Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-14

Russia, in its rapid progress toward high
cultivation, is gradually laying aside the barba-
rous customs that have been in vogue for many
generations Some of them still have a nominal
existence, but the life has gone from them, and
they must soon become extinct. Among these
/ Is the curious one alluded to in letter from a
correspondent of the New York EreHiag Post
The wife show is held on the day after WhHsun-
day, in the summer garden, one of the pleasant
parks in st. Petersburg.
This wife show is now the last lingering rellc
Of what was once popular national custom.
Here the sons and daughters OF tradesmen were
wont to assemble, to select their partners for he
The girls would come decl1ed out in all the orna-
ments the family could raise, and sometimes car
rying in their hands a bunch Of silver teaspoons,
or playing gracefully with a huge silver ladle, as
if it were a fan; while the young men, also ap-
pearing to the best advantage, would stroH Dy
lhem, and on seeing any young lady VINO paItle-
ulaTly struck their fancy, would politely inquire
about her dover from the parents, who inYarla-
bly, accompanied the blushing damsels. The
custom so far exists to the present day, that had
l been matrimonially disposed, might have Sc
lected a wife without even the trouble Of adver-
tsing, to say nothing of saving the time which
the more conventional customs of my native land
deem requisite for a courtshp.
Here comes group attracting more than ordi-
nary attention. They are candidates for matTi
mony-two young sisters, apparently about
eighteen years Of age. They are rather pretty
and quite elegantly dressed in light colors, and
wearing the little jaunty hat and feathers. Be
hind them come their parents and an old wo
man, plainly attired, but after all, one of the
most important members of the party II
young man IS taken with the appearance of the
candidates, he viii give the old ladys shawl a
gentle pull, and they viii together step one side
and avoid the crowd by turning into one of the
sidewalks. A conversation ike the following
will ensue, it being, Of course, understood by
the parties that the young bachelor is wiie-hunt-
ing
Old woman-Well, sir, what is your name
Young man-Ivan Petrovitch, little mother
Old woman-Where do You live
Young man-In GargaroYitch street. No. 5.
Old wUman-You are well off.
Young man-Yes; / get so many rOubles
from my little store in the Costume Divor and
have so much laid up. What is the name Of
the young lady-the one at the right, little
mother
Old woman-You are not the first that has
asked me that, for finer young woman has not
been on the Summer Garden for many day.
Her name is Ekatarina, and her dover is so many
roubles
After some further cross questioning the par
ties separate. In the evening the old woman
states TO the parents the various propositions she
has received, and to the one who has the largest
income a note is sent. Ii all his statements are
found correct, the thing is considered settled and
Ekatarina is married to Ivan with little more
ado: She never thinks of obiecting, and neither
brige nor bridegroom have any idea Of wasting
time in coUrtng.