compatible, marriage.

13. Two young girls

Brides.

Intelligent nobles, wealthy, good-looking, of average height, 17 and 18 years old, brunettes, after getting education abroad, look to meet men with higher education and some capital. Purpose – marriage, photographs required, won’t answer to anonymous.

14. Very impatient man

Immediately,

brown-haired, 36 years old, employed in the state service, salary 1700 rubles per year, wishes to marry a woman having 50,000 to 100,000 rubles or more. Money is needed for the division of property, which will be acquired in wife’s name. Nationality, age, appearance, past – do not matter.

Can be through a matchmaker.

15. Omnivorous ladies

Two [girl] friends,

foreigners, wealthy, over middle age, wish to marry honest, moral and wealthy men. Physical disabilities do not matter.

16. Broken hopes

This is how young life passes without a trace. And then the end is close.

My girly dreams betrayed me. I yearned for family home, but all vanished like smoke. And I am alone, stranger to everyone. Looking for a husband-friend. Of course, serious.

17. Violinist looking for sponsor

Young,

very attractive, intelligent Georgian, teacher, tall, healthy, strong, musician (specialization – violin), wishes to marry a rich woman, who would give him the opportunity to finish his musical education. Age doesn’t matter. Write seriously.

18. What a suffer

Kind souls, reply!

Longing in solitude. I am young, looking for wife-friend, girl with gracious body and mind. Don’t accept material attitude, picture is necessary, promise to return.

19. For himself, not for someone else…

For myself.

Wealthy, don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t play cards, 35 years old, have house and trading business which wish to grow by marrying a girl or widow with some capital, with good temper, not bad appearance, average height and body complexion, blonde or brown hair. Picture is necessary, don’t accept letters without stamps, don’t answer to anonymous [senders].

20. Half millionaire

With a purpose of marriage,

looking for a life companion for common work and happy life, either girl not older than 30 years, or widow up to 35 years old, childless, with capital. I am 48 years old. Have kids, capital HALF MILLION. Manage extensive economic and trade businesses. Preferably intelligent woman, who graduated from the secondary school, knows music, non smoking. Serious correspondence.

21. Penniless

Brunette,

not dark-skinned with blue eyes, taller than average, 32 years old, pure Russian, Orthodox, intelligent, developed, modest, silent, feminine, with honest, truthful, jovial and sensitive soul. From good family, privileged class. No capital. And no pretensions [ed: meaning - "no high requirements"] . Good housewife, homely and family woman; knows some music. Wishes to marry a calm, positive, noble man, with gentle temper and kind heart, having capital or good job, from 38 to 60 years old. Would [marry a] widower having children; will be a friend and kind mother to his children. The offer is quite serious and sincere.

22. Mission impossible

Girl without past,

who hasn’t yet loved, young, very interesting, divinely built, jovial, affable with gentle, kind temper, quite intelligent, looking for happiness in beautiful spiritual life and passionately dreaming to travel with beloved man is invited with the purpose of marriage by a young (32 years), single, very interesting, well mannered, gentle, intelligent, representative, wealthy gentleman. Have in mind trip to Crimea, abroad, to Caucasus and along Volga. Trip duration around 3 months.

To the letter should be attached photographic picture – in order to have an impression about the future life companion. In the letter would ask to briefly describe your social and family background. Won’t answer to anonymous. Seekers of adventures are asked not to worry. Privacy of correspondence and return of photos are guaranteed by the word of honor of gentleman.

23. How poetic!

At the dawn of beautiful life

I walk towards gracious, magic youth. Who wants to meet the rising sun of happiness together with a young, talented and wealthy [man]? – Marriage if like [each other]. Picture is desirable.

24. Colonel doesn’t take money

Solid officer,

colonel of active service

wishes to be honored to become a husband of jovial, interesting and intelligent woman. Don’t look for money, – want to know happiness and comfort with which I didn’t have fate to get acquainted. I have a soul of optimist. I am aestheticist and therefore ask non-beautiful [women] not to pay attention to my confession.

25. Almost like a spell

Come to me as husband, friend, comrade, not younger than 40 years old, wealthy, kind man. I’ll make you happy, will warm your single life. Widow, 32 years, intelligent Armenian of high morals, interesting. Willing for ideal love. Longing in spiritual solitude. Won’t answer to anonymous. Purpose – marriage. Privacy of correspondence guarantee by a word of honor.

26. Very complicated aristocrat

To aristocrat, real aristocratic spirit.

[I am] handsome, expressive appearance.  Soul full of poetry accords, soul with strong will, longing for proactive life, originality, creativity, deeply happy soul. Will I find in her beautiful, magic smile, in the calm shining of her eyes justification and solution of painful existence? Will I hear the voice of my sister, looking for me in the fragrant garden of life? On mutual sympathy – marriage.

27. Very very detailed profile

For life companion

I’m looking. The following features and merits are required: 1) youth and good health, 2) excellent, very well built figure 3) enchanting, majestic beauty of head, face and mainly eyes; wish to see in my ideal such magic eyes that can almost make miracles! That upon a wish these wonderful eyes with their glance could – destroy a man, but also that these shining eyes upon a wish, could burn with a fire of passionate love,  or that the gentle look of these beautiful eyes could make to forget the whole world and drive insane the man even of a strong will, 4) nice, straight, shining like pearls teeth, 5) voice penetrating the soul, 6) ability to sing and knowledge of music, but if lacks it, then natural talent that could quickly learn, 7) knowledge of foreign languages, 8) calm, strong temper and love for order in family life. Very sorry for being so demanding – but this is my ideal!!! If my call is accidentally read by my ideal, then I beg to reply in details, honestly and sincerely. I don’t rely on finding my ideal in Moscow, since here such wonderful flowers are not given to blossom… Maybe in the vast territory of mother Russia, somewhere in the hole, someone knows such beauty, then reply! Material aspect is excluded, since I can spend for life 6-10 thousand per year! I am 35 years old, descendant of noble family, landlord, tall, representative and energetic, having calm and strong temper, not jealous!.. Purpose – marriage. Won’t answer to anonymous. Privacy of correspondence guaranteed.  Please, send [your] truthful details to <…>

28. Theater, wine and maybe marriage

I am thirty years old,

brown-haired, average height, have annual income of 20,000, wish to meet a pretty woman. To be in theaters, drive outside of the city in best winter night and then get warm by means of wine. And after serious acquaintance with each other I don’t mind to marry and offer to my companion all pleasures of life.