The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-05-02
COu9.tsleip--HOtO 1t is Done IN Ger
mann,


many.
Oh! you American lovers, rejoice in
YOUR secret walks, your lonely rides,
your escorts from evening prayer meet
ings, those we'll established rendezvous
for lovers. You can indulge in secret
signs, billet-douX and poetry; little 90
you realize the inconvenience with
which a modern German courtshlp is
carried on. There are no secret inter-
views and struggled letters to inspire
the heart of an amorous German. II he
has anything to say, he says it before
anybody and everybody who happens
to be in the room. II he calls upon the
mistress of his affections, he beholds her
quietly knitting stocking in the midst
Of the family circle; and with all this
array Of spectators must he unbosom
his heart and WOO his bride. By I'M
bosoming his heart, | don't mean pro-
posing. Unless he can watch a second
behind door in a ballroom, or elude
for an instant the Watchful care Of the
young lady's guardian, that monentous
question, :" Will you have me?" and
its delicious answer, Eyes, dearest"
will never be whispered between them
at all. He must go to patef .funailids,
or some married friend whose affections
are doubtless as Withered as her features,
and make them the mediators. When
all is arranged, the engagement an
nounced, and the romance entirely over,
then he can see the lady alone, take her
occasionally to the theater when he
wished to do this before the engagement
he must invite also the mother or the
aforesaid withered relation), and in
dulge in a walk once a week.
This extreme reserve seems at first
-,l. In hn
fact that Germans are essentially q ro-
mantle and poetical people. Their lite
nature, their love Of music and worship
of art show this, no less than the mis-
taken and romantic attempts at chivalry
among the students, and tenderness and
kindness one meets with everywhere.
Their politeness, rough though it some
times is, and the interest, almost curl
osity, which is taken in your affairs;
but Germans have to look beyond mere
Irritation and love-making. They are
usually poor, and must choose wife as
the Vicar Of Wakefield did, ''tor wear"
A f1ashy, brilliant girl, who lacked the
usual domestic instruction, would never
do for them, and a lady who should
throw Off her reserve and openly accept
the attentions OF gentlemen would, if
she succeeded in keeping her haracter,
IC1SI w III iliSOtti!Si. MI Ill iiiNii stAS
not easily caught by app variance.
There are some stori, S onnected with
German engagements, owing to the eX-
cessive poverty of the men, and the ne
cessity for almost every one TO work his
way from the bottom of the ladder
Frau DR.. s. told me, with tears in his
eyes, Of an elderly lady living near
here, who has been engaged fifty years.
At no time has her lover earned enough
to marry upon, and now both are gray
haired and approaching the grave, and
though their hopes of marriage in this
life are now over, they keep their vows
sacred for another world. There are
many such cases, doubtless, where a
whole lifetime is one continued struggle
between hope and despair, stru@g g
not always on the part OF the BRIDE
grooms, Tor there is custom here APP
palling to man with several daugh-
tiers and small income. IN America,
if lady consents 10 deliver up her own
precious self, the sacrifice is CO nsidered
by the enrapiured lover quite sufficient;
but here, the lady must bring, as a
dowry, all the furniture, linen and house
hold utensils-in fact, everything neces-
sary to housekeeping. The absolute
dismay of an honest German, with
eight charming daughters and i've hun
dred tllalers income, can easily he con-
ceived where such q CUSTOM is in vogue.
German girls are not SO anxious toget
married as ladies are popularity sup
posed to be. While they live at home
they have comparatively an easy life,
and, except in matters OF cookery, Go
little work. But let them once marry,
and nouse0coes change cot cel0. The
couple take two small rooms, the lady
does all the work, and the probabilities
are that a large increase Of family comes
before any increase Of the income.
You have doubtless heard that q young
lady must not take a gentleman's arm
or pass any more time than is absolutely
necessary, and can imagine THAI such re-
serve tends to produce such cnnslralnt
and aWkwardness on both sides that,
when the two sides are brought together,
as at ball, the effect IS irgesistibly lu
dirrous. l never passed such mi e.
rable evening in my lie, as at nay first
and last ball in this country. There
seemed to be dumb show OF battle
going on, in which the youthful maidens
were surrounded by body guard Of old
poai/lc au1 nnNfs who stood rp.GN Ia