Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-04-08
Market For YOnng Women In
I. Hungary.

E'cry year, dt tne Ieast OF 81. feter,
which comes on in thela,tcr days of June, Y
the peasantry Of this district Bihar) me, 4 3
together at certain place for the parposs
OF a general fair. This fair has a very Y
peculiar interest for the young men und
the young maidens. for il IL there that
while purchasing household utensils and %
family necessaries. they chooss for them }
selves partners. and conclude marriages.
The parents bring their, marriugcable
daughters, with each one her little DOVER
accompanying her. loaded up in small
cart This dover is,, Of course. proper
tionate to the lowly condition of these
mountaineers,a some sheep. sometimes u y
few hogs, or even chickens. Thess girls =
are auired in their best. orlwhat, pieces of I,
gold or silver they may possess are strung
upon slring. and neatly attacl el to the
braids Of their hair. i"'os M efH aiiiii ips
Thus fitted out, every girl who desi,es
to find husband beiakes herself to the e.
fair. She quits the house Of her isther, 4,
perhaps forever. and bidsher mother sdep.r
quite ignorant Of what roof is to shelter.
or what fate awaits her journeys end. Al
to her fortune. ii is IN the little cart iha, ut. -
tends her. The object OF her journey 10
never mistaken; nobody wonders Ut it; nerg
Is there any occasion for public, oihcer,o
make record of the decd. On the other /,
hand, the youths who wish 10 procurs
themselves wives hasten to the fair, atray-n
ed in the very best skin galmenlD Lihriir {
chests contain. These savagc-losking
chaps, who would be ouite enopgb Ia
make our young ladies run and hide Them
selves. proceed with good deal of utter
est and zeal to inspect The fair mountain
lasses that are brought ththcra BY their
fathers and their unclss. casting many
side glances and wisiul looks towards the a.
captivating merchandise. tst5. i. .t...,.
He gives his fancy n free rein, and
when he finds one that seems To claim lis
pr ference. he ut once addresses the par-
ents. asks what they have given her. and
asksiwhat price they have set upon ihsst
"lot." so exposed for sale---at tho same,
time stating his own property aud stand.
ing. lithe parents ask too much, tlsss
gallant ''boys" make their own oKer,
which, il it does not suit the other 10 ugrco
TO. the fond lover passes to seek some onS
else .if "a r8dra raYI ss-nsrs's
We may suppose that the proud young
men always keep top eye" open 20 tho,
correspondence oilovelincss upon the one
hand, and the size Of the dover upon the
other. Al last be finds enc fdr whom hs
is willing to give the price. and loud
clapping Of the hands together announces
to the bys,andcrs that the bargain is csm-rt
pleted. +. t......s -.
What heavy blow this must be- for
some lazy rival who has not decided quick
enough. who is halting and considering
whether she will suit him. and whether
she is os lovely and aocosnpiisbed in house-ii
hold matters as some of the others. How
ever, the deed is done. and the bargain is
completed. and forthwith, the young girl
poor thing--proceeds also to clasp tbs
hand Of her fature husband What d mo-
ment Of interest and anxiety to her. The
destiny Of her life is sealed byt this
rude clasp pr,he hand Ia this act shss.o
much as said, Yes. | will be youry ko<,
lie, and consent to partakc Of yopx Joys
and your Troubles, to follow you through
veal and through woes" = 'sia''ss'ffsil 10
The families Of the beisothed pair thcn
surround them. Offering their congrstuls.i
tons, and at once wiihout delay tie prie.a
who is on the ground for the occasion,
pronounccs the nup'ip! benediction. o. Tbsr
young woman presses the parting hand Of
that family who s,ave reared her. but Of
which she IS no longer pari-mouHs the,
car Of her new husband, whom but ~ few.
hours before she never so much as knew,
and escorted by her dover is conducted
TO the house henceforward to he her hons.,
The Hungarian Government have long
tried, but in vain. to suppress these fairs
for young girls. Positive orders haso
been given that they should no longer
take place. but such Is the force nj long
established custom. united 70 the necess-
ties Of this pastoral race, that all such pr-
ders have been disregarJed. The. fair
still continues, and every year such caysl-'
cades as we have described may be seen
descending into tho plains of .Kalinsss.
there to barter off these precious jewels. OF,
the household as though they were seI,ss-,
less beeves or mere produce ofthe SOIL
Congycgatioaaiisf.