American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1846-08-19
ANCIENT COURTSHIPS.

ANCIENT COURTS1lPS.
EIN VARIOUS AGES AND VARIOUS COUNTRIES.
THE Hebrews were peculiar people in all
spects, and not least SO in matt monial view.
pc obligations devolving upon the lsraelitish
veniles, before attaining to the Joys of con-
biality, were emphatically peculiar. For
stance, when Isaac desired wife for himself,
father sent Elizur, his servant, to court
de for him. Isaac did not say, 81 will make
5self beloved of maiden, must entertain
r with fine discourses and offer engaging pre-
hts; ! must necessarily praise her beauty;
lst only go by night to see her; when a thing
known to third person it never succeeds"
1t at all-neither he nor his father knew Re-
cca But when Elizur had made his propo-
lis, Laban, her brother, asked her if she would
with the man? and she answered, 81 will
:" We see that love was not consulted in
S case; this marriage was rather a bargain
tween Abraham and Rebecca. Nor was it
stomary for the affections to rule, there being
entimes no consultation between the parties.
was usual for women to be courted by proxy.
8 aus Sechem, though strongly moved to love
znah, did not disclose it in the bosom of his
loved, but made advantageous offers 10 her
others, "Ask me never SO much dowry, and
sill give according as you will say unto me. ="
cob, however, made innovation upon this
stom and visited Rachel HIMSELF he drew
and kissed her and lifted up his voice and
Jacob made another advance upon the
hes. We have said that love had but little
do with their marriages; wives were regard
as a species of slaves, and not at all as COM
Mons; hence 'filthy lucre" was the charm
hch ruled the marriage ties. Affections and
ntiment gave place to gold and goods. But
cob was sentimental lover, and when he
lnd that he had not the treasure equal to the
Ice set upon Rachel, he condescended 10 pur-
ase her by servtude, and manifested disap-
intment when the tender-eyed Leah was
thlessly imposed upon him instead of the
autiful Rachel.
lit has been custom, in all times for the de-
ration oflove to fall upon the man. Whether
IS is proper or not, long usage has given it an
thority not to be easily overcome; but there
I've been exceptions to this rule.
Ian Israeitish widow had by law the power
claiming in marriage, the brother of her de-
5ased husband-and he in return had the lib
v to reflse-under the condition, however,
1t the woman would come to him in the pre-
hce of the elders, and loose the shoe from his
,t and spit in his face.
"A similar custom exists among the Hurons
ID Iroquois. When wife dies, the husband
obliged to marry the sister, or in her stead,
D woman whom the family of the deceased
al select. widow is alse obliged to marry
brother of her deceased husband. The same
ing is practised in the Caroline Islands.
In the Isthmus of Darien, the right of asking
marriage is lodged in and promiscuously ex-
cised by both sexes, without the least hesita-
pn or embarrassment; and in the Ukrain the
tne thing is carried further, the women more
nerally courting than the men. When a
lung woman falls n love with young man,
goes to his fathers house and reveals her
ssion in most tender and pathetic manner,
ID promises most submissive OBEDIENCE
lould he make excuse, she resolves to perse-
re, and takes up lodgings; should he con-
lue obstinate the church takes her side, her
adred are ready to avenge her honor, and he
Is no other method but TO betake himself to
yht, till she is otherwise disposed Of
From the story of Delilah it would seem
at the young men of Israel were denied the
wer of asking female in marriage Samson
w in Simnah, one that was beautiful, and he
d to his father, 81 have seen a woman Of the
ughters of the Philistines, now therefore get
II for me to wife" But his parents objected;
however, did not elope nor threaten to 60 to
exas-but merely repeated, "get her for me,
she pleaseth me we'll"
From the time Of the nation spoken of to
Greeks, little is known of this matter In
E east the women being so little seen, the pri-
lege of courtshp was eagerly seized, and as
ere was often plurality of lovers, and it
on became fashionable to fight fer ''fair la
:" AS society improved this barbarity de-
ned, and instead of fighting, public exhibit
IN in dexterity and in arms was the criterion
desert. But as it gave rise to animosties,
nich were handed from generation to genera
bn, method OF bargain and sale marked the
rther progress of society. Thus it was among
e Greeks AS lover seldom had opportunl-
to disclose his love to his mistress he was ac
stoned to inscribe her name on the walls ol
house, the trees in the public walk, and tc
ok the door of his fair ones house with flow
!; and parlands, and to make labitions of " inc
fore it, and to sprinkle the entrance with the
me liquor, after the manner that was piac-
,ed OF the temple of Cupid. Garands were
great use among the Greeks in affairs OF
I've; when man united his garland, or wo'
Ian composed one, it was Confession OF nav
g been subdued by this passion. The meth,
of prosecuting their love affairs was still
prse.
They resorted to incantations and phitres
e sale of which was extensively carried on
kev were so violent as to deprive the person
fo took them of sense, and not uncommonly
life. They also used to melt wax images
fore the fire, believing the persons represent
by them would be proportionably warmed
love. These, and many others, equally
lolisa were constantly practised. The Ro
ans copied the Crooks in these things
utsrch tells us thu, Lucullus, Roman gen
~ lost his sa1scs nv love potion; anC