The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-11
THE WIEE ENLRKET IN Il RUSSI.d.

Sitting up all night with couple OF Russian
ladies' might or might not suggest the idea Of
telling you soms:hing OF the marriage GUS
toms OF this strange couatry. A French wri-
ter, whose name forget, has truly said, 1.-THE
Russians are nation Of polite savlges;" re-
mark that is not very ap., but it helps as TO-
ward proper understanding OF the social con-
dltlon Of the people. The rica are very rich;
the poor are very poor. The mobiles are court
ly, petite aud as r,Hned In Asnnsrs as those OF
the same class in Germany, but the serfs, or
those who belonged to the mobiles, with tie
soil bsfore the emancipation, are rude and not
halt civilized.
Almost as sool a. a girl is born, in the boz
tor ranks OF society, her parents begin to PRE-
pare the dowry sho must have when she goes
10 her husband; for this is Indispensable in the
eyes Of any Russian young gentleman who pro
poses to be married. hhe must furnish every
thing for an OUTFIT in life, even to dozen new
shirts for her coming husband.
| have heard Of q lady OF rank and wealth
who had prepared costly dowry Of Silks linen,
Jewels, plate, &C., for her beloved daughter,
Sho died as she came to be twenty years old.
I be mother resolved to endow six girls with
these riches, and actually advertised for them.
host OF applicants came. and she selected six.
None OF them had lovers; but now that they
had respectable dowry secured. each girl was
speedily engaged, aud, with the husband, took
the dowry. and paid the rich lady by promls-
ing to pray for the reposa OF her daughters
soul.
In no country is the arrangement OF terms
carried on with more caution and completeness
than in Russia. Tbs young man goes to the
house OF his proposed bride and counts over
the dresses and examines the furniture, aud
sees to the whole with his own eyes, before he
comuIts himself to the irrevocable bargain.
In high life such things Ire conducted with
more apparent delcacy; but the facts aro as
certalned with accuracy, the business being IN
the hands Of o broker or notary. The frous-
seau is exposed in public before the wedding
day.
At Whitsunday there is o curious custom,
which is gradually giving way with the ad-
neighborhood come together, aud the girls
stapd in row. like so many statues, draped,
indeed. and not only draped, but dressed in
their best, and painted, too; for the young la
dies, and The older ones also, OF this country,
use cosmetics freely. and box OF lldy's psint
is very common PRESENT TOR young man to
make to the girl he likes. Behind the row OF
girls are their mothers. The young men hav-
ing made known their choice, the terms are
settled bet geon the parents OF the parties.
The ladies in Russia are very anxious to mar
ry, because they have no liberty before mar
rage. They are kept constantly under tho ma
ternal eye until they are given up to the hus'
band, and then they take their own course,
which is round OF gayety and dissipation, only
regulated by their N .aps Of indulgence. The
Greek Church. Ike the Roman, permits no d.
vorce but the Emperor, Like the Pope, can
grant special dispensatons. The Greek priest
can marry once. and il his wife dies ne cannot
=. L.
rled more than three times.
tS. Petersburg Letter.