The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-10-06
The Wife Market in Russia,

| Russian ladies' might or might not sug-
gest the idea Of telling you something
| of the marriage customs OF this strange
country. a French writer, whose name
forget, has truly said, "the Russians
are n nation Of polite savages;" re-
mark that is rot very apt, but it helps
US toward a proper understanding of tn.
social condition Of the people. The rich
are very rich the poor are very poor.
The mobiles arc courtly, polite and rcfin-
ed in manners as those of the same
class in Germuny, but the scrfs, or those
who belonged 10 the nobics, with the
soil before the emancipation, are rude
and not half civilized.
| Almost as soon rs girl ls born, in
the better ranks OF society, her parents
begin to prepare the dowry she must
have when she goes to her husband :;
TOR this is indispensable in the eyes Of
any Russian young gentleman who pro
poses to be married. She must furnish
everything for an outfit in life, even 10
n dozen new shirts for her coming hus
band.
| have heard OF a lady of rank and
wealth who had prepared costly dow
ry Of silks, linen. jewels, plate, &C., for
her beloved daughter, who died as she
same to DC twenty one years old. The
mother resolved tc emtow six girls with
these riches, and actually advertised for
them. A host Of applicants came, and
she selected six. None Of them had
lovers: but now that they had re-
spectacle dowry secured, each glrl was
speedily engaged, and, with the hus-
band, took the dowry, and paid the rich
lady by promising to pray for tho reposc
Of her daughters soul.
At Whilsunday there is curious
custom, which is gradually giving way
with tho advance of civilization. The
young people Of neighborhooJ come
together, and the girls stand in row,
like SO many statues, draped, indeed,
and not only drapcd. but dressed in
4helr best, and painted, too; for the
younS ladies, and the older ones also.
of,tfls country. use cosmetics freely, and
a box Of Iady's paint is a very common
present Tor a young man to make TO the
girl he likes. Behind the row OF girls
are their mo'htrs. The young men
having madc known their choice, the
terms are tllrl between the parents Of
the parties.
III" l~d;oe )" P"aa;a n IN vary anv;nno
to marry, because they have no liberty
before marriage. They are kept con-
stantly under the maternal eye until
| they are given up TO the husband, and
then they taxa tEerr own course, which
lis a round Of gayety and dissipation,
only regulated by their means Of indul-
g"nce. The Greek Church, like the
Roman, permits no divorce; but the
Emperor like the Pope, can grant spe-
cial dispensations. The Greek priest
can marry once, and If his wife dies he
cannot marry again. No one in Russia
oah bo hurried more ihan three times.
st. Petersburg Letter.
REPLY or THE CUBAN ENVOY TO
SENATOR SuMNER.-Scnor Lcmus, the
Cuban Envoy, authorizes the publica.
,ion Of tho following card -
WAsHINGToN, Sept. "a, l969.-The
following remarks having been made by
Senator Sumner in speech before the
Massachusetts Republican Convention
relative to the recognition OF the Cubans
as bellgcrents:
There is another question in their
case which is with me final. Even if
they come within the prerequisites of
international law, I am unwilling to
make any recognition of them 80 long
as Trey continue 20 hold human beings
as slaves. A decree in May last pnr-
porting to be signed by Cespcdes, abol-
ishcd slavery ; but am not sure Of this
decree, especially in view of another in
July, pnrporting 10 come from tho same
authority, maintaing slavery. Until
this is settled we must wait.
Il desire to say to the American poo
ple on behalf Of my struggling country
men--First, .lat article twenty-five Of,
the Cubanprovidos "that all the inhabi.
tants OF the island Of Cuba are absolute.
y free" This, of course, includes tho
negroes, and was so designed by tho
patriots who framed tho constitution.
Second, IN accordance with this clause
of the constitution all slaves coming
within the lines Of the Cuban army are
at once emancipated, as well as those
who are included liz TIE territory occu-
pi"d by tho Cuban forces. Third
great tmanysof the Cuban planters out
side the lines of tho Cuban army havo
cmancipated ,heir slaves, and this in
defiance Of the Smn,si authorities
Many OF these planters after so doing
have Joined the patriot army. There
has been no subsequent decree made BY
lhe Cuban Congress or by President
Cespedess which nullifies thstwenty-6fth
article Of tho constitutioi,, nor is it.
possible that any such decree can evey
be made or issued y s68' y Mtt#sN.
| Isl l6l' .a'8 o.!J y. M. LEMys.
| s5i.,p .pz Netu York Herald. +
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