Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-12-17
Curious Jewish Customs Marrying ant
Dying In the East.

A Boston boy who was with Farragut
wrote TO the Commonwealth, of Boston,
from Smyrna as follows;
When q Jew ia married it is customary
for him to "keep his wedding" as it is
called, for eight days. During the time he
keeps an open house, and all the friends,
and strangers as well, call to pay their res
poets to the couple. Dancing and differ
ent games are carried on oil the time. :
When we were there they were expecting
some friends in to dance. 1T was about
half-past three in the aftsrnoon.) They
said that there had been friends there and
dancing going on the previous night and
till eight O'Clock in the morning. The
same performances are gone through from
day to day for week. Anybody and every
body calls in. Let me describe the place we
went into, not saying anything aboutthe
people. There werestwo rooms thrown open
tothe public--the principal ones in the
house; the first one contained digan
about four and half or five feet wide, and
one or two chairs; and upon this diyan
wore some men engaged in game ofback-
cannon. In the other room was a divan
about half as wide, running around two
sides Of il, and upon this were seated the
bride and several visitors. The rooms were
all very plainly furnished, and had one or
two pictures on the walls. The husband
was tall and heavy man, with moustache
and beard, and without any Of the Jew
look about him. He was dressed in com
mon citizen clothes and received us in his
shirt sleeves and flowing vest. He request
ed lis, five felt anyways warm or uncom-
Portable, to take off oar uniform coats -
The bride received US very eomposedly,
without nod or wink. She was the best
looking lady by farin the room -goodlook-
ing, but not handsome; her features were
regular and fresh, but she had high cheek
bones. The Jewish females cannot wear
head-dress till after they are married, so
that it is always very easily told who the
married females are The top OF her head
was covered with piece Of blue silk which
went around the back Of her head and
came up over her forehead, almost cover
ing up her ears. II did not come down on
the forehead, but passed just over the top
of ii. Then there was small white band
around her head, and this was surrounded
by a small bead c6ronet. Her hair was as
black as jet, and very little of it could be
seen. She wore bombazine dress, cut so
as TO fit close around the shoulders, but
low in the neck, according to the custom Of
their sect here. Then she wore q zouave
jacket. with bloomer pantaloons anda long
skirt. This Is the same costume as that in
which they all dress. II is the custom Of
the Jewish ladies TO paint the ends Of their
fingers brown during their wedding. This
gives very bad appearance TO the hands.
They gave US all a glass Of cool lemonade,
and all the smokers indulged in cigarettes.
The host, who was able TO speak English,
talked freely to us of the Jewish customs.
1t is one Of the customs Of the Jews, when
they get old, to 70 to Jerusalem to die, for
they believe they will then go TO heaven.
So when people get old they get some Of
their relations to carry them there. These
Jews live to ripe old age, and. from what
| have heard, / should think il was not un-
common for them TO attain thdags Of 100
years, One man, who is nov "a years old,
told me that his father died at ! IA years vf
age; and that lately he had carried his
mother to jerusalem to die, who is now 80
years old Last week an old lady ITO years
Of age returned to Jerusalem to die.