Middletown transcript., 1868-07-04

Marriage is the first and most ancient of
all institutions. AS the foundation of So
ciety and the family, it is universally OBJ
served throughout the globe, no nation
having been discovered, however barbar-
Gus, which does not celebrate the union of
sexes by ceremony and rejoicing. The
abuses of the institution, as polygamy, in
fidelity, and divorces, have in no manner
touched its existence, however they may
have yitiated its purity.
The condition of women in all countries
has afforded fruitful theme for the obscr-
walton of the traveller, and the speculations
of the philosopher and the novelist. 1t has
been uniformly found that the savage is the
tyrapt of the female sex, while the position
+ and consideration given to women is ad-
vahced in proportion to the refinement of
social life. Under the laws of Lycurgus,
Nums, 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 thing, not as per-
son-the absolute property of her lord. In
the earlier ages man might sell his chill
dren 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 polyg-
amy is almost universal, marriage is not the
sacred tie which it is held to be in Chris
tian countries. In Persia men marry either
for life or for determinate time. Travel
ers or merchants commonly apply to the
magistrate for wife during residence in
any place, and the cadi produces number
Of girls for selection, whom he declares to
be honest and healthy. Four wives are
permitted to each husband in Persia, and
the same number is allowed by the Mo-
hamedan law to the Mussulman.
In Chinese Tartary kind of male polyg-
amy is practiced, and plurality of hus-
bands is highly respected. In Thibct it is
customary for brothers of family to have
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
off at full speed, when her lover takes a
horse and gallops after her. Ifhe overtakes
the fugitive she becomes his wife, and the
marriage is consummated on the spot. II
is said that no instance is known of Cal.
muck girl ever being overtaken unless sht
is really fond of her pursuer.
The Arabs divide their affections be.
tween their horses and their wives, and re-
gard the purity of the blood in the former
quite as much as in their offspring. Polyg
amy is practiced only by the rich, and di
yorees are rare. In Oeylon the marriag,
proposal is brought about by the man frs
sending to her whom he wishes to become
his wife, to purchase her clothing. Thes,
she sells for stipulated sum, general,
asking as much as she thinks requisite fo
them to begin the world with. In -th
evening he calls on her, with the wardrobe
at her fathers house, end they pass tn
night in each others company. Mex
morning, if mutually satisfied, they appoin
the day of marriage. They are permitte,
to separate whenever they please, and s
frequently avail themselves Of this priv
lege that they sometimes change doze,
times before their inclinations are who'll
suited.
In Hindoostan the women have peculi
ar veneralion for marriage. as is is a popu
lar creed that those females who die yir
gins are excluded from the joys of paradise
In that precious country the women beai,
to bear children at about the age of twelve
tome even at eleven. The proximitv ! q
she natives Of India to the burning sun
which ripens men Is we'll as plants. at tn
= earliest period in their tropical latitudeg
is assigned as the cause The distinguish