Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-09-28
Marriages in Russia.

am aware OF, save with the garden
of the TuIlerles at Paris. Like the
chestnut shaded avenues of the Tut
cries, this garden is the afternoon re-
sort Of crowds OF the most charming
children, who repair thilher, escorted
by their mothers and nurses. to peo-
pie the solitary walks, and make the
Strawberries resound with their lnno-
cent mlrlh.
Fifteen or sixteen years later, these
children reappear upon the same
scene, but this time with less artless
intentions, and play more perilous
game. On Whtsuniide afternoon
are there to be seen, ranged in long
rows, dressed in their best, and often
bedccked with costly jewels, the
daughters of the middle class of
Peterburghers. Ma,rimony is the
object of the display. II s show
of brides.
Young bachelors, disposed to mar
ry, now walk up and down the Iiue
OF damsels, critically inspecting them
as they pass. Should their eye indi-
cate that they have made a choice,
matchmaking friend of the young
lady's Steps out OF the rear rank, joins
The would-be wooer, and takes
stroll with him through the garden,
informing of the girls circumstances,
OF her dowery, housewfery qualities,
etc, and obtaining from him similar
information concerning himself
Should they so far come TO an I'M
Outstanding, that the consent of the
lady and her parents alone remains
To he obtained, the matchmaker con-
ducts her candidate to the mother,
who introduces him to her daughter.
invites him to her house, and wedding
is the most usual result Of the ac-
quaIntance thus singularly commence
ed.
Odd as it may seem, experience
daily proves that these marriages, o.
rlginatIng entirely in the pleasing i'm
preston and sympathy awakened by
first glance, are, for the most part,
productive of much happiness, This
is, certainly, attributable, in great
measure, TO the fact that Russian of
the middle class expects very little
from his wife; and the richer he is,
the less he expects.
About the qualities and accom-
pllshments which German of the
same class take into consideration
when selecting a vile, such as edu-
cation, economy, and the like, the
Russian troubles not his head. A
rich Russian of the middle classr E.
a,,i.@~ ..eihinp frnm HE w,ie bat that
she should be handsome, dress with
taste, appear elegantly at;ired the
first thing in the morning, and sit
all day long upon the sofa doing
nothing, or at most, reading novel
or netting purse. He deIesIs to see
his wife busted with domestic matters.
These are occupations for servants,
and should the mistress Of the house |
make them hers, she would lower
herself moi only in her husbands
eyes, but in those Of all around her. |
To SIT IN state and receive company,
is the Russian lady's sole business.
Under this state of things, the edu-
cation of children is of course much
less attended TO than were desirable,
The boys, however, regularly attend
The schools, or are sent 10 board at
educational institutions and as TO
the girls, that which is required from
them as women, is, as we have already !
seen, SO very little, that how small So
ever the ere bestowed upon their
bringing up, i, nevertheless is found
sufficient. But | certainly do not
advise any German to seek a wife at
ST. Petersburg Whilsunlide Fes,i-
val.
Wedding presents are not custom
AIRY IN Russia. On the other hand +
there is a long standing patriarchal
custom, which has been preserved,
with some variations, 10 the present
day. one morning met an acquain-
lance, who hurried by me with unu-
sual precipitation.
Whiiher away ia such haste =
asked.
have no time 10 spare, was the
reply have bread and salt to buy =
Bread and salt lave you not
both at home 2
Il will tell you another time
Al our next meeting received an
explanation. From time immcmorial
there has existed among the Russians
Il custom that person changing his
house should receive from each one
of his Appropriateness loaf aud some
salt. The meaning of The usage may
possibly be the kindly wish-May
you never in your new dwelling be
IN want ut least Of these two things.
As the people became more polished
aud refined, they brought sal. in a
lllle barrel, aud the bread on a plate
or in a basket. Later sul when civ
ilizatlon led to luxury, these unadorn-
ed receptacles were exchanged for
costly ones. The simple gift oil bread
and salt was presented IN boxes Of
silver aud gold. And al the present
day the bread and salt are wholly O. !
milled, aud the casket stands for the !,
To avoid monotony, the
salt box is replaced by costly vase,
lhe bread baske, by service of plate
or some other rich formula of the pre-
sentalion. As though 10 excuse by