Blue hen's chicken. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1848-1854, 1852-04-23
MARKET FOR YoUNG.wOMEN IN
HITNGARY

a
Every year, at the feast of St. Peter, which
comes on In latter days Of June, the peasantry
oil this district (Bibar) meet together at GER
tain place, for the purpose Of general fair
This fair has very peculiar interest for the
young men and the young maidens, for it is
there tlat,whilst purchasing household utensils
and family necessarles, they chose for them.
selves partners, and conclude marriages. The
parents bring their manageable daus shters, with
each one her little dover accompanying her,
loaded up in a small cart. This dover is, of
course, proportionae to The ,owly condition Of
these mounIaineers, some sheep, sometimes a
few hogs, or even chickens. These girls are
a,tlred in their best, or what pieces of gold or
silver they may possess, are strung upon a
string and neatly attached TO The braids of their
hair.
Thus fitted out, every girl who desires to
find husband betskes herself to the fair She
Quits the house of her father, perhaps for ever,
and bids her mother adieu, quite ignorant OF
what root is TO shelter, or what fate awaits her
Journeys end. As TO her fortune, il is in the
little cart that attends her. The object of her
Journey is never mistaken, nobody wonders at
it. nor is there occasion for public officer to
make record of the deed. On the other hand
the youths who wish 10 procure themselves
wives hasten TO the fair, arrayed in the very
best skin garments their chests contain. These
sayage-looking chaps, who would be quite
enough 10 make our young ladies' run and hide
themselves, proceed with good deal of inter
est and zest, 10 inspect the fair mountain lasses
that are brought ihiiher by their fathers and their
uncles, casting many side glances and wistful
looks toward the captivating merchandise.
4 He gives his fancy free r.in, and when he
fnds one that seems to clai'l his preference. he
at once addresses the parents, asks what they
have given her, and asks what price they have
set upon the lot so exposed for sale-at the
same time stating his own property and stand
ling. IL the parents ask loo much these gallan,
I"boys" make their own offer, which il II does
ND saii ilAa ni4ss as-ags-.S- the fssa loysi
passes to seek some one else.
i We may state the young men always keep
a stop eye open to the correspondence Of love
Illness upon one hand, and the size OF the dow
er upon the other. At last he finds one for
whom he is willing te give the price, and a
sud clapping Of the hands together, announces
to the byslanders that The bargain is com.
plele.
Wha' heavy blow this must be for some
lazy rival who has not decided quick enough.
who is hating and considering whether she will
suit him, and whether she is as lovely and ac-
sonpllshed in house matters as some of the
others. However, the deed is done and the
bargain is completed, and the forthwith the
Young tirl (poor thing, proceeds also to clasp
the hand OF her future husband. What mo.
ment oil interest and anxiety to her The desli-
ny OF her life is sealed by this rude clasp of the
hand. In this act she has as much as said,
Eyes, will be yours for life, and consent to
paEiake Of your joys and your troubles, to fol.
low you through veal and through woe!'
The families of the belrolhsd pair then sur
round them, offering their congratulations, and
at once withoutd delay, the priest, who is on The
ground for the occasion, pronounces the nupta
benediciion, The young woman presses the
parting hand of that family who have reared
her. but which she is no longer part-mounis
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
henceiorth to le her home.
The Hungarian government have long tried
but In vain. 10 suppress these fairs for young
girls. Positive orders have been given that
they should no longer lake place, but such is
the force of long established custom, united to
the necessities Of this pastoral race, that all
such ordsrs have been dsregarded. The fair
still continues and every year such casacades
as we described may be seen descending into
the plains Of kalnasa, there 10 barter off these
precious Jewels of the household, as though
they were senseless beeyes or nerc produce oil
the soil.