The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-07-13
Hungary-Market for Young Women.

Hungary-Market for Young Women
Hungary lies between Austria proper and Tur-
key, having the Carpathian mountains and the Dor
ders of Poland for its northern boundary. 1t was
or 300 years ago the greatield of conflict between
the Ottoman and the Christian powers, where the
latter gained the ascendancy over Mahometanism
It's area is $4,000 square miles, nearly as large
as the States of Louisiana, Mississippi and Ala
bama. The population between twelve and thir-
teen Millions and divided into only two classes, the
naughty mobiles and the peasantry. The Hmga-
rian Diet, or Assembly, composed of bishops and
mobiles, have for long time possessed high prerOga-
tives The Emperor of Austria, the ruling monarch,
can neither make nor change laws, impose taxes or
levy troops without assent of the Diet. But in this
the greater part of the population have no direct
voice whatever, and although enjoying nominal In
dependence, are like the serfs of Russia, really In
state of predjaL slavery-hat is, attached to farms
and transferred with the property. The laws guar
antee freedom of religious faith but practically the
Catholic dependencies.
The Hungarian peasantry are noted for their at
| tachment to az cent customs, and perhaps in no
part of Europe Is there more rigid observance of
them. We translate the following from the g Lit
terateur Universal, French periodical: it relates
to one of these customs, and is quite interesting.
e The market for selling young ,oomen'' in Hun
garu-Every year at the feast of st. Peter, which
comes on in the latter days of June, the peasantry
of this district (Bhar meet together at certain
place for the purpose of general fair. This fair
has a very peculiar interest for the young and
the young maidens, for it is there that whilst pur
they choose for themselves partners and conclude
marriages. The parents bring there their grown up
daughters with each one her little dover accompa-
nying her, loaded up in a small cart. This dover
is, of course, proportionate to the Lowy condition
of these mountaine ers-some sheep, sometimes
few hogs or even chickens These girls are attired
in their best, and whatever pieces of gold silver
coin they may possess, is strung upon string and
neatly attached 10 the braids Of their hair.
! Thus fitted out, every girl who desires to find
husband betakes herself to the fair. She quits the
house of her father perhaps forever, and bids her
mother adieu, quite ignorant of what roof is to
shelter her what fate awaits her at her journeys
end. As to her fortune it is in the loaded cart that
attends her The object of her journey is never
mistaken, nobody wonders at it, nor is there any
occasion for public officer to make record of the
deed On the other hand, the youths who wish to
procure themselves wives hasten to the fair
rayed in the very best sheep-skin garments their
chests contained. These savage-lOoking chaps, who
! would be quite enough TO make our young ladies
run and hide themselves proceed, with good deal
of personal interest and zest, to inspect the fair
mountain lasses that are brought thither by their
fathers and their uncles, casting many sde-glances
and wistiul looks towards the captivating merchan-
die. He gives his fancy free rein, and when he
finds one that seems to claim his preference he at
once addresses the parents, asks what they have
| given her, and what price they have set upon the
lot so exposed for sale-at the same time stating his
own property and standing. If the parents ask too
much these gallant boys make their own offer,
which if it does not suit the other to agree to- the
fond lover passes on to seek for some one else.
We may suppose that the prudent young men
always keep top eye open to the correspon-
dence of Ioveliness upon the hand and the size
of the dover upon the other. At last he finds one
for whom he is willing to give the price, and loud
clasping of the hands together announces to the
bystanders that the bargain is complete. What
terrible bL0U this must be for lady rival who
has not decided quick enough, who is haltng and
considering whether she WU suit him, and whether
she is as lovely and as accomplished in household
matters as some of the others. However, the deed
is done and the bargains completed, and forthwith
the young girl (pOor thing proceeds also to clasp
the hand of her future husband. What a moment
! of interest and anxiety to her! The destiny of her
life was sealed by this rude clasp of the hand. In
This act she as much as said, Yes will be yours
for life, and consent to partake of your joys and
yoar troubles, to follow you through veal md
through woe" All woman, what miracle of
devotion art thou Wherever met with, still ever
the same fond. confiding creatIre--ever willing to
bosfoyv a whole heart where you have given your
hand. .,
round them, offering their congratulations, and at
once, without delay, the priest who IS upon the
ground for the occasion, pronounces the nuptlal
benedicton. Then comes the moment of separa-
ton. The young woman presses the parting hand
of that family who has reared her, but OF which she
is no longer part-mounts the cart OF her new
husband. whom but a few hours before she never
so much as knew, and escorted by her dover, IS
conducted to the house thenceforward to be her
home.
The Hungarian Government has long tired, bu'
in vain to suppress these fairs oryoung girls POSI-
tive orders have been given that they should nc
longer take place, but such the force Of long es-
tablished custom, united to the necessities OF tins
pastoral race that all such orders have been disre-
garded The fair still continues, and every yeal
such eavalcades as we have described may be seer
descending into the plains Of Kalinasa, there t
. bartsr oh thsss precious iswsls Of the heusshplt
sfps e h9pgh hey sega selsslsss hssYss e neil
] eseaass 81 sks ss1