Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-06-13
sCURIOSITIES OF MARRIAGE.

How different Nations Regard the
Marital RelauOn-lntere resting Re-
sumo.
Marriage is the first and most ancient of
all institutions. As the foundation of So
ciety and the family, it is universally OBJ
served throuehout the globe, no nation
having been discovered, however barbar-
Gus, 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 its existence, however they may
have vitiated its purity. 80
: The condition of women in all countries
has afforded a fruitful theme for the obser-
vation of the traveller, and the speculations
OF the philosopher and the novels. 1t has
been uniformly found that the savage Is the
tyrant of the femslesex, while the position
and consideration given to woman is ad
vanced in proportion to the refinement of
sociablife. Under the laws of Lycurgus,
Numa, and even later law-givers, the pow
er of the husband over his wife was abso-
lutte, sometimes even including the power
over life or death. The wife was always
defined and treated as a thing, not as a
person-the absolute property of her lord.
In the earlier ages man might sell his
children or his wife indifferently, and rel
les of this rude custom still survive, even
among nations called civilized and Chris
tian-,. sni'''4 l.-,.-t,- .i3fii
vln the countries OF tne East, wnere po-
lygamy Is almost universal, marriage is not
the sacred tie which it is held to be in
Christian, countries. In Persia men marry
e1ther Tor life or Tor q determinate time.
Travellers or merchants commonly apply
to the magistrate for wife during their
residence in any place, and the Cadi pro-
duces number of girls for selection,
whom he declares to be honestAnd healthy
Four wives are permitted to each husband
IN Persia, and the same number is allowed
by the Aohammedan law to the Mussul-
man. ..f-,a, f.,,-i,7 s..-5.sti--
In Chinese Tartary kind of male polyg-
amy is Lpractised, and a plurality of hus-
bands is highly respected. In Thibet it is
customary for the brothers of a family to
have q wife In common, and they generally
live in harmony and comfort with her.
Among the Calmucks, the ceremony of
marriage is performed on horseback The
girl is first mounted and permitted to ride
or ar inll speed, when her lover takes a
horse and Qallops after her. If he over
takes the fugitive she becomes his wife. and
the marriage is consummated on the SPOT.
Its said that no instance is known of a
CaImuck girl ever being overtaken 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 prac-
ticed only by the rich, and divorces are
rare. In Ceylon the marriage PROPOSAL is
brought about by the man first sending to
her whom he wishes to become his wife, to
purchase her clothes. These she sells for a
stipulated sum, generally asking as much
as she thinks requisite for them to begin
hecworld with. In the evening he calls on
her, with, the wardrobe, at her fathers
house, and they pass the night in each 9TH
er's company. Next morning, if mutually
satisfied, they appoint the day of marriage.
They are permitted to separate whenever
they please, and SO frequently avail them
selves of this privilege that they sometimes
change dozen times before their inclina-
tions are wholly suited * -ts , .0l-
In Hindostan the women have peculiar
veneration for marriage, as it is a popular
creed that those females who die virgins
are excluded from the joys of paradise. In
that precious country the women begin to
bear children at about the age of twelve,
some even at eleven. The proximity of
the natives of India to the burning sun,
which ripens men, as well as plants, at the
earliest period in these tropical latitudes,
is assigned as the cause. The distinguish
ing mark of the Hindoo wife is the most
profound fidelity, submission and attach
ment to her husband. aI .rsaiI 81 j ~.
ON the banks of the Senegal, and among
many African tribes. the matrimonial prize
most sought after is abundance of flesh.
m, ohtoin oorDuIanca ie reoardad oe tbe