Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-10-30
CURIOsITIEs of MARRIAGE.

CuRIOSITlES of MARRIAGE
How Different Nations Regard tho
COnnubial Relations.
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
Marriage Is the hrst and most ancient
of all institutions. As the foundation OF
society and the family, it is universally
observed throughout the globe, no nation
having been discovered, however babarous,
which does not celebrate the union of the
sexes by ceremony and rejoicing. The
abuses OF the institution, as polygamy, in.
fidelity and divorce, have in no manner
touched It's existence, however they have
initiated Its purity.
The condition Of women IN all countries
has afforded a fruitful theme for the obser-
walton of the traveller, and the speculation
of the philosopher and the novelist. 1t
has been uniformly found that the savage
is the tyrant Of the female sex, while The
position and consideration given to woman
are advanced in proportion to the refine.
ment of social life. Under the laws OF
Lycurgus, Nuna, and aver later law Civ
srs, the power of the husband over this
wife was absolute, sometimes even inclu
ding the power over life OF death. The
wife was always defined and treated as a
thing, not as a persOn-the absolute prop
erty of the lord. In the earlier ages, a
man might sell his children or wife indif-
ferently, and relics Of this rude custom
still survive, even among nations called
civilized and Christian.
In the countries of the east, where po-
lygamy is almost universal, marriage is
not the sacred tie which it is held to be in
Christian countries. In Persia, men mar
~ either for life or for u determined time.
Travellers or merchants commonly apply
to the magistrate for a wife during their
residence IN any place, the cadi producing
a number of girls for sseieetion, whom be
declares to be honest and healthy. -Four
wives are permitted to each husband in
Persia, and the same number is allowed
by the MahOmedah law to the Mussulman.
In Chinese Tartary a kind Of male DO.
lygamy is practieed, and plurality Of hus-
bands is highly respected. In Tibet it Is
customary for the brothers OF a family TO
have a wife in common, and they gener-
ally Evein harmony an comfort with her
Among the Calmucks, the ceremony OF
marriage is performedon horseback. The
girl is first mounted and permitted 10 ride
off at full speed, when her lover takes 8
horse and gSllops after her. If he over.
takes the fugitive, she becomes his wife,
ana the MARI age is consumated on the
spot. 1t Is said that no instance is known
of a Calmuek girl ever being overtaken
unless she Is really fond Of her pursuer.
The Arabs divide their affections be.
tween their horses and their wives, and
regard the purity Of blood in the former
quite as much as in their offspring. Pc.
lygamy is practieed only by the rich, and
divorces are rare.
In Ceylon the marriage proposal IS bro't
about by the man first sending to hel
whom he wishes to become his wife, tc
purchase her clothes. These she sells fol
y stipulated sum, generally asking as much
as she thinks requisite for them to begin
the world with. In the evening he call:
on her with the wardrobe, at her father.
house, and they pass the night in each
others company. Next morning, if mu
tualiy satisfied, they appoint the day o.
marriage. They are permitted to separate
whenever they please, and so frequently
avail themselves of this privilege that they
sOuAClAAEo NhuuAG u uoLcl GAutS DeLOte
their inclinations are wholly suited.
In Hindoostan the wome have a pecu-
liar veneration for marriage, as it is a part
of the popular creed that those females
who die virgins are excluded from the ioy:
of paradise. In that ~preeociOus country
the women begin to bear children about
the age of twelve, some even at eleven
The proximity of the natives to the burn.
ing sun, which ripens men and women, a:
well as plants, at the earliest period in
those tropical attitudes, is assigned as the
cause. The distinguishing marks of the
HindOo wife are the most profound fidelity,
submission and attachment to her husband.
On the banks of the Senegal and among
many African tribes, the matrimonial
prize most sought after Is abundance Of
flesh. To obtain corpulence is rewarded
as the only comeliness. a female who
moves with the aid of two men is but d
moderate beauty while the lady who can.
not stir, and is only to be moved on camel
is estimated as a perfect paragon.
Nor Is this queer fancy for obesity in
woman confined to the savage OF the tor
rid zone, since we read in WraxalTs Tray
els in Russia, that sin order TO possess any
prominent degree Of lOyliness, a woman
must weigh at least two hundred weight
The Empresses Elizabeth and Catharine
II, both accounted very fine women, were
OF this massive kind.
In Italy matches are made with proven
bial levity, and marriage VOWS, if reports
speak true, are easily broken. Young vir-
gins are systematically bartsred aud sold
by their parents, n young people are
married every day who never saw esch
other before. Concubinage Is q constant
remedy these ill-advised and deceitful
marriages, and the peculiar Italian eietsbsO
indicates the indemnity which custom de-
scribes for the lair sex fettered TO husbands
unloved
In France, us has often been remarked.
women mOnOpolize all the society and a
large share OF the business OF life. The
coffee houses, the'theatres, the shops, the
carbarets or drinking shops, are filled
with women. Women lord it at all as
semblies, and are better informed and pore
capable messengers than men. Marriage
Is looked upon not so much as y matter OF
affection as Of interest," and the ~sacredness
of the tie is prOportionably slender.
Marriage in Sweden Is commonly govs
erned wholly by the viii Of the parents,
nd is founded upon interest. a stolen
match is almost unheard Of, and persons
of either sex seldom marry before the age
OF twenty-five to thirty. divorces are
very rare.
Russia appears to be the most preposter-
Gus country in Europe in Its treatment of
woman. The nuptial ceremonies. all and
singular, are based upon the idea Of the
degradation OF the female. When the
parents have agreed upon the match, the
bride Is examined by "A number OF women
to see if she has any bodily defect. On
her wedding day she is crowned with a
garland of wormWood, to denote the Bit
terness OF the married state. She Is ex-
h0rted to be obedient TO her husband, and
il Is II custom in some districts for the new
Unmarried wife to present the bridegroom
with II whip, in token Of submission, and
with this he seldom fails TO show his au-
thOrity. In hat cold and cruel country,
husbands are sometimes known 70 torture
their wives to death without any punish
neat for the murder. lfa woman proves
barren, the husband generally prevails on
her TO reure into II convent and leave MIN
ut liberty. ii he fails in persuasion, he IS
permitted TO whip her into ebe1ience.
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