Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-07-12
CURIOSITIES OF MARRIAGE.
HOW DIFFERENT NATIONS REGARD THE
MARITAL RELATION.
INTERESTING RESUME.

Marriage is the first and most ancient Of
all institutions. AS the foundation ofsocic-
ty and the family, it is universally observed
throughout the globe, no nation having been
discovered, however barbarous, which does
not celebrate the union Of the sexes by cere-
mony and rejoicing. The abuses Of the in
stitutiQn, as polygamy, infdefity and di-
vorce, have in no manner touched It's exls--
tence, however they may have yitiated its
purity.
The condition of women in all countries
has afforded fruitful theme for the observa-
ton Of the traveller, and the speculations of
the philosopher and the novelist. It has
been uniformly found that the savage is the
tyrant of the female sex, while the position
and consideration given to woman is advan-
ced in proportion to the refinement Of social
life. Under the laws Of Lycurgus, Numa,
and even later law givers, the power of the
husband over his wife was absolute, some
times even including the power over life Or
death. The wife was always defined and
treated as a thing, not as a person-the alb
solute property Of her lord. In the earlier
ages a man might sell his children or his
wife indiferently, and relics Of this rude
custom still survive, even among nations
called civilized and Christian.
In the countries of the East, where poly
gamy is almost universal, marriage is not
the sacred tic which it is held to be in Chris
tan countries In Persia men marry either
for life or for determinate time. Travel
ers and merchants commonly apply to the
magistrate for wife during their residence
in any place, and the Cadi produces num-
Der Of girls for selection, whom he de-
clares to be honest and healthy. -Four wives
are permitted to each husband in Persia,
and the same number is allowed by the Mo-
hammedan law to the Mussulman.
In Chinese Tartary kind of male poly
gamy is practised, and a plurality Of hus-
bands is highly respected. In Tibet it is
customary for the brothers Of family to
have wife in common, and they generally
live in harmony and comfort with her
Among the Calmucks the ceremony Of mar
rage is performed on horseback. The girl
is first mounted, and permitted to ride off at
full speed, when he lover takes horse and
gallops after her. If he overtakes the fugi-
tive She becomes his wife, and the marriage
is consummated on the spot. It is said that
no instance is known of Calmuck girl be-
ing oyertaken unless she is really fond Of
her pursuer.
The Arabs divide their affections between
their horses and their wives, and regard the
purity of blood in the former quite as much
as in their offspring. Polygamy is practisec
only by the rich, and divorces are rare. l.
Ceylon the marriage proposal is brough
about by the man first sending to her whom
he wishes to become his wife, to purchase
her clothes. These she sells for stipula
ted sum, generally asking as much as sh
thinks requisite for them to begin the worl'
with In the evening he calls on her, witt
the wardrobe, at her fathers house, and the.
pass the night in each others company
Next morning, if mutually satisfied, they ap
noint the day of marriage They are per
mitted to separate whenever they please
and SO frequently avail themselves CT thi
privilege that they sometimes change doze
times before their inclinations are who'll
suited.
In Hindostan the women have peculia
yeneration for marriage, as it is popula
creed that those females who die virgins al
excluded from the joys Of paradise. |
that precocious country women begin to bes
children at about the age of twelve, some
times even at eleven. The proximity Of tt
!. natives of India to the burning sun, who
ripens men, as well as plants, at the earle
period in those tropical ATTITUDES, as asslgnt
G as the cause. The distinguishing mark
:, the Hindoo wife is the most profound fdel
ty, submission and attachment to her I'M
band