The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-05-21
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ANCIENT COURTSHIP.
IN VARIOUS ACES AND VARIOUS COUNTRIES

The Hebrews We're a peculiar people IN all
respects, and not least 50 in a matrimonial view.
The Obligation deyoIv!ng upon the lsTaeiIIIaA
juveniles, be fore attaining TO the Joys OF connu-
biality, were emphalicaI!y peculiar. For IN
stance. when Isaac desired q wife iJr himself,
his father sent Eieazar, his servant, 10 court
bride for him Isaac did not say, Il will make
myself rbeIoved Of maiden; | must entertain her
with fine discourses, and offer engaging presents
I must ncessantly praise her beauty; l must
only 60 by night to see her; when thing Is
known to third person II never succeeds not
at all-neither tie nor his father knew RebeCCa.
But when Eleazar made his proposals., La5an,
her brother. asked her il she would 60 with the
man, and she answered, Il will 60" We see
that love was not consulted in this case; this
marriage was rather a bargain between Abraham
and Rebccca. Nor was II customary Tor the al
fections 10 rule, there being oltentmes no con-
sultalion between the parties. 1T was usual for
woman TO be courtrd by proxy Thus, Sechen,
though strongly moved 10 love DInah, did not
disclose it in the bosom OF his beloved, but made
advantageous offers 10 her brothers, "ASE me
never SO much doWry, and will give according
as YOU viii say unto me- Jacob, however,
Inade innovation upon this custom, and visiler
Rachel himself he drew near and kissed her,
and lifted up his voice and wept. Jacob made
another advance upon the times. We have
said that love had but little TO do with then
marriages; wives we're regarded as species OF
slaves, and not at all as companions; hence sill
thy iucre" was the charm winch ruled the mar
riage ties. Affection and sentiment gave place
to cold and goods But Jacob was sentlmen-
tai lover, and when he found that he had not
the treasure equal to The price set upon Rachel,
he condescended 10 purchase her by s1rvtnce,
and manifested disappointment when the ten
der-eyed Leah was iaithlessIy imposed upon
him instead of the beautiful Rachel.
1t had been a custom in all times, for The
declaration of love 10 fall upon the man
Whether this is proper or not, long usage has
given It an authority not TO be easily overcome;
but there have been exceptions to tins rule.
An Israeitish widow had, by law, the power
of claiming in marriage the brother OF the de-
ceased husband, and be, in return, had the lib
ertv TO refuse; under the condition, however
that the woman would come 10 him, in the pres
ence Of the elders, and loose the shoe from his
foot and spit in bis face
4 similar custom prevailed among the Hu-
rons and Iroonois. When a wife dies the hus-
band is OBLIGED TO marry the sister, or in bel
stead the woman whom the family Of the de-
ceased shall select. widow is also obliged tc
marry brother Of her deceased husband. The
same thing is paclised in the Caroline Islands
In the Isthmus of Darien the right OF askiaf
in marriage is lodged in and promiscnonsly ex
ercised by both sexes, without the least heslta
tion or embarrassment. and in the Ukraine tn
same thing Is carried further, the women NOR
generally eourting than the men. When
young woman falls i'll love with young man