The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-04-04
Vol, 9, No, 81 Whole No, 45s.


ing in marriage is lodged III, and promiscous-
y exercised by both sexes without the least
hesitation and embarrassment; and in the u
train the same thing is carried further, the
women more generally couring than 'the
men. When young woman fills in love
with man she goes TO his fathers house and
reveals her passion in most tender md pa
thetic manner, and promises most submissive
obedience. Should he make excuse, she re-
solves to persevere, and takes up her lodgings
there; should he continue obstinate, the
church takes her side, her kindred IRE ready
TO ayenge her honor, and he has no method
but to betake himsclfto flight, till she is 9th
crwise disposed Of,
From the story ofSanpson and Deliah, it
would seem that the young men of Israel
were denied the power ofasking u female in
marriage, Sampson saw in Simnah one that
was beautiful and he said TO his father, al
have seen woman of'tie daughters of the
Philistnes now therefore get her for me To
wife" But his parents objected; he howev-
er, did not e'ope, or threaten to go TO Texas
he merely repeated, "get her for me, for she
plcaseth me we'll"
From the time of the nation spoken of to
the Greeks, little is known of this matter. In
the East, the women being So little seen, the
privilege ofcourtship was eagerly seized, and
as there was often pleurality of lovers, it
soon become fashionable 10 fight for stair
lady" As society improved, this barbarity
declined, aud instead of fighting, public en-
hibitiun in deXterity and in arms was the cri-
terion ofdescrt. But us il gave rise TO ami
mosties, which We're handed from genera
ton TO generation, a method of bargain and
sale marked the farther progress of society,"
Thus was among tie Greeks. As n lovGr
seldom had an opportunity TO disclose his love
to his mistress, he was accustomed to inscribe
her name on the walls of his house, the trees
in the public walk, and TO deck the door of
his fair ones house with flowers and garlands,
and TO make libations ofwine before il, and
sprinkle tho entrance with the same liquor,
after the manner that was practiced at the
Temple ofCupid. Garlunds were of great
use among the Greeks in affairs of love; when
a man united his garland or woman com
posed one, il was IA confession of having been
subdued by this passion. The method of
prosecuting their love affairs was still worse.
They resorted TO incaniations aud pliltres,
the sale of which was extensively carried on,
they were so violent as TO deprive the persons
who took them of sense, and, not uncommon
" of life They also used 10 melt wax mag
rs before Tire fire, believing that the persons
represented by them would be proportionGbly
warmed by love. These, aud many others.
equally foolish, where constantly prGcticed.
The Romans copied the Greeks in these
things. Plutarch tells W, that SuculuS Ro-
man General, lost his senses by love por-
ton; and Caius Caligulu was thrown into fit
ofnndness by one which was given him by
his wife Cacsonia. Lucretus, too, fell sac
ritice tn this folly.
| While the Greeks and Romans were found
! in these foolish practices and narrow opin-
ions, the BarbariGns, the CeteS, Gnuis and
Germans although their wives werea spec
les ofslavcs had arrived alta much superior
point in the relations oflovc. They regarded
their wives with respect and veueration--
they were gallant and sentimental-aud de
sired the affections and the heart of their
mistresses. Scandinavian women We're claste.
proud,and scarcely less enmlous glory than
the men, aud consequently demanded lovers
distinguished in the field. The Saccea had a
custom when young man paid his address
Ia a lady, for him 20 engage her in n single
combat; ifshe conquered he was her hus-
band and slave.
Such IRE some of the modes of ancient
courtship, n full account ofwhich form an
interesting and instructive chapter.