The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-02-28


ing the Nuptidis-Cdpturing the Bride
Fesiirities-Qu Superstitions ofihe Rsds
dniry-Heary Rejoiciags-H Hunting the
Gothen,' etc.
A sojourn in the Hessian villages shows
one kind Of life which is about as strik-
ing contrast TO our American habits as
could be desired. Taking the customs of
cOurtship and marriage as the most char
acteristic indications of the real nature of
people, let us follow the lines which the
Boston Trapeiler thus let's fall in pleasant
places. Simplicity, accompanied by ear
nestness, is evident throughout; for scarce
y are the village children out of the
schools, when the parents commence to
make their plans for marrying them well ;
often in many villages the mutual arrange
msnts are entered into between the parents
while the children are still in school, bat
when this is not the case, then without
failso soon AS the boys have reached the ages
of seventeen or eighteen. On some favor
able occasion, either by the mother or by
somebody empowered by her, young lady
is chosen for him for the dance; very nat
urally at first he objects, but the firm will
of his mother, with such words as, ''follow
my advice and you'll never meet one who
has nothing" gives him courage, and ever
after is he seen with her at all corn-husk-
ings aud bcan-cuttings. Whenever he
meets her, in very unprctentious pleas
nnt-likc" manner, he asks as to her welfare,
how the farm is getting on, whether the
fat pigs have been sold or the red COW has
calvcd?
During winter he follows up his visits
making one every evening without cere-
mony; he seats himself on the table or
bench, smokes his pipe, and very often
falls asleep. At the time for holding the
annual festival for the consccration of the
church the now pending circumstances arc
brought to an end by the following quaint
custom Several days before the time ol
the festival the young fellow comes to the
house Of the maiden with bottle Of wine
or cider, places himself on the table with
his bottle in hand, aud declares that he
has chosen Julia, or whatsoever her name
may be, to be his companion for the ap-
preaching festivities. Is the bottle re
ceivcd by Julia and her parents, then the
marriage is sure. Is it not, then the young
man can reckon that he possesses seyera
rods less OF land than she.
The festival arrives aud he leads her Il
the dance she trims his hat with leayei
aud band Of many colors, and every on'
is merry. After this, for two or thre'
years, he continues his visits, leads her Il
all the dances and festivals, until the day
Of the marriage is approaching. Severa
days before, the parents, with the younl
couple interested, assemble in some con
venient place, where the young maiden Il
formally asked by her lover IL she vii
marry him; she answers timidly, Yes,
at the same time handing him piece O
money, worth about seventy-fye cents, a
surety to her promise. In some village
after the promise has been made, thir'
party places himself on chair, and iron
his hand, suspended by cord, is bottl
of wine, which the lovers empty, standinl
side by side, first one taking the bottle Z
his mouth, then the other. This ceremo
ny takes place in the presence Of man.
persons, who by remarks aud jokes assis
the noisy ceremony. In some places sim
ply ring is given, while in others, the
simply shake hands, and large nunbe
Of young boys outside are given ehea
crockcrywarc, which they throw againS
the house while the promise Is being given
The promise having been made, the pa
rents, in the presence Of many witnesses
in solemn form FIX the sun for dowr,
at the same time announcing the day ic
the wedding, and how long the cclcbmtiO
of the same shall last.
Several times before the wedding tt