Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-09-23
ANCIENT CoURTsHIPs.

| all respects, aud not least go ID matrl
monial view. The obligations devolvins
upon the Israeltist Juveniles, before at
tanning 10 the joys of connubiality, were
emphaically peculiar. For instance, wber
Isaac desired wife for himself, bis father
sent Elizur, bis servant, TO court bride
for him. Isaac did not say, II will make
myself beloved Of maiden; l must en-
tertain her with fine discourses and offer
engaging presents; must necessarily
praise her beauty; I must only 60 by
night 10 see her; when thing is known
TO third person il never succeeds"
al all-neither he nor his father knew Re-
becca. But when EIizur made his pro-
posals, Laban, her brother, asked her if
she would 60 with the man and she an
swered, II will CO." We see that love
was not consulted 10 this case /; this mar
riage was rather bargain between Abra-
ham aud Rebecca. Nor was it custom
ary for the affections to rule, there being
at often.lim no consultation between the
parties. 1t was usual for women 10 be
courted by proxy. Thus, Sechem, though
strongly moved 10 love Dinah, did not
disclose il in the bosom of his Beloved, btll
made advantageous offers TO her brothers.
"Ask me eve! 80 much dowry, and Twill
give accordingly as you will say Unto me-"
Jacob, however, made Innovation upon
this cuslum, and visited Rachael himself;
he drew near aud kissed her and lifted up
his voice and wept. Jacob made another
advance upon the times. We have said
that love had but little TO do with their
marriages; wives were regarded as spe-
cies Of slaves, and moi al all as compan-
ions hence filthy lucre' was The charm
which ruled the marriage ties. Affection
and senlimen, gave place to gold and
goods. But Jacob was sentimental lover,
and when he found that he had not the
treasure equal to the price set upon.
Rachel. he condescended TO purchase her
by servitude, and manifested disappoint-
ment when the tender eyed Leah was
.fai,hlessly imposed upon him instead Of
the beautiful Rachael. -.
1t has been custom, in all times, for
the declaration Of love to fall npon he
man. Whether this is proper or not, long
usage has given it.an authority mol TO be
tseasiiy 4ogetcsfae ssbut there 5hayea ahaenNe1s
cep,ions 10 this rule.
An IsraeliIish widow had by law the
power of claiming in marriage The brother
oil The deceased husband-and he in re.
turn. had The liberty to refuse-under the
condition, however, that the woman would
come 10 him in the presence of the elders,
and loose the shoe from his foot and spill
in his face.
A similar custom exists among the HUI
rous and Iroquois. When wife dies, the
husband ir obliged to marry the sister. OF
10 her stead. the woman whom the family
of the deceased shall select. A widow i:
also obliged TO marry brother Of hel
deceased husband. The same thing i:
praclised in The Carolina Islands.
In The Isthma OF Darien the right o.
asking in marriage is lodged in and pro
miscuously exercised by both sexes, with
out the least hesitation or embarrassment
and iu the Ukrain The same thing is car
ried further, the wemen more generally
cour,ing the men. When a young wo
man falls 10 love with young man. sh'
goes to his fathers house and reveals he
passion 10 most tender and pathetic man
ner, and promises most submissive obedi
ence. Should he make excuse 8 he re
J solves 10 persevere, and takes uplodsings
should he continue obstinate the churc
; takes her side. her kindred are ready /
ayenge her honor, and he has no othe
method tut to belake himself TO flight, iii
3 she is otherwise disposed Of.
From the story Of Deliah. it would seen
, that the young men Of Israel were denie
Z. the power Of asking female in marriage
Sampson saw 10 Simnah, one that we
e beautiful, and he said TO his father, -
8 have seen a woman of the daughters {
i The Phillistines, now therefore get her fc
ME to wife,, But his parents objected
: he, however, did mol elope nor threaten
3 90 to Tcxas-but merely repeated. "gt
f her for me- for she pleases me WELL"
e From the lime Of the nation spoken
/, to lhe Greeks, little is known Of this ma
0 ter. In the East the women being so Iii
!. lie seen, the privilege Of courtship wa
q eagerly seized, and as there was oflen
3 plurality of lovers, and it soon becam
a fashionable to Gght for "fair lady" A
l sociery improved, this barbarity declnet
O and Instead of fighting, a public exhlb
. ton iu dexteri.y and in arms was the or
y terion OF desert. But as it gave rise
e animosilies, which were handed from ger
i GRAFTON TO generation. a'method of barga'
e aud sale marked The further progress
o society. Thus it was among the Greek
y As lover seldom had opportunity 10 dl
/, close his love to his mistress, he was a
q custotned to inscribe her na1ne on II
d walls of his house, the trees in the publ
d walk, ard TO deck the door of his ia
,. ones house with flowers and garland
!. and 10 make libations Divine before
10 aud to sprinkle the entrance with the san
III liquor, after the manner that was practice
=, n, The temple Of Cunid. (Iarlauds we